Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Mule Deer Buck

(GREAT FALLS) – Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks reports that chronic wasting disease (CWD) was recently detected in a mule deer buck taken by a hunter east of Stanford in Hunting District 419. Multiple rounds of testing confirmed that the deer was positive for CWD. This is the first time CWD has been detected in Hunting District 419.
CWD is a contagious neurological disease that infects mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. It’s always fatal, and there is no known cure. It was first detected in Montana’s wild herds in 2017.
There is no known transmission of CWD to humans. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that hunters harvesting a deer, elk, or moose from an area where CWD is known to be present have their animal tested for CWD prior to consuming the meat and do not consume the meat if the animal tests positive.