SHERIDAN (WNE) – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed two new hunt areas where deer and elk have tested positive for chronic wasting disease in the Sheridan Region.
CWD was confirmed in Deer Hunt Area 25 in the Bighorn Mountains with a positive test from an adult doe mule deer that died during a WGFD capture operation. Deer Hunt Area 25 is surrounded on three sides by four known CWD positive deer hunt areas.
In Elk Hunt Area 123 near Wright, a sick elk was sampled by WGFD personnel, testing positive for CWD. Although Elk Hunt Area 123 is newly-positive for elk, the corresponding Deer Hunt Areas, 8 and 21, have been known positive since 2003 and 2019, respectively.
To ensure that hunters are informed, WGFD announces when CWD is found in a new hunt area. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends hunters do not consume any animal that is obviously ill or tests positive for CWD.
Continued monitoring of CWD over time is important to help WGFD understand the potential impacts of the disease as well as evaluate future management actions for deer and elk. A map of CWD endemic areas is available on the WGFD website. The disease is fatal to deer, elk and moose.
Throughout the fall, WGFD is asking hunters to collect lymph node samples from deer and elk for CWD testing in focused monitoring hunt areas across Wyoming. Hunters are an important component in helping WGFD understand the disease and achieve CWD monitoring goals.
Please visit the WGFD website for more information on chronic wasting disease testing, transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses.
