A deer taken during the opening weekend of archery season in southeastern Minnesota’s disease management zone has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), according to the Department of Natural Resources.

According to a press release sent out on Monday, a hunter harvested the adult male deer about one mile east of Preston in the center of the CWD management zone. Mandatory surveillance is in effect for the area, which is designated as deer permit area 603.

Eighteen deer harvested in the disease management zone have tested positive for the disease since fall 2016.

“This discovery highlights the importance and necessity of our disease surveillance efforts, and we’re appreciative of hunters’ willingness to help us combat CWD by complying with mandatory sampling regulations and carcass movement restrictions,” said DNR wildlife research manager Lou Cornicelli.

Complete CWD test results from southeastern Minnesota are available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/cwdcheck. Any additional deer harvested during current and upcoming 2018 deer seasons in the disease management zone that test positive for CWD will be reported on the CWD results webpage. The DNR will directly notify any hunter who harvests a deer that tests positive. Complete information for hunters about CWD for current and upcoming hunting seasons is online at mndnr.gov/cwd.

DNR has prepared deer quartering and caping videos that can help hunters comply with export restrictions from the CWD management zone and carcass import restrictions from other states. They are available online at mndnr.gov/cwd/videos.html.

Hunters should also consult the DNR website and the Minnesota Hunting Regulations book for more information. This year, the CWD testing locations are in the regulations book.

“We’re informing hunters about what they can do to minimize risk to our wild deer population,” Cornicelli said. “There are a few changes to this year’s surveillance areas and the informational video should help clarify the changes.”

DNR has partnered with Bluffland Whitetails Association to provide a tent in Preston where hunters can quarter their deer and properly dispose of remains. Hunters who properly quarter deer can take whole quarters with the main leg bone in it or boned-out meat from a harvested deer out of the CWD management zone immediately, as long as the head or spinal column is not attached prior to receiving test results.