Otter Tail Officers Enforce CWD Feed Ban, Find 20 to 30 Deer

Conservation officers in Otter Tail County confirmed an illegal deer-feeding complaint and discovered 20 to 30 deer trailing a patrol vehicle to a feeding site, part of broader enforcement tied to the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management zone feed ban. The finding came in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources weekly conservation officer roundup for Jan. 20, which summarized district activity across central Minnesota.

The verified incident underscores the DNR’s renewed emphasis on preventing the artificial concentration of deer during winter months. Officers tied the enforcement action directly to the feed ban in the CWD management zone, a measure intended to reduce the risk of disease transmission among white-tailed deer. Conservation officers performing routine patrols across lakes and trails reported continued attention to attractant removal and compliance checks as winter recreation continues.

Local conservation officers assigned to the Perham and Pelican Rapids areas logged routine patrols of lakes, checking ice anglers and snowmobilers, and responded to calls as needed. Officers also attended training at Camp Ripley and coordinated with other agencies on public-safety and wildlife concerns. Those daily patrols and training rotations allowed officers to respond quickly to the reported feeding site and to document the number of animals present.

The local impact reaches several corners of Otter Tail County life. Deer-feeding can draw animals into unnaturally dense groups, increasing the chance that CWD or other diseases will spread through a herd and ultimately affecting hunting success, local venison supplies and the county’s outdoor economy. For lake-country residents who rely on hunting and winter outdoor recreation, preventing disease spread is also about preserving traditions and local food sources.

The DNR guidance on the feed ban within the CWD management zone explains the prohibited practices and offers steps for compliance. Residents who feed deer, leave out attractants or maintain artificial feeding stations in restricted areas are subject to enforcement activity; conservation officers encourage removal of attractants and voluntary compliance to protect herd health. Officers continue routine monitoring of ice anglers and snowmobile trails while prioritizing CWD-related enforcement in high-risk areas.

As Minnesota moves through winter into the spring thaw, conservation officers will keep patrolling known feeding sites and recreational areas. For Otter Tail residents, the recent enforcement action is a reminder that stopping supplemental feeding and reporting suspicious activity helps protect deer populations and the hunting traditions that many local families depend on.