CWD Positives From Across The State, No New Areas

Earlier this month, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks was notified of 18 deer from across the state that tested positive for chronic wasting disease. The positive deer all come from areas where CWD was previously known to exist, including hunting districts in Madison, Liberty, Daniels and Gallatin counties. All but two of the deer were hunter-harvested animals. All but one were white-tailed deer. The positive deer came from the following hunting districts: 322, 309, 640 and 401.

This year, FWP will use Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Bozeman as the primary testing facility. Hunters who submit samples should have results back within three weeks. Results will be posted online. Hunters will be notified directly if they have a positive animal.

CWD is a contagious neurological disease that infects deer, elk and moose. It is always fatal and there is no known cure. It was first found in Montana in 2017. It is not known to infect humans, but it is strongly recommended that people not eat meat from infected animals and to have their harvested animals tested before eating them if they were taken from an area where CWD is known to exist.

FWP is continuing CWD surveillance this year in priority surveillance areas located in northwest, southwest and eastern Montana. Hunters who harvest deer, elk or moose in these areas are asked to voluntarily submit a sample from their animal to help gather additional data for that area. This information will be used to help inform the best management strategies for the affected hunting districts.

FWP will cover the cost of testing hunter-harvested animals for CWD.

A critical change this year is the state will not have transportation restriction zones, as it did last year. Instead, to better prevent the spread of CWD, hunters are required to properly dispose of their carcass waste. Two options for carcass waste disposal include:

•Any waste carcass parts removed from the field, particularly brain, eyes, spleen, lymph glands and spinal cord material, must be bagged and disposed of in a landfill.

•Leave all carcass waste at the kill site.

Dumping carcasses is illegal, unethical and can spread diseases, including chronic wasting disease. Proper carcass disposal is critical to protecting Montana’s herds.

Hunter check stations are in operation across Montana and will continue through the general rifle season with a few changes in protocol related to COVID-19 safety.

The only continuous hunter check station in Region 6 is located a few miles east of Havre on Highway 2 and operates during daylight hours on Saturday and Sunday throughout the general season. In addition, wardens may also occasionally set up hunter check stations throughout the region at any time. All hunters are required by law to stop as directed at all designated check stations on their way to and from hunting, even if they have no game to be checked.

At check stations, public safety as it relates to the spread of COVID-19 will be important. FWP staff will be working to reduce crowding at the stations this season and for hunters the check station process will be streamlined as much as possible.

However, each check station may handle this process a bit differently, depending on staff, check station logistics and traffic flow. Follow all directions and signs from FWP staff as they work diligently to check game, answer questions and get you on your way. If social distancing is difficult, be ready to wear a mask.

Additionally, in the northwest, eastern and southwest parts of Montana, FWP will be operating CWD sampling stations where staff priority will be collecting samples rather than the traditional game check station process. Again, follow site-specific directions and signs from FWP staff. Locations near northeast Montana include: Flowing Wells Junction of Hwy 200 and Hwy 24- Fri and Mon, 10 a.m.-dusk Sidney, Town Pump on the South side of town - Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

FWP is also ready to help hunters sample their deer, elk or moose for CWD at their offices: Glasgow Region 6 headquarters - M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (228-3700) Havre Region 6 Field Office - M-F, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (406-265-6177) For more information, visit fwp.mt.gov/cwd.