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Mandatory Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Deer Hunting Opener in some districts in northern MN

www.dnr.state.mn.us

The Firearms Deer Hunting Opener is November 4th and theDNR predicts a good deer season barring any unforeseen unusual weather. Deer numbers are up following three years of conservative harvest regulations designed to rebuild the population, coupled with three relatively mild winters.

As a result, more antlerless permits are available this year, and hunters in many parts of the state will have additional opportunities to harvest more deer.

This year there is going to be a massive Chronic Wasting Disease testing effort on the opening weekend of hunting season and that covers a large area around Brainerd – reaching almost to Grand Rapids and Park Rapids.

This morning we talked with MN DNR Wildlife Health ProgramSupervisor Michelle Carstensen.  She told us about prions - chronic wasting disease and the mandatory testing that is coming up Deer Hunting Opener weekend.  Here are the affected areas:

Affected deer permit areas

Dr. Carstensen also filled us in on some new research from the CDC on new researchwith primates that raised some human health concerns as well. 

Heidi Holtan is KAXE's Director of Content and Public Affairs where she manages producers and is the local host of Morning Edition from NPR. Heidi is a regional correspondent for WDSE/WRPT's Duluth Public Television’s Almanac North.