ST. PAUL – If you hunt deer, State Representative Brian Daniels (R-Faribault) said you should be aware that Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been discovered in two harvested deer from southeastern Minnesota.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) made the announcement recently after sampling hunter-killed deer in Fillmore County as part of its CWD surveillance program.
"To assist the DNR in its efforts to contain this disease, I urge area hunters to closely follow the DNR's guidelines regarding handling deer after they are harvested, Daniels said.
CWD is a fatal brain disease to deer, elk and moose but is not known to affect human health.
With the muzzleloader deer season stretching into mid-December and archery season open through Saturday, December 31, the DNR recommends taking these precautions when harvesting deer:
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Do not shoot, handle or consume any animal that is acting abnormally or appears to be sick.
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Wear latex or rubber gloves when field dressing your deer.
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Bone out the meat from your animal. Don’t saw through bone, and avoid cutting through the brain or spinal cord (backbone).
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Minimize the handling of brain and spinal tissues.
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Wash hands and instruments thoroughly after field dressing is completed.
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Avoid consuming brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils and lymph nodes of harvested animals. Normal field dressing coupled with boning out a carcass will remove most, if not all, of these body parts. Cutting away all fatty tissue will remove remaining lymph nodes.
For more information, Daniels said you should visit the DNR’s CWD homepage at www.mndnr.gov/cwd.