CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said on Monday that hunters have so far submitted over 4,800 deer and elk lymph node samples this season.
The samples are valuable to Game and Fish’s efforts to monitor chronic wasting disease in the state.
“We’ve had good participation in our CWD sampling program this year,” Game and Fish Wildlife Health Laboratory Supervisor Hank Edwards said, “But we still need more samples to meet our goals, so please submit from your later-season elk and deer harvests.”
Game and Fish is requiring hunters in Deer Hunt Areas 96 and 97 to submit lymph node samples. It is the first time the department has mandated that hunters submit samples.
The department is also asking that hunters who harvest animals in the following targeted areas submit samples:
- Deer Hunt Areas 1-6, 19, 24, 25, 27-33, 41, 46, 47, 50-53, 61, 66, 74-77, 124, 130, 131, 134, 135, 138-146, 150-157, 163, 165, 169 and 171
- Elk Hunt Areas 13, 15, 21, 41, 45, 67-71, 75, 77-85, 88-91, 97, 98, 102-105, 108, 127 and 130
The department rotates which hunt areas will be targeted for sampling each year in order not to overwhelm the Wildlife Health Laboratory with testing.
“Hunters outside of this year’s focused surveillance areas can still submit a sample for testing,” Game and Fish notes. “Hunters can learn how to take a sample by watching a how-to video on the Game and Fish website and submit it alongside the CWD data sheet. Hunters can also have animals sampled at any game check station this season or by stopping at the Game and Fish Headquarters or regional offices from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hunters who submit samples are entered into a prize raffle.“
Game and Fish adds that results from chronic waste disease testing are available online within three weeks. Hunters can pay a $30 fee to get results within ten working days. Hunters should contact the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab in Laramie at (307) 766-9925 for more information.
“Hunters also need to be aware of Wyoming carcass transport and disposal rules to prevent the spread of CWD within Wyoming and other states,” Game and Fish notes. “Since 1997, the Wyoming Game and Fish has been monitoring the distribution and prevalence of CWD to better understand how this disease may affect the health of Wyoming’s deer and elk populations. Initial surveillance goals focused on the detection of CWD in new areas of the state along with monitoring the disease.”
“This disease has now been identified in most deer hunt areas across Wyoming and necessitates a shift in focus of the program from detection to monitoring.”
Hunters submitted 6,496 samples for testing in 2020.
“More information and resources for hunters on CWD is available on the Game and Fish CWD webpage,” the department said.
