ST. PAUL (KMHL) – Minnesota wildlife officials are hoping steps they take during this year’s hunting season will curb the fatal chronic wasting disease in the state’s deer population.
The Department of Natural Resources announced the push in the 2019 deer season regulations. They are aiming to limit the spread of the disease that’s deadly to deer. To do that, the agency says it will expand hunting opportunities and bag limits in areas where the disease has been found in wild deer. Officials say harvesting more deer will result in lower deer densities – reducing the chances the disease will spread.
The DNR is also limiting the movement of deer carcasses.
In addition, the DNR says it will ban deer feeding in 18 southeastern and north central Minnesota counties. The agency says the feed ban in six central Minnesota counties will continue this year.
