Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a fatal disease of deer, elk and moose, and it has now been found in 36 states. It changes how many hunters handle and transport their deer.
What it is
CWD is caused by a misfolded protein called a prion. It damages the nervous system and is always fatal to infected animals. It was first detected in 1967 and, as of April 2025, had been documented in free-ranging or captive deer family animals in 36 states and five Canadian provinces.
How hunting helps
A U.S. Geological Survey study of ten Wyoming mule deer herds found that harvesting around 40 percent of adult bucks every year for 20 years is expected to keep CWD infections low. In some Wyoming mule deer herds, more than half of the animals can be infected.
What it means for a hunt
- Check whether the area you hunt is a CWD management zone.
- Learn the state’s testing rules and where to drop off samples.
- Many states limit moving whole carcasses across state lines, so plan to bone out meat.
- Wait for test results before eating meat from a CWD area.
Rules differ by state and change often. Always check the current regulations with the state wildlife agency.