In This Issue
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources received preliminary test results indicating the first suspected case of chronic wasting disease in a wild white-tailed deer in the Bemidji area. The adult male was harvested opening weekend of the firearms season about 10 miles south of Bemidji in deer permit area 184.
While preliminary test results strongly indicate a CWD infection, this needs to be confirmed by additional analysis. The final result is expected later this week.
?While disappointing, this find is not completely unexpected,? said Kelly Straka, wildlife section manager for the DNR. ?We?re announcing this preliminary CWD positive result to encourage hunters in the Bemidji area to have their deer tested.?
Following this preliminary result, the DNR will make self-service sampling stations available in deer permit area 184. If the preliminary positive is confirmed, the DNR will take additional management actions per the agency?s CWD response plan, which may include late special season hunting and targeted culling.
Sampling of harvested deer in deer permit area 184 was mandatory opening weekend of the firearms deer hunting season, Nov. 5-7. So far this fall, over 1,200 deer have been sampled in that area and test results for approximately 700 deer have been received, with one deer preliminarily testing positive for the disease. Preliminary test results from the remainder of the sampled deer in that area are expected this week.
Deer hunters across the state have testing options for the remainder of the fall by using the services of one of 150 taxidermists who partner with DNR to extract samples or making an appointment at a DNR Wildlife Office. Information on self-service sampling locations in the Bemidji area will be available on the DNR website?(mndnr.gov/CWD) or by calling the DNR?s Information Center at 888-646-6367.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects cervids, including white-tailed deer. It is found globally and in about half of the states in the U.S. CWD remains relatively rare in Minnesota but is a concern because the disease is easily transmissible and always fatal. Since surveillance of wild deer began in Minnesota in 2002, 168 cases of CWD in the wild population have been documented, most of them in the southeastern part of the state.
Complete information about CWD is available on the DNR website?(mndnr.gov/CWD).
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A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.
Archers do well at Camp Ripley hunt
Archery hunters who participated in the Oct. 28-30 Camp Ripley Hunt near Little Falls had good success, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This year, 1,953 participating hunters harvested 221 deer during the three-day hunt, including several large bucks weighing more than 220 pounds. Last year, 1,949 hunters harvested 273 deer during the hunt.
The archery hunt at Camp Ripley is an annual event to manage the deer population. The DNR coordinates the hunts in collaboration with Central Lakes College Natural Resources Program, which sends students pursuing careers in wildlife management to help check deer, and the Department of Military Affairs, which manages the 53,000-acre military reservation. More details are available on the DNR Camp Ripley hunt page (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Deer/Camp-Ripley-Archery-Hunt.html).
DNR certified two new state record fish
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has certified two new state record fish so far this fall: in the catch-and-release category, a 58.25-inch muskellunge fish caught on Mille Lacs Lake by Eric Bakke of Princeton; and in the certified weight category, a one pound 12-ounce hybrid sunfish from Green Lake in Kandiyohi County that tied the existing record.
Previous news releases are available for the muskie (mndnr.gov/news/2022/10/31/dnr-certifies-new-catch-and-release-state-record-muskie) and for the sunfish (mndnr.gov/news/2022/10/24/dnr-certifies-state-record-hybrid-sunfish).
Find current records and guidelines for each type of state record on the DNR record fish page (mndnr.gov/RecordFish).
DNR webinars cover wildlife photography, visiting Minnesota state parks
The DNR invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to tune in to upcoming webinars that will discuss wildlife photography and outdoor opportunities at Minnesota state parks.
The first webinar is at noon Wednesday, Nov. 16. Gordon Dietzman, a retired national park ranger, will discuss what it takes to become a better wildlife photographer, including equipment, where to look for subjects, techniques, composition and ethics.
The second webinar is at noon Wednesday, Nov. 23. Sara Joy Berhow from the DNR?s Parks and Trails division will share all of the great things happening at Minnesota state parks and how you can get active in some of Minnesota?s amazing natural places, including on Free Park Day on Friday, Nov. 25.
The webinars are part of the DNR?s Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series. The webinars are free but registration is required. More information is available on the outdoor skills and stewardship page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/Discover).
Deer harvest numbers available online
Hunters, media and anyone interested in deer harvest data can find current season figures and harvest reports for past years on the DNR deer reports and statistics page (mndnr.gov/Mammals/Deer/Management/Statistics.html). The page also features an interactive map and graph that visualizes the data.
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