Washington’s first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in Spokane County, Game Management Unit (GMU) 124. It is important for hunters and road-kill salvagers to be aware of new rules regarding testing and transport. If you harvest or salvage a deer, elk, or moose in GMUs 124 (PDF), 127 (PDF), or 130 (PDF), you are required to submit to WDFW the whole head with at least three inches of neck attached, or extracted lymph nodes, within three days of harvesting or receiving a salvage permit.
Please be aware that you cannot transport whole carcasses into Washington from other states or Canadian provinces or to other areas of the state if they originated in Region 1 (100 series GMUs), with some exceptions. Visit the Carcass importation section below for a list of what is legal to transport. If you wish to keep the head and antlers, they will be returned to you after the sample is collected. For more information read our news release. Please help WDFW monitor this disease outbreak by getting your harvested or salvaged cervid tested for CWD. Sampling instructions, disposal, and testing requirements can be found on the CWD surveillance program page.
What is CWD?
As of summer 2024, chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected in 35 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. CWD is a fatal illness of cervids, which include white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose in Washington. The disease is caused by mutated proteins known as prions, which can contaminate the environment and be transmitted between animals through their feces, saliva, urine, and other bodily fluids. Most animals with CWD appear normal until the end stages of the disease when they show signs of weight loss, lethargy, drooping ears, excessive salivation and urination, and loss of fear of people. There is no cure for CWD.
The following video from the Mississippi State University Deer Ecology and Management Lab explains more about how CWD affects animals and how prion diseases work. Additional videos from the Lab cover topics such as how CWD affects deer populations, how it spreads, best practices for managing CWD, and more.
Colorado and Wyoming are currently dealing with the impacts of chronic wasting disease. This video illustrates the challenges of managing the spread of the disease and how activities like wildlife feeding and baiting can increase the spread of it.
CWD Testing
For information on how to have your harvested deer, elk, or moose tested for chronic wasting disease, go to our CWD surveillance page.
Frequently asked CWD questions
Updated Oct. 7, 2024
Q. How do I get my harvested deer, elk, or moose tested for CWD?
A. There are several testing options, including stopping at a hunter check staiton, making an appointment at a WDFW facility, dropping the head at a kiosk, or removing the lymph nodes and mailing them to WDFW. You can find more information on each of these options on the CWD surveillance page. Please do not show up to any WDFW facility without setting up an appointment with staff to collect a sample. Not all WDFW offices are equipped or have staff available to take samples.
Q: If I harvest a deer, elk, or moose in a 100 series game management unit (GMU) can I take it to another 100 series GMU to process?
A: Yes. Deer, elk, and moose that originate in the 100 series GMUs may be transported between 100 series GMUs but can’t be transported as whole carcasses outside of the 100 series GMUs. You can take whole carcasses to a different GMU as long as it remains within the 100 series.
Q. I usually take the deer that I harvest in 100 series GMUs to my home in another area of the state for processing. I understand that I can’t do that anymore and will need to field process it. How should I get rid of the carcass?
A. If possible, leave as much of the carcass in the field as you can so as to avoid moving CWD prions to areas where they aren’t already. If that isn’t an option, the web map above shows disposal options for carcasses.
Q: 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 as long as it wasn't brought in frozen and the retropharyngeal lymph nodes can be extractedr. Heads dropped off at self-service kiosks are not able to be returned but tools are available at kiosks to remove antlers prior to depositing the head. If you don’t want to keep the head, WDFW can dispose of it.
Q: The new rules say I can only take boned-out meat from the 100 series GMUs, so I can’t take my antlers and cape home outside of Region 1?
A: You can take other parts home but have to follow the transport guidelines in the original Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 220-413-030 for transporting deer, elk, moose, and caribou. The updated WAC only updates this original WAC to include the 100 series GMUs as an area where you cannot take whole carcasses out to other areas of Washington where we haven’t detected CWD. Please review the full WAC at the link for details.
Q. The WDFW website says that skulls and antlers are some of the items that are legal to be imported from out of state to Washington and to areas outside of the 100 series GMUs within Washington. If I transport antlers, am I required to remove velvet from them?
A. Yes, velvet is considered soft tissue and can transmit prions that cause CWD. It must be removed before antlers can be imported into Washington or outside of 100 series GMUs.
Q: How do I leave evidence of sex on a boned-out carcass?
A: Page 88 of the Washington Big Game Regulations has a description of how to do this, but the remarks about the head won’t apply:
- Male: Head with antlers or horns attached, or penis or testes, any of which must be naturally attached to at least one quarter of the carcass or to the largest portion of meat.
- Female: The head or udder must be naturally attached to at least one quarter of the carcass or to the largest portion of meat.
Q: Can I have my deer or elk tested if it came from outside of the target surveillance area in Region 1?
A: Yes, but there are no resources outside of Region 1 that will be able to take your sample. You will need to use the mail-in option described on our CWD surveillance webpage to submit a sample for testing. Shipping costs are at the expense of the submitter and cost will not be reimbursed. If you need assistance, please email CWD@dfw.wa.gov.
Q: 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.
Q. If my deer, elk, or moose comes back positive for CWD will I be able to get another tag?
A. Yes. Your tag will be replaced for this year and same season if it is still open.
Q. Can I have the meat from my harvested animal tested?
A. No, only the pharyngeal lymph nodes and brain tissue can be used for CWD testing.
Q. Why is it illegal for me to bait deer and elk for hunting purposes but my neighbor can still feed wildlife? Don’t both activities draw deer and elk together where they can spread disease to each other?
A. Both activities congregate animals and potentially spread disease and both have been banned, by emergency rule change, in game management units (GMUs) 124, 127, and 130 in Spokane County. You can read the changes to Washington Administrative Code (WAC) of the baiting emergency rule (PDF) or the feeding prohibition for deer, elk, and moose (PDF).
Q: I use other types of baiting scents (e.g., ammonia) to hunt deer that are not natural or derived from cervid urine or glandular extracts. Are these still allowed?
A: Yes. The current WAC states that an exception to the rule are scents used for cover and attractant that are not consumed by animals. The emergency rule includes baits and scents that are natural or synthetic derived from cervid urine or glandular extracts because some of these products may contain CWD prions. However, this WAC does not address reducing disease spread among potentially infected animals, and any activities that congregate animals can spread disease.
Q. I've seen a couple deer with odd lumps and growths on them. Is this a symptom of chronic wasting disease?
A. No, this is not a sign of CWD. We have been receiving frequent calls recently about deer with unusual growths on them. Deer and other wildlife occasionally have lumps or abscesses for a variety of reasons and most are insignificant to the health of the animal and to humans. Two common causes of lumps, growths, and abscesses include a condition called Caseous Lymphdenitis (CL) and Papillomas (warts). You can find information on both of these on WDFW's Growths and abscesses on deer webpage.
What is being done to stop or slow the spread of CWD in Washington?
WDFW is taking a proactive approach to managing CWD by adopting a CWD Management Plan in December 2021 and updating the Initial Response Chapter in 2024 reflecting knowledge gained after performing a table-top exercise in response to a detection. The Plan outlines strategies for public outreach and communication, risk assessment and minimization, pre-detection surveillance, and initial emergency response to a detection of CWD.
WDFW began limited testing for CWD in 1995 and, with additional federal funding provided specifically for CWD testing, conducted statewide surveillance for CWD from 2001-2011. After 2011 with limited funds, CWD testing in Washington was focused on animals showing clinical signs consistent with the disease.
In 2021, the Washington State Legislature provided funding for WDFW to conduct a CWD Pre-Detection Surveillance Program to test harvested, road-killed, and opportunistically found dead deer in areas of eastern Washington. WDFW is coordinating with federal and other state agencies, tribes, hunting organizations, taxidermists, and meat processors to collect samples to test for CWD. You can read about activities regarding CWD from July of 2023 to June of 2024 in the Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program annual report.
Please help WDFW monitor the health of cervid populations by getting your harvested or salvaged cervid tested for CWD. Sampling instructions, disposal, and testing requirements can be found on the CWD surveillance program page. Testing locations can be found on the map at the top of this page.
Please also report sick animals to your regional WDFW office or use this online reporting form.
If you hunt outside of Washington, please be aware of regulations impacting the transport of deer, elk, and moose carcasses from one state or province to another. You can find carcass import regulations on this map, provided by Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance.
Carcass importation from other states and within Washington
If you plan to hunt deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of Washington, there are rules (WAC 220-413-030) regulating how you can bring your meat and trophies home. These same rules apply to those that harvest or salvage deer, elk, and moose within the 100 series GMUs and are transporting carcasses to other areas of Washington state:
To reduce the risk of spreading CWD, if you harvest or salvage deer, elk, moose, or caribou in another state, province, or country, regardless of whether or not CWD is known to be present there, or within the 100 series GMUs, only the following items may be imported to Washington and to areas outside of the 100 series GMUs:
- Meat that has been de-boned in the state or province where it was harvested and is imported as boned-out meat
- Skulls and antlers (with velvet removed), antlers attached to the skull plate, or upper canine teeth (bugler, whistlers, ivories) from which all soft tissue has been removed
- Hides or capes without heads attached
- Tissue imported for use by a diagnostic or research laboratory
- Finished taxidermy mounts
Violation of this rule is a gross misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine or one year in jail (RCW 77.15.290).
Baiting and use of scents for the purposes of hunting
In GMUs 124, 127, and 130, it is unlawful to hunt deer, elk or moose using:
- Any type of bait placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting deer. moose, or elk with the intent to hunt them.
- Natural or synthetic scents that contain or are derived from cervid urine and glandular extracts.
Carcass disposal
To prevent spreading prions that cause CWD, avoid disposing of carcass parts on the landscape in a different location from where the animal was harvested. WDFW recommends either field dressing and leaving all inedible parts of your harvested animal at the kill site or disposing of inedible parts at an approved landfill. See the map above for locations of landfills that allow carcass disposal.
Mandatory Reporting of CWD-positive test results
If you are notified by another state or provincial fish and wildlife agency that the animal you have harvested has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, you have 24 hours to notify WDFW. WDFW will assist with proper disposal of any meat you do not wish to consume. Failure to do so is an infraction (RCW 77.15.160).
If you have any questions, please contact WDFW's Wildlife Program at 360-902-2515 or email CWD@dfw.wa.gov.
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. While CWD has not been associated with human 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 that people do not eat any animal that tests positive for CWD or appears to have CWD. 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.
Reports, plans, and other resources
Other resources
- Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan - August 2024
- Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program Annual Report: July 2023-June 2024
- Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program Annual Report: July 2022-June 2023
- Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program Annual Report: July 2021-June 2022
- Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan- December 2021
- 2012 CWD Final Report – Results of federally funded surveillance efforts conducted by WDFW 2001 - 2011
- CWD Alliance – Extensive information regarding all aspects of CWD including a comprehensive FAQ and list of CWD Regulations by State and Province (PDF)
- USGS National Wildlife Health Center
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention