What is being done about CWD in Virginia?
VDGIF has developed a CWD Response Plan (PDF)s that guides response actions when CWD is found in or near Virginia, as well as an annually-updated CWD Surveillance Plan (PDF) that guides how we will continue to look for the disease. VDGIF monitors CWD status in other states as well as new information and developments as they emerge, continues to closely regulate captive deer in Virginia, and regularly provides accurate and timely information about CWD to deer hunters and the general public.
Due to the detection of CWD in Frederick County in 2009, VDGIF has implemented a number of measures to protect Virginia's deer herd, effective April 2010. The following measures will be taken to help slow and contain the spread of CWD. All measures outlined below will apply to the CWD Containment Area located in Frederick County and the City of Winchester west of I-81 and that portion of Shenandoah County west of I-81 and north of Route 675 (see map, right). Hunting season changes and a year-round ban on deer feeding also apply to surrounding areas (including Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren counties).
- All deer killed by hunters within the CWD Containment Area on specified dates must be brought to a designated sampling station for CWD testing:
The first 3 Saturdays of general firearms season (e.g., November 13, 20, and 27 during 2010) - Hunters can still check their deer via telephone or Internet but must bring the deer to a designated CWD sampling station on these specified dates
For designated sampling stations and other updates, please check this web page and look for press releases before hunting season. - Whole deer carcasses or deer parts cannot be transported out of the CWD Containment Area, except:
Deer parts currently allowed under the carcass importation ban (i.e., quarters or other meat with no spinal material, wrapped boned-out meat; see complete list above)
Whole deer carcasses or parts being transported directly to commercial meat processors, taxidermists, or lined landfills within Frederick or Shenandoah counties - Three hunting season changes will apply to private lands in Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren counties and the City of Winchester including:
- The daily bag limit shall be two deer per day
- Earn-A-Buck is in effect, meaning at least one antlerless deer must be taken on private lands before the second antlered deer of the license year may be taken on private lands
- Both the early and late muzzleloading seasons on private lands in Shenandoah County will be full season either sex
- No changes have been made for public lands in any of these counties
- Feeding of deer is prohibited year round in Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren counties and the City of Winchester. Elsewhere in Virginia, it is unlawful to distribute food, minerals, carrion or similar substances to feed or attract deer from September 1 through the first Saturday in January. This prohibition does not include the planting of wildlife food plots.
- Rehabilitation is prohibited for any deer that originates from within the CWD Containment Area.
