The Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zones have been announced for the 2022-2023 hunting season, according to the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP).
In the North Delta, DeSoto, Tate, and Panola counties remain in the CWD Management Zone. In the South Delta, all of Warren County and part of Issaquena County remain in the Management Zone. The Issaquena Management Zone is defined as all portions of the county east of the Mississippi River and south of Highway 14.
Regulations for these areas include a ban on supplemental feeding and a transport limitation of carcasses.
Following the discovery of CWD, Mississippi adopted CWD Management zones that have regulations pertaining to deer carcass transportation and supplemental feeding.
CWD MANAGEMENT ZONES ZONE DELINEATION
North MS Management Zone:
Includes Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union counties.
Issaquena Management Zone:
All portions of Issaquena County defined as:
• All areas east of the Mississippi River
• All areas south of Highways 14
All portions of Warren and Claiborne counties
REGULATIONS
1) Carcasses may not be transported outside of any CWD Management Zone. Research has shown that decomposed carcasses of infected animals can also contribute to transmission when prions bind to soil and plant material. Thus, movement of carcasses may introduce CWD into previously uninfected areas. Any harvested deer may be taken directly to a taxidermist or meat processor within the CWD Management Zone. Only the below products may leave the a zone:
– Cut/wrapped meat (commercially or privately)
– Deboned meat, or bone-in quarters with no part of the spinal column or head attached
– Hides with no head attached
– Finished taxidermy
– Antlers with no tissue attached
– Cleaned skull plates (no brain tissue)
– Cleaned skulls (no lymphoid or brain tissue)
Hunters may only transport a deer head outside of a MDWFP-defined CWD Management Zone to a permitted taxidermist participating in the CWD collection program. A CWD sample number must be obtained from the participating taxidermist prior to transporting the deer head outside of the MDWFP-defined CWD Management Zone. This sample number must accompany the deer head while in transport and be available for inspection by Law Enforcement upon request. The deer head must be delivered to the participating taxidermist within 5 days of receiving the sample number. This does not apply to deer, elk, or other cervids harvested outside of Mississippi.
2) Supplemental feeding is banned in all CWD Management Zones (salt licks, mineral licks, and feeders). Direct contact with prions is the most effective means of transmitting CWD. Research indicates saliva may have the highest concentration of prions. Thus, to minimize concentration of deer and potential spread of CWD, supplemental feeding is banned within all CWD Management Zones.
