Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
Significant changes are red.
What is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)?
CWD is a fatal illness of cervids, which include white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose, and caribou. CWD has been detected in Eastern Washington and is found in wild or captive cervids in most other states and Canada. CWD can be spread to new areas in the remains of harvested cervids. Unmanaged, CWD in Washington could severely impact our deer and elk populations, which could in turn impact hunting opportunities, economies that rely on hunting revenue, and ultimately, ecosystem health and resilience.
How can you help?
To best maintain healthy cervid populations, we need help from our hunting community. Hunters can contribute to cervid management and conservation by:
- Preventing transmission of CWD to other areas by following the guidelines for proper disposal.
- 1st preferred method – Debone at the harvest-site and leave inedible parts on site.
- 2nd preferred method – Any inedible parts brought out of the harvest-site, disposed of at an approved landfill, and make sure transport restrictions are followed.
- 3rd preferred method – Any inedible parts brought home, double bag, and put in household trash that goes to a landfill.
- Getting your harvested deer, elk, or moose tested for CWD (see “Learn more about the CWD Surveillance Program” below).
- Staying up-to-date and understanding carcass transportation restrictions in Washington and other states and provinces where you hunt.
- Be aware of the new statewide prohibition on baiting and feeding.
Learn more about the CWD Surveillance Program
If you harvest a deer, elk, or moose in eastern Washington within Region 1, you are required to have it tested for CWD. For submission details, visit the WDFW CWD information page. If you want to have your deer, elk, or moose that was harvested outside of Region 1 tested, visit the website, and follow instructions on how to mail-in your sample.
Health and Human Safety
CWD has not been shown to infect people, but research is still ongoing, and it is not known for certain if people can get infected with this disease.
There is a theoretical risk to people who eat an infected animal. As a precaution, the Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend not eating any animal that tests positive for CWD or appears to have it.
WDFW and DOH also advise hunters to:
- Avoid harvesting any animal that appears sick or behaves strangely.
- Wear eye protection and disposable gloves while field dressing game.
- Thoroughly wash hands and equipment after processing carcasses.
- Minimize handling parts where the CWD prions accumulate, including the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, pancreas, tonsils, and lymph nodes.
- Avoid cutting through bone, brain, or spinal cord.
- Disinfect processing tools by soaking in household bleach (>2% free chlorine) at a 40% solution (with water) for a minimum of five minutes. Remove any tissue pieces from tools before soaking and rinse tools after soaking.
- Safely discard inedible parts and any positive meat using one of the recommended methods listed on the WDFW website. Tissues from CWD-positive animals can contaminate the environment and infect other cervids. Do not dispose of infected materials on the landscape or feed to pets.
NEW Possession, Transport, and Testing Rules
If you hunt or salvage deer, elk, or moose in any WDFW management region where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been detected, you must submit a sample of the animal for testing. At the time of publication, the department has confirmed CWD in Region 1. For more information, see WACs 220-400-040 and 220-413-100 or visit the WDFW Chronic Wasting Disease page.
Region 1 hunters must also follow new transport rules, including deboning the meat before relocating it to an in-state area outside Region 1 (see below for details - WAC 220-413-030).
These rules also apply to deer, elk, moose, or caribou harvested or salvaged outside of Washington. You cannot bring whole carcasses into Washington.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long will it take to get my test results back after I submit a sample?
A: Typically, 4-6 weeks. Results will be available online, using your WILD ID or salvage permit number depending on if this was a harvested or road-killed salvaged animal. If the animal tests positive for CWD, WDFW will notify you and help with disposal of any meat you do not wish to consume.
Once I submit a deer, elk, or moose head for sampling, do I get the head and antlers back?
A: When sampling is done at a WDFW office or hunter check station, the head and antlers can be returned if it wasn't brought in frozen and the sample can be extracted immediately. Heads dropped off at self-service kiosks are not able to be returned. Please remove antlers prior to depositing the head.
Can I have the meat from my harvested animal tested?
A. No, only the retropharyngeal lymph nodes can be used for CWD testing at this time.
Washington Carcass Transportation Restrictions
If you hunt deer, elk, moose, or caribou in states or provinces outside of Washington State, only the following items may be imported to Washington to reduce the risk of transmitting CWD:
Violation of this rule is a gross misdemeanor having a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine or one year in jail. (RCW 77.15.290)
In addition, if you are notified by another state fish and wildlife agency that the animal you have harvested outside of Washington State has tested positive for CWD, you must notify the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife within 24 hours. Violation of this rule is an infraction (RCW 77.15.160).
