Northwestern Wisconsin hunters not worried about CWD

The announcement that Chronic Wasting Disease has been found in northwestern Wisconsin has generated headlines, but some hunters and business owners are not too concerned.

The deer that tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease was found just west of Shell Lake. Rick Anderson owns AAA Sports in Spooner, about six miles north of there. He says people in northern Wisconsin love their venison and that's not about to change.

"It'll bring attention to where they'll probably be a little more cautious if they see an animal they don't feel is maybe quite right,” Anderson said. “But as far as really the CWD having a huge affect I want to say no."

Anderson says hunters are more worried about wolves or bears killing deer than CWD.

In Frederick, about 12 miles west of where the CWD was found, Michelle Malinovski owns and operates the Indian Creek Tavern. She says deer hunting season is by far her busiest time of year and she doesn't expect any different come fall.

"Everybody seems to think that it's been around for so many years it's not going to affect them, they're not going to worry about it.,” Malinovski said.

The DNR has enacted a ban on deer baiting in Washburn County, which could also include Barron, Polk and Burnett Counties. Malinovski says hunters aren't likely to give up their feed piles either.

"It's not going to stop them,” she said.

The DNR says it will begin collecting road kill deer to find if this was an isolated case of CWD or if it's spread to others in the area. Chronic Wasting Disease affects the nervous system of deer, moose and elk.

Tags: outdoors, news, animals, wisconsin, dnr