Deer from southwest of Chinook suspected positive for CWD

From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

A mule deer buck harvested by a hunter in Hunting District 690 southwest of Chinook is suspected to be positive of chronic wasting disease.

The hunter had submitted their sample for testing.A follow-up test is being run to confirm the results.

Including the positives found in 2018, this marks the 25th detection of CWD in Region 6, and the first in HD 690. HD 690 will now be considered part of the Northern Montana CWD Management Zone, and animal transport restrictions will apply to HD 690.

In 2019, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is continuing CWD sampling for deer, elk and moose. Sampling took place last year in Region 6, but more samples are needed in the Northern CWD Management Zone of R6, particularly mule deer does and white-tailed deer, to further determine distribution and prevalence of the disease. FWP is also sampling for CWD in southeast Montana, near Philipsburg and in the Libby area.  

Samples still needed across Region 6 as of Nov. 4. For instance, now that HD 690 is part of a CWD Management Zone, 15 mule deer bucks, 143 mule deer does, 41 whitetail bucks and 113 whitetail does are still needed to reach sampling goals in that district. 

In other districts, 46 mule deer does, four white tail buck and 102 white tail does are needed in HD 6000.

In HD 611 99 mule deer does, 23 white tail bucks and 93 white tail does are needed.

In HD 630 103 mule deer does, 24 white tail bucks and 98 white tail does are needed.

In HD 640 100 mule deer does, 38 white tail bucks and 109 white tail does are needed.

In HD 670, 72 mule deer does, six white tail bucks and 100 white tail does are needed.

Hunters are the key tool for this sampling effort. The more samples FWP can collect, particularly from the CWD sampling areas, the better FWP can understand the distribution and prevalence of this disease.

“Even though we have reached our mule deer buck sampling goal in most of the districts, the more samples we have the better we can understand the distribution of the disease,” says Thompson.

“We are especially in need of doe samples to help describe the prevalence of the disease in the overall deer herd,” added Thompson. “In addition, hunters may want to know if their harvest is CWD positive, and the only way this can be determined is through testing.”

In addition to the CWD sampling areas, testing is also available for hunter-harvested samples from anywhere in the state. For 2019, all CWD testing is free of charge. Hunters outside of CWD sampling areas can take the samples themselves and fill out the information sheet found online, and either mail the samples to the FWP lab in Bozeman or drop them off at a FWP reginal office during business hours.

Transporting deer, elk, and moose carcasses

Hunters are reminded that to reduce the spread of CWD, by law, whole carcasses, whole heads or spinal columns cannot be taken out of a CWD management zone unless the animal has tested negative for CWD; note that when an animal is tested at a check station or mailed in, it may take up to three weeks to receive results from the test. Hunters are strongly encouraged to dispose of hides, bones and trimmings at approved landfills.

In FWP Region 6, to get a deer, elk or moose tested, hunters must retain at least the head with four-inches of the neck attached for sampling and help fill out a small information card, including the location of the harvest. Once sampled, it may take up to three weeks to receive results from the test.

Following are the options below for getting an animal tested:

CWD check stations

Three CWD check stations will be open on the weekends throughout the general season in Region 6, with the primary purpose of collecting samples from hunter-harvested deer in the Northern CWD Management Zone.

• Plentywood: 10 a.m.-sunset, Sat.-Sun., on the east side of the rest area at the fair grounds

• Malta: 10 a.m.-sunset, Sat.-Sun., at the gravel lot behind Westside Conoco on the north side of Hwy 2

• Havre: 9 a.m.-sunset, Sat.-Sun., at the old rest stop east of Havre

Samples from the priority areas (CWD Management Zones) will take precedence at these check stations. If the animal was harvested outside of a CWD Management Zone, there may be a wait time, or the hunter can use one of the options below.

All hunters need to stop at any check station, whether it is a CWD, biological or game warden check station.Submitting an animal for testing is voluntary.

FWP offices

Hunters can bring in their animal during normal office hours in:

• Glasgow: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the FWP Headquarters on Highway 2 West

• Havre: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the FWP Havre office at 2165 Highway 2 East.

Hunter submitted samples

Hunters can take their own sample by removing the retropharyngeal lymph nodes themselves as per online instructions at fhttp://wp.mt.gov/CWD . Samples can then either be dropped off at FWP Regional offices, CWD check stations, or be mailed to the lab in Bozeman. Hunters would have to pay the cost of shipping.

People with questions related to CWD can go to the website at http://fwp.mt.gov/CWD or call the Glasgow FWP office at 406-228-3700.