Pennsylvania Game News - September 2020 - 47

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Armstrong, and Clarion counties.
DMA 4 also expanded, not because of
any sick free-ranging deer - none have
ever been found there - but because of
another Lancaster County captive deer
found with CWD.
As a result, DMA 4 is now about 743
square miles, up from 346 a year ago. It
expanded south into Lancaster County
and now covers portions of Berks,
Lancaster and Lebanon counties.
Within Disease Management Areas,
it's illegal to move high-risk parts outside
their boundaries. High-risk parts include
the head (more specifically the brain,
eyes, tonsils and lymph nodes); spinal
cord/backbone; spleen; skull plate with
attached antlers, if visible brain or spinal
cord material is present; cape, if visible
brain or spinal cord material is present;
upper canine teeth, if root structure or
other soft material is present; any object
or article containing visible brain or spinal
cord material; and brain-tanned hide.
Hunters also are prohibited from using
natural urine-based attractants within
DMAs, or possessing them in the field.
Feeding of deer is prohibited, too.

DMAP in DMAs

Hunters will notice a change in their
opportunities to harvest deer within
Disease Management Areas this fall.
In years past, the Pennsylvania Game
Commission offered Deer Management
Assistance Program, or DMAP, permits
within DMAs. Most of those have gone
away because of changes to seasons.
"At theApril 2020 Commission meeting,
Game Commission staff recommended,
and the board of commissioners approved,
increased antlerless licenses in Wildlife
Management Units where CWD had
been detected. In addition, the board
of commissioners approved a 14-day
SEPTEMBER 2020 	

The most up-to-date Disease Management Area
maps always can be found at www.pgc.pa.gov.
Check the boundaries before heading afield.

concurrent firearms season for antlered
and antlerless deer in these WMUs to
provide more hunting opportunity,"
said Christopher Rosenberry, the Game
Commission's Game Management
Division Chief. "The antlerless deer
license increases and concurrent seasons
in these areas eliminate the need for
DMAP permits in CWD areas. Because
of this, most DMAP units from past
years, created specifically for CWD
management, have been eliminated."
That said, some CWD-related DMAP
permits may be available beginning in
August. Check www.pgc.pa.gov for more
information.

About CWD
CWD is an always-fatal brain disease
that affects members of the cervid family
including deer, elk and moose. There is no
live-animal test for it and no cure.
First identified in Colorado in 1967, it
has now been found in 26 states and four
Canadian provinces.
Misfolded proteins called prions are
believed to cause chronic wasting disease.
Infected deer spread the disease to other
animals and the environment by shedding
prions through saliva, urine and feces.
Symptoms include lowered head
and ears, weight loss, excessive
drooling, rough-hair coat, uncoordinated
movements and, ultimately, death. But on
average, infected individuals don't display
symptoms for 18 to 24 months.
To date, CWD has not been found
to infect humans. However, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
recommend people avoid eating meat
from CWD-infected animals.
47
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Pennsylvania Game News - September 2020

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