Mower one of 5 counties in DNR ban of deer-feeding

Published 10:24 am Wednesday, December 14, 2016

ST. PAUL — The Department of Natural Resources plans to ban deer feeding in five counties as the agency fights chronic wasting disease in southeastern Minnesota.

The agency announced a 370-square-mile disease management zone Monday. The deer feeding ban goes into effect later this month in Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted and Winona counties.

The DNR also plans a special late-season deer hunt in the zone, from Dec. 31 through Jan. 15, to help prevent the disease from spreading. Details will be announced later.

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Two deer infected with chronic wasting disease were recently discovered near Lanesboro, the first detection among wild deer in Minnesota since 2010. It’s fatal to deer, elk and moose.

A public meeting on how landowners and hunters can help the DNR manage the disease will be held Thursday in Preston.