Wisconsin's CWD response plan

The Chronic Wasting Disease Response Plan, approved by the Natural Resources Board, guides the department's approach to addressing CWD in Wisconsin. This plan is to be used from 2010-2025.

Controlling CWD in Wisconsin's free-ranging white-tailed deer will be highly challenging and will require a commitment of human and financial resources over an extended period of time. The department developed the Chronic Wasting Disease Response Plan in recognition of its public trust responsibility for managing wildlife and ensuring the health of Wisconsin's wildlife populations. However, waning public support and limited fiscal resources have limited the department's ability to implement the plan entirely.

CWD Response Plan Reviews

The department reviewed progress toward the goals of the 2010-2025 CWD Response Plan several times. The first review of the plan was completed in 2017 by a multi-stakeholder review committee. As part of the public input process, County Deer Advisory Councils held a round of special meetings to gather public input on the response plan action items and prepared a report of key findings and recommendations.

A second review began in 2021. A Response Plan Committee was established and comprised a group of stakeholders representing conservation, business and hunting organizations and tribal governments. Through a series of meetings held from October 2021 to February 2022, the committee used a structured decision-making approach and system modeling to evaluate different proposed actions. During this second review, the committee created a report of recommendations for the plan's goal statement, objectives and actions.

Updated CWD Response Plan

The DNR's current 15-year CWD Response Plan was developed to be used from 2010-2025. In 2024, a process to create an updated plan was initiated. This process will incorporate re-engagement of the CWD Response Plan Stakeholder Review Committee from the most recent review, a public input portion and Tribal consultation.

CWD Response Plan Meeting Minutes and Recordings