JACKSON, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Hunt Area 154, in the Jackson region, the agency announced Oct. 9.
According to WGFD, the disease was detected in a hunter-harvested buck mule deer in September.
Hunt Area 154 is bordered by three areas where CWD was previously detected in deer, WGFD said. To the west and northwest CWD was verified in Hunt Area 152 in 2019 and Hunt Area 155 in 2022. CWD was also detected to the south in Hunt Area 142 in 2020.
CWD is 100% fatal to deer, elk and moose that have been infected. In 2021, Game and Fish personnel tested 6,947 CWD lymph node samples from deer and elk — primarily submitted by hunters — and continue to evaluate new recommendations for trying to manage the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends hunters do not consume any animal that is obviously ill or tests positive for CWD.
CWD spreads rapidly when large numbers of animals congregate. The neurological disease is highly contagious and passed from animal to animal through saliva, feces, urine and decomposing carcasses. Because CWD is extremely resistant, environments that were contaminated by an infected carcass can infect other animals.
This year, WGFD is covering the cost of carcass disposal fees in Teton County. In Wyoming, hunters are required to dispose of carcasses in approved landfills or incinerators. Disposing of a carcass along the highway, on public land or across state lines is illegal.
WGFD also has mandatory CWD sample hunt areas and encourages hunters to submit voluntary samples of lymph nodes from harvested animals.
