 The Minnesota DNR plans two special deer hunts this month aimed at limiting the spread of chronic wasting disease in wild deer in southeastern Minnesota. The DNR announced the hunts today in specific deer permit areas south of Interstate 90. Residents and non-residents can take part in the hunts from December 21st to December 23rd and from December 28th to December 30th. The agency says it's acting quickly to contain the fatal deer disease while it is concentrated in one geographic area. Reducing deer numbers will help lower densities and remove infected animals from southeastern Minnesota. Our concern is that we have a persistent infection of the disease around Preston but what we're also seeing are animals particularly males or all males that are moving out from that core and being picked up miles away. So our concern is that we're really lending ourselves to establishing a new point of infections. Hunters should check the DNR's website for details about the hunts. The disease causes brain lesions in deer, elk and moose. There's no evidence chronic wasting infects people.