×

Are you hunting in a DMA?

COURTNEY COLLEY

Harrisburg

Individuals planning to hunt in the state of Pennsylvania should double-check the regulations that pertain to their hunting spot.

Since this time last year, Disease Management Areas 2 and 3 have been expanded and the new DMA 4 was established due to the detection of new chronic wasting disease (CWD) positives. Disease Management Area (DMA) 2 now includes parts of Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry counties, in addition to all or parts of Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. Meanwhile, DMA 3 now includes parts of Armstrong, Cambria and Clarion counties, as well as parts of Clearfield, Indiana, and Jefferson counties.

DMA 4, which was established earlier this year when a CWD-positive deer was found in a captive deer farm in Lancaster County, covers parts of Berks, Lancaster, and Lebanon counties. Hunters should verify whether they are hunting in a DMA prior to hunting.

Within DMAs, specific regulations apply to help reduce the risk of spreading CWD, a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects deer and elk. Individuals hunting within DMAs should note that the use or field possession of urine-based attractants is prohibited.

Within DMAs the feeding of wild deer is also prohibited. In addition, it is unlawful to export high-risk deer parts from a DMA or to import high-risk parts from a CWD-positive state. High-risk parts include brain, spinal cord, eyes, tonsils, lymph nodes, and spleen.

For more information on CWD go to www.pgc.pa.gov.

(Courtney Colley is with the Pennsylvania Game Commission at its headquarters in Harrisburg.)

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today