Hunters’ meeting Aug. 28 in Culpeper on new regs to minimize Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) confirmed Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) for the first time in Culpeper County in February 2019.  The Department will hold a public meeting on Aug. 28, from 7 to 8 p.m., at the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors meeting room located at 302 North Main Street, Culpeper. 

In response to the recent detection of CWD in Culpeper County, DGIF has created a Disease Management Area (DMA2) that includes Culpeper, Madison, and Orange counties and variety of regulatory changes have been enacted within DMA2 to minimize the spread of the disease. 

Deer feeding is now prohibited year round in DMA2 and whole carcasses (and certain carcass parts) cannot be exported from DMA2.  Hunters that are successful in DMA2 on November 16, 2019, are required to submit their deer for CWD testing but hunters that harvest deer in DMA2 at any other time of the season are encouraged to submit their deer for voluntary CWD testing. 

In addition, Earn A Buck is now in effect on private lands in Culpeper County. 

These regulatory changes, in addition to other aspects of CWD management strategies enacted in DMA2, will be discussed at the public meeting on Aug. 28.
 
Additional information for hunters planning to hunt in DMA2 can be found at https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd/cwd-information-for-hunters/