DNR urges hunters to have deer tested for chronic wasting disease as season approaches

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Deer season is just around the corner here in Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wants to make sure the public is prepared. 

On Wednesday, they held a media briefing discussing general safety measures and overall outlook for the season. 

They say due to dry conditions, hunters should be able to access more marsh and swamp areas that they normally wouldn't be able to. 

The DNR is also advocating for hunters to have their deer tested for chronic wasting disease, or CWD, which is a degenerative brain disease in white-tailed deer that the DNR has been monitoring since 1999.

"We have two main options for you," said Erin Larson, DNR deer herd health specialist. "We have kiosks, self-service kiosks, where all the materials are there, where a hunter can go and submit their deer for a CW sampling, or we also have staff locations."

The DNR's website has more information on CWD as well as general reminders ahead of the gun season, which will run from Nov. 23-Dec. 1 here in Wisconsin.