Program overview
Enrollment in the CWD HS program is voluntary and free of charge. However, if you wish to move live farm-raised deer (FRD) within or outside of Wisconsin, you must be enrolled in the CWD Herd Status (HS) Program for at least 5 years. (See
ATCP 10.56 or
cervid movement requirements for more information.)
If more than one farm-raised deer herd or bovine will be located on the same premises, the herds may need to be medically separated.
FRD identification requirements
FRD in your herd that are 12 months of age or older must have 2 individual identifications (IDs) – One official and the second either official or unique to the herd. At least one of the identifications must be visible. Live FRD of any age leaving your farm must have these 2 individual IDs.
To enroll in the CWD HS program, you must submit to DATCP:
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An application to register your herd of FRD and pay applicable fees.
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An application to enroll your registered herd in the CWD HS program, free of charge, including a completed herd census of all the deer and the 2 individual IDs of each deer in the herd. The census must be performed within 30 days of application. Include a copy of any movement papers to show from where the animals originated.
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A physical inventory of all deer conducted by your herd veterinarian verifying the herd census information.
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A veterinarian’s statement that (s)he has established a client-patient relationship and no deer show signs of CWD.
To remain in the CWD HS program, you must:
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Identify all FRD in the herd before they are 12 months old with 2 individual IDs described above
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Perform CWD testing on FRD 12 months or older
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Call the herd veterinarian within 24 hours if you see any signs of CWD
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Complete and send to DATCP an annual census that identifies all FRD added to or removed (including by escape) from the herd since the last census.
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Complete a physical inventory with your herd veterinarian every 3 years.
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Submit a veterinarian’s statement that (s)he has maintained a valid client-patient relationship and that there have been no CWD signs or positive results in the past year
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Report all escapes and returns to DATCP (608-224-4886 or 608-224-4896) and to your local DNR warden within 24 hours.
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Create and maintain complete herd records for each FRD
Assembling new herds
If you assemble a new herd, you may receive the CWD, Tuberculosis and Brucellosis status date of the most recently enrolled herd you buy from, but only if you:
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Apply for enrollment within 90 days of receiving the first FRD
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Provide all the information required in the initial census including two forms of
identification, birth month and year, name and address of the keeper, their location and premises code of the herd origin (if any), and the date each FRD was added to the new herd.
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Test for CWD any FRD 12 months or older that dies or is killed before your herd is enrolled in the CWD Herd Status Program.
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Are not repopulating a location where a herd was killed because of exposure to or infection with CWD.
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Move the deer in compliance with ATCP 10.55 and 10.56.
Herd additions
To add FRD to your enrolled herd, you must comply with applicable
movement regulations for in-state movement; or imported deer. If you add deer from a herd that is not enrolled in the CWD HS program, your herd will lose all CWD status.
Record keeping
Owners of a herd enrolled in the CWD HS program must keep all records for at least 5 years and must make them available to DATCP for inspection and copying upon request.
Record Keeping Requirements