Wisconsin DNR: Hunters turn in fewer samples for CWD testing

MADISON — The Department of Natural Resources officials say hunters have turned over far fewer deer heads for chronic wasting disease testing than they had by this time last year.

DNR Wildlife Administrator Tom Hauge told the agency's board Wednesday that hunters had donated 2,561 deer for sampling as of Monday. That's half the samples donated by the same point in 2014.

The DNR mandated all hunters register their deer electronically for the first time this year. The move meant hunters didn't have to bring deer to registration stations, where they had typically donated heads for testing.

This year the DNR set up 60 in-person sampling stations with meat processors and taxidermists as well as seven self-service drop-off locations.

Hauge said the samples should still yield good data.