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.

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

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

Now that CWD prevalence in the southeast part of the state has doubled in one year, to 5% or more, the benefit of offseason culling is considered too meager to justify the expense.