OTHER QUESTIONS OFTEN ASKED BY HUNTERS
Why shouldn't I eat certain parts of my deer and elk? Research indicates that the prions accumulate only in certain parts of infected animals - the brain, eyes, spinal cord, lymph nodes, tonsils and spleen. Based upon these findings, hunters are recommended to bone out their animals and consume only muscle tissue from animals harvested in CWD areas. How can I reduce the possibility of spreading CWD contaminated tissue when butchering my game? Prions are concentrated in the brain, spinal cord, lymph glands, tonsils, eyes and spleen. Wear latex or rubber gloves. Bone all meat. Don't saw through bone. Removal of fatty tissue will remove all lymph glands. How should I clean my knives, saws and other butchering equipment? What destroys prions? The causative agent is very resistant to disinfection. The best recommendation at this time is to disinfect butchering equipment with strong chlorine bleach (household bleach works well). I usually take my deer or elk to a commercial processor. What should I request of them? Commercial operators should bone the deer, and keep your deer meat separate from other deer. Lymph glands should be removed prior to grinding the meat. I want to keep the antlers from my deer and elk? What should I do? If you use a saw to remove antlers, it should be cleaned and disinfected afterwards. This saw should not be used on any other part of the carcass. If you keep the entire skull (for a European mount), you should insure all meat is removed, wearing rubber or latex gloves while doing this, and soak the head in a strong chlorine bleach. I usually dump my deer and elk bones in a pasture. Can other deer or elk get CWD from the bones? We don't know. It is recommended that the bones be double bagged in strong garbage bags and disposed of at a landfill with an approved dead animal pit or buried. Can I get my deer or elk tested for CWD? In general, the answer is YES. However, depending on where you are, the tests may be more or less available. Most states with CWD in wild deer and elk populations offer hunters an opportunity to have their game tested for CWD. Check with your state game and fish department to see if they have a procedure for testing of hunter-harvested deer and elk. Be advised that there are a limited number of laboratories in the country that can test for CWD, and they are expected to be very busy as more states expand their CWD surveillance studies. Considerable effort is being devoted to increasing the laboratories that are certified to do the testing. As more labs and faster tests) become available it is hoped that everyone desiring a test can have one done with results known within a few days. What should I do if I see a deer or elk that shows symptoms of CWD? Unless your state wildlife agency has issued other instructions or regulations, you should accurately document the location of the animal and immediately contact the nearest officer or employee of the State Wildlife Agency. Do not attempt to contact, disturb, kill, or remove the animal.
If you have specific questions regarding the status of CWD in the area you are planning to hunt, you should contact the state game and fish department. The CWD Links section of this website may provide you with access to the information you are seeking. |
