Actually, there was some good news from the DNR tests. Save for one (maybe two)deer found near at the Illinois border, the only animals that were found to have CWD were in the eradication zone...or on game farms. Deer were tested from all over the state. This tells me that CWD was NOT always here. And so far has not gotten a chance to spread much. When one deer was found NEAR the edge of the eradication zone, they expanded the zone (there is also a " buffer zone" that they are also thinning the heard and doing lots of testing).
As unpopular as it may seem, I think the DNR is doing the right thing. I don' t believe that baiting (when done within the rules that WERE allowed) had anything to do with the spread, as the areas that get the most " enthusiastic" baiting turned up no animals with CWD. (not starting a baiting vs. non-baiting thread...just my opinion on the cause).
The hard part is that until you kill the deer, it' s very hard to tell if they have CWD until late in it' s progression. An animal from outside the state had CWD and was brought here (he didn' t swim the Mississippi!!!)...most leikly to a game farm, and it spread from there. WITH LUCK we MIGHT be able to stop it....or at least keep it in check.