Deer in a field.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources is once again collecting samples from deer hunters to test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
The disease that is fatal to the animals was found in a few samples taken in Allamakee County in northeast Iowa during the 2014 hunt, but a follow up special hunt did not turn up any other cases there.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife research technician, Jim Coffey, says they’ll take samples throughout the deer season. “Collecting about 4,000 samples for CWD across the state. We’ll be emphasizing northeast Iowa section pretty hard in the Clayton and Allamakee County areas — but we will sample the entire state,” according to Coffey.
The disease has been found in states surrounding Iowa and it is possible infected deer from those states were the ones which tested positive. Coffey says the testing allows the state to keep on top of the situation.
“Early detection is the most critical part of it,” Coffey says. The first shotgun deer season is just wrapping up. The second shotgun season is December 12th through the 20th. The archery is closed to allow for the shotgun season and will reopen on December 21st. The late muzzleloader season opens at the same time and both will run through January 10th.