Chris Lowrey
OUTAOUAIS Sept. 21, 2018
The Laurentians and part of the Ouaouais region have been hit with a ban on hunting white tail deer in the wake of the discovery of chronic wasting disease in several deers at a farm in the Laurentians.
The ban is in effect until Nov. 18 and encompasses a 400 square kilometre area east of Gatineau.
The discovery of chronic wasting disease was made late last month. The disease is a progressive, fatal nervous system disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, elk and reindeer.

Although there is no scientifically proven risk to humans, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says that humans should not consume any tissue that may have come from an infected animal.
The Ministry of Flora, Fauna and Parks says that it will provide free sampling for hunters to determine if a slaughtered animal is carrying the disease.
The Ministry said in a press release that anyone wishing to get a refund for their hunting permits can do so by contacting info.dalp@mffp.gouv.qc.ca and can find a map at https://mffp.gouv.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/carte-MDC-en.pdf