Changes Made in Unit CWD Regulations This Season
By Amy Snider-Spencer
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to make a pair of changes to the 2022-2023 deer hunting season in Unit CWD. These changes offer the most liberal hunting regulations in the state to encourage hunters to increase deer harvest to help combat CWD. The increase in harvest also allows TWRA to sample more deer to understand the disease better. Unit CWD comprises Chester, Crockett, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Shelby, and Tipton counties.
The TWFC voted to make two changes this season to Unit CWD regulations. The first change was to increase the antlered bag limit in Unit CWD. Hunters in Unit CWD may harvest three antlered deer. This change allows hunters to exceed the statewide limit of two antlered deer by:
• Harvesting all three bucks within Unit CWD
• Harvesting two bucks in Unit A, B, C, D, or L and a third within Unit CWD
• Harvesting additional bucks earned via the Earn-A-Buck Program in Unit CWD
• Harvesting an additional buck after harvesting a positive buck (Replacement buck)
The second change the TWFC voted on was to make changes to the Earn-A-Buck Program. Unit CWD hunters can earn additional bucks by harvesting antlerless deer and submitting them for CWD testing, regardless of the test results. The TFWC voted to decrease the antlerless harvest from two to one in the Earn-A-Buck Program. Now, hunters can earn an additional antlered tag by harvesting one Unit CWD antlerless deer, checking in the deer, and submitting it for CWD testing. Unit CWD hunters may earn an unlimited number of antlered deer for harvest in Unit CWD in addition to the bag limit. An additional antlered deer is earned for every antlerless deer harvested in Unit CWD and submitted for CWD testing, regardless of the test results. Earned antlered deer must be harvested in Unit CWD and only valid for the 2022-2023 hunting season.
TWRA has developed the Fight CWD Incentive Program (FCIP), which contains hunting incentives to support TWRA’s CWD management efforts. The FCIP offers two types of incentives. The first incentive is the Voucher Incentive. Hunters who receive a CWD-positive test result for a harvested deer will receive a voucher redeemable for $75 toward processing fees at participating processors. Vouchers will be emailed and must be printed to be redeemed. Hunters may redeem a voucher during the 2022-2023 or the 2023-2024 deer season or gift the voucher to another individual. However, the voucher is not redeemable for cash. Contact your local processor and ask if they are participating in this program. TWRA would like to thank the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation and the Tennessee Wildlife Federation for their partnership to make this program possible.
The second incentive is the License Incentive. Any resident hunter who harvests two or more CWD-positive deer will earn a free Annual Sportsman License for the 2023-24 hunting season. A hunter may gift this free license to another Tennessee resident if a hunter already has a lifetime license. Thanks to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation for supporting this program.
Since the discovery of CWD, hunters and landowners have been the most significant partners in the fight against CWD. We believe the following programs will motivate some hunters to harvest more deer and help reduce deer density and prevent the spread of CWD. Hunter incentive programs may not apply to all CWD-affected counties. Those hunting in Unit CWD (Chester, Crockett, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McNairy, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton counties) have access to each of these programs. Those hunting in Carroll, Decatur, Dyer, Hardin, Henry, Wayne, and Weakley counties have access to the Fight CWD Incentive Program and the Replacement Buck Program, but not the Unit CWD Earn-A-Buck Program.
Counties affected by CWD do not automatically become part of Unit CWD. Deer management and disease management goals may differ between CWD-affected counties due to the prevalence of the disease in a given county. Therefore, harvest goals may vary between counties based on the level of disease. One way to assist CWD management in these affected areas is by offering replacement bucks. These replacement bucks will encourage hunters to continue hunting and harvesting antlered deer.
The Replacement Buck Program is an added incentive for hunters to have their deer tested for CWD. This program is available to those hunting in CWD-affected counties, including Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Madison, McNairy, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion, Shelby, Tipton, Wayne, and Weakley counties. If a hunter harvests a buck with a positive test result, the hunter will receive a replacement buck. Hunters may harvest replacement bucks in Unit CWD or the county where the CWD-positive antlered deer was harvested. Replacement bucks are good during the current deer season or the following year’s deer season, and there is no limit on the number of replacement bucks. The next antlered deer harvested counts as the replacement buck.
Deer hunters’ participation in CWD testing is critical for the continued surveillance and monitoring of CWD throughout the state. CWDinTennessee.com contains all your information on CWD, how to test your deer, find testing locations, locate drop off testing freezers, and meat processors and taxidermists participating in CWD sampling.
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