Perceptions and Management of Chronic Wasting Disease in Washington State: A Survey of Cervid Hunters

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease caused by a misfolded protein, or prion, and is found in cervids (e.g., deer, elk, moose). It represents a serious threat to cervid populations and is one of the most important ungulate management issues facing state wildlife management agencies. Issues associated with CWD can affect many groups including hunters, tribal groups, biologists, rehabilitators, and farmers among others, and many can play an essential role in CWD management (e.g., hunters can help with cervid population control methods). In 2021, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) adopted the CWD Management Plan for Washington State, which specifically called for incorporating human dimensions of disease management with the ecological and epidemiological elements in CWD management. It is essential to develop a strong human dimensions component as management actions in other states have shown that when the public is not appropriately engaged, the probability of success is diminished. The study presented here sought to understand public preferences and perceptions of CWD and CWD management. We conducted 15 key constituent interviews and deployed a survey instrument in summer of 2023. (CWD was detected in Washington in July 2024, but this survey was completed ahead of that detection). The survey was emailed to 165,700 resident hunters in Washington State who had purchased a big game license since 2015 and the results presented below are based on interviews and completed survey responses from 7,403 individuals.

Key findings:

• WDFW is overwhelmingly the main source of public information about wildlife management for survey respondents, and the agency is also the preferred source for CWD information.
• Hunters in Washington are well informed about CWD prevalence, transmission and characteristics. However, interviews and qualitative survey responses suggest that further CWD education is warranted, especially regarding visual identification and the potential for cervids to appear healthy for several years after contracting CWD. Additionally, there was some uncertainty about the cause of CWD (prion vs. bacteria), which may affect understanding of disease origins and treatment potential.
• Hunters generally are most supportive of management activities that increase hunting opportunities (e.g., lengthening hunting seasons, creating special CWD permits) and are supportive of hunter-led strategies (e.g., employing hunter targeted deer and elk removals). But generally, hunters are not as supportive of management strategies that increase restrictions (e.g., banning baiting, feeding, urine-scent lures) and WDFW-led interventions (e.g., WDFW targeted deer and elk removals, aka sharpshooters).
• Hunters have limited trust in WDFW overall, but slightly more trust regarding WDFW’s work on CWD.
• The practice of baiting is particularly divisive, and there is not broad support for banning baiting or feeding. The majority of respondents believe baiting bans are driven by an “anti-hunting contingent,” which may make enforcement difficult given the contentious nature of the issue. However, there is uncertainty about the issue from a relatively large proportion of respondents. Younger respondents and archery hunters were the least likely to support a baiting ban.
• There was little difference in viewpoints between respondents who live in eastern Washington as compared to those who live in the west. Hunters were consistent in their beliefs and values despite living in a range of political geographies.
• Age had a strong effect on survey responses. Younger respondents were more likely to have less trust in WDFW, not support management restrictions, and support management that increased hunting opportunities when compared with older respondents.
• Hunter check station awareness and usage is linked strongly with age, with older hunters being more aware of check stations and more willing to use them. The most cited barrier to check station use was location. Respondents seemed receptive to a variety of different incentives to increase sample submission, though offering rifles or other hunting gear as incentives for submitting samples may be more controversial.