Chronic Wasting Disease

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is asking hunters to voluntarily submit samples from harvested deer, elk, and moose during the general season opening October 24 to track chronic wasting disease (CWD) and inform management strategies. Proper carcass disposal and reporting sick-looking animals also help keep CWD prevalence low and protect future hunting opportunities.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is requesting hunters to submit deer for chronic wasting disease testing from Mecosta, Newaygo, Kent, Montcalm, and Ionia counties during the 2026 hunting season. The DNR, led by deer management specialist Brent Rudolph, aims to understand how CWD prevalence has changed since 2019 testing to determine disease management options.

Idaho Fish and Game's Clearwater Region reminds hunters about chronic wasting disease regulations in designated CWD Management Zones. Hunters harvesting deer in Game Management Units 14 and 18, and a portion of Unit 1, must submit samples for testing and follow special carcass-transport requirements to prevent disease spread.

Oklahoma confirms its sixth Chronic Wasting Disease case in a wild deer near Optima in Texas County since June 2023. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and ODWC have expanded the Selective Surveillance Area, with Joey McAllister stating their goal is to ensure healthy, well-managed deer with minimal impact to resources and constituents.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds hunters that using deer lures containing deer urine or bodily fluids is banned to prevent Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) transmission. CWD is a fatal disease spread through prions in urine, and Vermont's deer biologist Nick Fortin urges hunters to use legal synthetic alternatives instead.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease for the first time in Elk Hunt Area 2 in the Sheridan Region. The Game and Fish’s Wildlife Health Lab confirmed the presence of CWD in a bull elk that was euthanized due to suspected disease.

Staff from Idaho Fish and Game’s Panhandle Regional Office operated a check station on Nov. 16. The purpose of the station was to monitor hunter compliance with Idaho’s wildlife laws and to evaluate whether big game harvested was being transported in accordance with CWD regulations.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease in deer for the first time in two new hunt areas: Deer Hunt Area 106 in the Cody Region, and Deer Hunt Area 150 in the Jackson Region.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is asking hunters to continue doing their part to help keep Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) at bay. All successful deer and elk hunters are encouraged to bring the head of their harvested animal — especially bucks and bulls — to any department office statewide between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Allegan is now the 17th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan DNR. An emaciated doe reported by residents of Leighton Township recently tested positive for the disease.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff in Region 3 will host a chronic wasting disease sampling workshop in Bozeman next week. The event will be Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at FWP’s Bozeman office, 1400 S. 19th Ave.

Under Alabama’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone Regulation (220-2-.167), all deer harvested in the High-Risk Zone and the Buffer Zone of the state’s CWD Management Zone (CMZ) must be submitted for CWD testing during specific weekends of the 2025-2026 white-tailed deer season.

Attention Hunters: Montana FWP is holding a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) public training clinic in Great Falls on Tuesday Nov. 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease for the first time in Mule Deer Hunt Area 153 in the Pinedale Region. Game and Fish confirmed the presence of CWD in a hunter-harvested, adult male mule deer.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2025 hunting season by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease from select units in the northwestern portion of the state.

Nebraska hunters in the chronic wasting disease testing zone for this year’s firearm deer season will have two options to test their deer: in-person check stations or a free mail-in sampling kit.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission proposes to amend ARM 12.6.1015 to reflect the most accurate and updated list of states and provinces with documented occurrences of chronic wasting disease.

Starting in 2026, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will be requiring hunters to submit a sample from deer harvested during the general-season any-legal-weapon buck deer hunt in the Ogden hunting unit in order to test for chronic wasting disease.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease for the first time in Elk Hunt Area 61 in the Cody Region. Game and Fish confirmed the presence of CWD in a deceased cow elk found in the hunt area.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will present a free chronic wasting disease sampling training and information session for hunters and the public in Billings on Wednesday, Oct. 29that the Billings FWP headquarters shop area from 5-7 p.m. Hunters of all ages are welcome.