LEWIS COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says a hunter harvested a deer which tested positive for chronic wasting disease.
The positive test for CWD came from a deer in Lewis County, Tennessee.
The TWRA says chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a progressive, fatal disease of the nervous system. It occurs in white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose.
As such, the TWRA is implementing new transportation regulations. This does not affect season dates, units or bag limits.
Now, 23 Tennessee counties west of Lewis are in a CWD management zone.
CWD Management Zone / TWRA
Per the TWRA, Lewis County, and other counties in the CWD management zone, are under the following new restrictions.
- Deer carcasses can move within and between counties in the CWD Management Zone.
- Hunters may not move whole or field-dressed deer carcasses or unapproved parts outside of CWD affected counties. Only approved parts may be moved out of CWD affected counties.
- Once a carcass is brought into the CWD Management Zone, it cannot be moved out of the zone.
- Approved parts are free to be transported anywhere statewide. Approved parts are listed below.
- Deboned meat,
- Antlers, antlers attached to cleaned skull plates, cleaned skulls,
- Cleaned teeth,
- Finished taxidermy and antler products,
- Hides and tanned products.
- Within the CWD Management Zone the placement of grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable natural and manufactured products is prohibited.
- Feeding restrictions do not apply if the feed or minerals are:
- Placed within 100 feet of any residence or occupied building,
- Placed in such a manner to reasonably exclude access by deer,
- Placed as part of a wild hog management effort authorized by the agency,
- Present from normal agricultural practices, normal forest management practices, or crop and wildlife food production practices.
They ask hunters to participate in CWD testing, which they can access with participating taxidermists and meat processers. Hunters can also use drop-off freezers.
In 2022, the TWRA says they positively tested 813 animals for CWD.
