Wildlife Management

CWD in Wisconsin

Wildlife Health

Hunting

Chronic Wasting Disease Zone Hunting Regulations

Buck

2009 Season Structure

  • Archery season: September 12 to January 3 (Earn-a-buck)
  • Youth Season: October 10-11 (exempt from earn-a-buck)
  • Early firearm season: October 15-18 (antlerless-only)
  • Traditional 9-day firearm season: November 21-29 (Earn-a-buck)
  • 10-day muzzleloader-only season: November 30 to December 9 (Earn-a-buck)
  • Late firearm season: December 10-13 (antlerless-only)
  • Holiday firearm season: December 24-January 3 (Earn-a-buck)

Regulations

In 2008, the CWD eradication zones and the herd reduction zone were combined to form the CWD management zone (CWD-MZ), providing consistent regulations across the entire area. It is now legal to hunt deer with a rifle anywhere in the CWD-MZ, except deer management unit 76M and where local ordinances prohibit their use.

Beginning September 1, 2009, Wisconsin will restrict the importation of whole cervid carcasses (deer, elk and moose) into Wisconsin from areas within states or provinces that have CWD. Whole deer carcass movement from the CWD Management Zone to elsewhere in the state will also be restricted. However, hunters will be allowed to move the whole, registered carcasses of deer harvested within the CWD-MZ into a deer management unit adjoining the CWD-MZ.

The purpose of this rule is to prevent the tissues most likely to contain CWD from being brought to areas of the state where CWD does not yet occur and introducing the disease there. Map of affected area and additional details pertaining to carcass movement regulation.

Below is a list of items the restriction does not apply to that can be moved freely into and across the state:

  • Meat that is cut and wrapped, either commercially or privately.
  • Quarters or other portions of meat to which no part of the spinal column is attached.
  • Meat that has been deboned.
  • Hides with no head attached.
  • Finished taxidermy heads.
  • Antlers with no meat or tissue attached.
  • Skulls with antlers attached and with no meat or tissue attached.
  • Upper canine teeth.

Earn-A-Buck FAQ's [PDF 33KB]

Baiting and Feeding Regulations

For a clickable map of the DMU boundaries please view the Deer Management Unit Boundaries page.

Public Hunting

State Wildlife Areas

For additional information about hunting White-tailed deer in and outside of the CWD Zones visit the Deer Hunting in Wisconsin web page.

Contact Information

For answers to questions relating to CWD in Wisconsin, email Wildlife Health.

Questions for Wildlife Management