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Since last year, a further 123 free deer have been tested positive for chronic debilitating disease (CMD) in Pennsylvania and disease management areas 2 and 3 have been expanded as a result of new cases.
As the 2018 deer season MDT is now complete, there are now a total of 250 CWD known cases of CWD in wild deer in Pennsylvania since 2012.
New MDC cases have been detected in the following counties: Bedford (65), Blair (10), Cambria (2), Franklin (3), Fulton (33), Huntingdon (4), Jefferson (1), Juniata ( 1), Perry (1) and Somerset (3).
The Gaming Commission tested 9,631 wild deer and 122 elk for CWD in the 2018 seasons. To date, no elk elk has been tested positive for CWD.
A total of 6,525 deer tested were from existing disease management areas (DMAs), with the remaining 3,106 deer tested in other parts of the state. The number of free roosters tested increased significantly compared to the 7,910 deer tested in 2017.
Extended DMA
Due to the detection of CWD in captive and free range deer, DMA 2 and 3 have been expanded, but no changes will be made to DMA 4.
For the latest maps and descriptions of DMA limits, visit www.pgc.pa.gov. While the Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest 2019-2020 will again be provided free of charge to license purchasers, in part to increase awareness of the management of CWDs and CWDs, updated information on DMAs could not be included because they were not available. deadline for printing.
DMA 2 now covers more than 6,715 square miles, an expansion of 2,101 square miles since last year. DMA 2 now includes all or part of Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder, Somerset and Westmoreland Counties. This expansion is largely due to the discovery of two new MDC cases in Juniata and Perry counties. Each of these cases is 20 miles or more from the nearest documented case. These two deer were adults and one of them had clinical symptoms of CWD at the time of death, suggesting that CWD is established in the area and that other deer in the area may already be infected. .
MDC-infected deer, on average, do not show clinical symptoms of the disease until 18-24 months of age.
DMA 3 has grown to 203 square miles and now covers more than 1,119 square miles, due to the discovery of CWD at a captive deer facility in Clearfield County.
The captive facility will remain in quarantine for five years from the date on which the positive test was confirmed. DMA 3 now includes all or part of Armstrong, Clarion, Clearfield, Jefferson and Indiana counties.
In February, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced that a screening test for wasting disease around Curwensville was positive. Shortly after, the Gaming Commission warned the public that this positive result would push DMA into the elk area. However, after careful consideration, the Gaming Commission chose to maintain DMA 3 south of Interstate 80 and away from distance traveled.
Jared Oyster, coordinator of the Gaming Commission, explained the rationale for this decision.
"Our first idea was to extend the DMA limit in the elk range," Oyster said. "However, after deepening the problem, we decided that it was better to keep the DMA limit at I-80.
"If we had extended the border in the elk area, it would have created a number of difficulties and risks, including the fact that elk hunters would not be legally able to transport their carcasses to the mandatory checkpoint at Benezette.
Deer hunters within the DMA would also have been able to legally transport high-risk parties to part of the elk's range, which would increase the risks of introducing CWD into the wild. this zone. And, there were very few meat processors and taxidermists in this area. All that being said, we plan to increase surveillance and collect additional samples of MDC in the portion of the DMA bordering the elk's range. So, if it is present, we can detect it as quickly as possible, "said Oyster.
DMA 4 was created in February 2018 following the discovery of MDC in a captive facility for deer in Lancaster County. To date, no free-living deer has been tested positive for MDC in DMA 4. DMA 4 covers an area of 364 square miles and includes parts of Berks, Lancaster and Lebanon counties.
Hunters are prohibited from exporting high risk parts from DMA. High risk parts include: the head (especially the brain, eyes, tonsils, lymph nodes); spinal cord / spine; missed; skull plate with attached woods, if visible brain or spinal cord material is present {& semispace} cape, if visible brain or spinal cord material is present; upper canines, if root structure or other soft material is present; any object or article containing visible material of the brain or spinal cord; and skin tanned by the brain.
DMAP within the DMA
The Gaming Commission will continue to provide opportunities under the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) in some parts of the DMAs. DMAP units are established in areas where increased surveillance is required to determine the prevalence and spatial distribution of CWD. Hunters can buy up to two DMAP permits for each DMAP unit. Each permit allows the harvesting of a antlerless deer and can be used during any deer hunting season – including during the deer hunting season with firearms. DMAP permits cost $ 10.90 each.
DMAP authorizations for the same 10 DMAP units installed in DMA 2 and 3 in 2018 will be available at license sales on Monday, June 17th. However, due to the discovery of new positives, 10 new DMAP units will be created. for the 2019-20 deer hunting seasons. Permits for these DMAP units will be available in the coming weeks.
Six DMAP units will be added to DMA 2, for a total of 15 DMAP units in the DMA. A DMAP unit will be added in DMA 3, around the captive facility for deer that was tested positive in February, for a total of 4 DMAP units. Hunters with DMAP permissions for DMA 4 can use them anywhere in the ADM.
DMAP permissions can only be used within the DMAP unit for which they are issued. Since DMAP units in DMAs can encompass a combination of private and public land, DMAP hunters must, as always, know where they hunt and if they are allowed to hunt. Hunters are encouraged to submit their deer heads to MDC testing. Samples submitted by hunters help the Gaming Commission understand the prevalence and distribution of the disease in the region.
CWD
The MDC was first identified in Colorado in 1967. Since then, it has been detected in 26 states and three Canadian provinces. CWD is a deadly brain disease that affects members of the deer family, including deer, elk and moose.
Poorly folded proteins called prions are thought to be responsible for MDC. The prions are excreted in the saliva, urine and feces of infected animals.
On average, infected people do not have symptoms for 18 to 24 months. Symptoms include lowered head and ears, weight loss, excessive burrs, rough coat, uncoordinated movements and, ultimately, death. Unfortunately, there is no treatment or treatment for MDC.
To date, it has not been demonstrated that MDC infects humans. However, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people avoid eating meat from animals infected with CWD.
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