Game Commission Sets 6 Public Meetings On Chronic Wasting Disease In Deer

The Game Commission Thursday announced it has scheduled a series of public meetings to ensure Pennsylvanians remain informed about chronic wasting disease, and how this threat to the state’s deer and deer hunting impacts their lives.

So far, meetings have been scheduled on the following dates at these locations:

-- September 16: 9 a.m. – Chambersburg Rod & Gun Club, sponsored by Rep. Paul Schemel in conjunction with a second amendment program. More information: 814-643-1831.

-- September 16: 9 a.m. – Fayetteville Fire Hall, sponsored by Sen. Richard Alloway II. More information: 814-643-1831.

-- September 19: 6:30 p.m. – Greencastle Sportsman’s Club, sponsored by Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr. More information: 814-643-1831.

-- September 28: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Penn State DuBois Student Union, an open house sponsored by Reps. Matt Gabler, Thomas Sankey and Cris Dush.

-- October 5: 6:30 p.m. – Fayetteville Fire Hall, sponsored by Rep. Rob Kauffman. More information: 814-643-1831.

-- October 10: 6:30 p.m. – McConnellsburg Fire Hall, sponsored by Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr. and Rep. Jesse Topper. More information: 814-643-1831.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) first was detected in Pennsylvania at a captive deer farm in Adams County in 2012, and has since been detected at an increasing rate in captive and free-ranging deer.

CWD always is fatal to the deer and elk it infects. As additional CWD-positive deer are detected in new areas, more and more Pennsylvanians must learn and comply with regulations geared to slow the disease’s spread.

The public meetings provide individuals an opportunity to ask questions and obtain detailed explanations about what they can do to help with efforts to curtail CWD.

Additional meetings may be scheduled.

A plethora of information about the disease, including maps of the Disease Management Areas within which special rules apply regarding the hunting and feeding of deer, can be found on the Game Commission’s Chronic Wasting Disease webpage.