JACKSON, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a cow elk from Elk Hunt Area 84 in the Jackson region south of Cache Creek.
According to WGFD, Elk Hunt Area 84’s northern boundary begins near Snow King Mountain and follows Cache Creek to the east. The region’s southern boundary encompasses Grayback Ridge, a mountain range that extends for 20 miles from Pickle Pass all the way to Hoback Junction. U.S. Highway 191 crosses through the Hunt Area.
Eric K. Cole, senior wildlife biologist for the National Elk Refuge told Buckrail that detection of the disease in Area 84 “does not have a lot of implications for the Jackson Elk Herd” that resides on the Refuge.
“There’s not very much interchange between Elk Hunt Area 84 and the Refuge, based on collared data from the Jackson Elk Herd,” Cole said.
Elk Hunt Area 84 has no surrounding CWD-positive elk areas, however, its corresponding deer area (Deer HA 152) has had previous CWD detections, as have surrounding deer areas (Deer HAs 144, 154 and 155).
According to the WGFD, the elk was reported by a member of the public who found it dead on public land. The agency did not specify an exact location in the Hunt Area.
“Department personnel investigated the carcass and sampled the elk,” the WGFD said in the announcement.
The WGFD wrote on its website that the disease is 100% fatal to infected deer, elk and moose. In 2023, Game and Fish personnel tested more than 5,000 CWD samples from deer, elk and moose — primarily submitted by hunters — and continue to evaluate new recommendations for managing the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends hunters do not consume any animal that is obviously ill or tests positive for CWD.
For more information on chronic wasting disease testing, transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses go to the WGFD website.
