Delaware Moves to Contain CWD With Emergency Deer-Hunting Rules

Delaware’s DNREC issued emergency deer-hunting regulations to limit the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease after its initial detection in central Sussex County. The rules create a CWD Management Zone covering Wildlife Management Zones 14 and 16, ban bait/urine-based buck lures, require deer harvested in the CMZ to be checked at two designated stations during the November shotgun season, and restrict moving harvested deer out of the CMZ or relocating fawns from within it. Hunters can have deer tested at state-wide drop-off locations at no cost, and an addendum to the Hunting and Trapping Guide will provide expanded CWD information. The emergency measures last 120 days (potentially extendable by 60 days) and must go through standard rulemaking with public comment to become permanent.