(MT FWP) – A mule deer buck taken in hunting district (HD) 404 north of Great Falls was found to have Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), marking the first instance of the condition in that district.
Two tests came back positive for CWD, but the final confirmation test showed negative. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is treating the results as a first detection of CWD in the district.
Hunters are encouraged to have harvested animals tested for the disease. Testing can be done at the Great Falls office Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm, or find other testing options at fwp.mt.com.
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CWD is a fatal, contagious neurological disease that has been found in mule deer, white tailed deer, elk and moose. There is no known cure, and it is not transmittable to humans.
Hunting is the primary tool for CWD monitoring and managing spread. Hunters are encouraged to have animals tested prior to consumption, and CDC advises not to consume if positive tests are returned.
Leave carcass parts such as brain, eyes, spleen, lymph nodes and spinal cord material at the site of the kill when possible. If transported for taxidermy or processing purposes, the brain and spinal tissue must be bagged and disposed of in a Class II landfill.
Random dumping of carcasses is illegal and unethical. Doing so may spread disease. Carcass transport is legal throughout Montana.
Sample submission for CWD is voluntary in most Montana sites. Guidelines for hunters to submit samples themselves can be found in the Montana CWD Submission Guide or visiting a CWD Sampling Station.
Avoid feeding wildlife. Wild animals fed by humans creates unnatural congregation, increasing the risk of disease spread.
FWP has plenty of information online at fwp.mt.gov/cwd.
