The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced on Wednesday that they will cease targeted culling of deer in three permit areas due to levels of chronic wasting disease reaching endemic levels.

"Chronic wasting disease, commonly referred to as CWD, is a fatal neurological disease that affects cervids, including white-tailed deer. It is found globally and in about half of the states in the U.S. CWD remains relatively rare in Minnesota but is a concern as there is no known cure," the DNR website states.

A startling increase in the prevalence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in southeastern Minnesota’s deer population has triggered a new management response from the Department of Natural Resources that might surprise hunters.

A strategy change is taking place to help combat chronic wasting disease in three southeast Minnesota deer permit areas.

Targeted culling of wild deer in Winona and Fillmore counties will end because a rise in CWD has made the disease management approach ineffective.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will discontinue targeted culling in deer permit areas 646, 647 and 648, in the southeast corner of the state, where chronic wasting disease has reached endemic stage, or a point in which some of the current methods of management are no longer effective.

The targeted culling of deer to try and contain the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) is being ended in parts of southeastern Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says the practice is being discontinued in deer permit area 646,