The full picture · 2 sources

North Dakota urges deer hunters to submit samples for chronic wasting disease testing

Updated Oct 29, 2:08 AM CT. Every fact below links to the source that reported it.

What the primary sources show

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is conducting a hunter-harvested surveillance program to test deer for chronic wasting disease this hunting season. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
Chronic wasting disease is a slow-moving brain disease that affects deer, moose, and elk and can cause population-level impacts if infection rates become high. [Bismarck Source]
Hunters can submit samples through multiple methods: dropping off harvested deer heads at collection sites, bringing heads to Game and Fish district offices, or using self-sampling kits to remove and mail lymph nodes. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
The department is specifically focused on testing deer harvested in southwest North Dakota units 2J1, 3B3, 3C, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4D, 4E, and 4F, but hunters throughout the state including the Bismarck and Mandan area are encouraged to participate. [Bismarck Source]
Hunters submitting lymph node samples can expect test results within four weeks delivered to their Game and Fish My Account inbox. [Bismarck Source]
Fawns and deer that have been head-shot cannot be tested, and carcass waste left after processing must be properly disposed of through a landfill or waste management provider. [Bismarck Source]
The department is also requesting hunters provide lower jaws from harvested deer to help biologists determine age structure of deer populations for future management decisions. [Bismarck Source]

What is the deadline for hunters to submit samples this season?
How many deer in North Dakota have tested positive for chronic wasting disease, and in which specific locations?
Are there confirmed cases of CWD in Burleigh or Morton counties where Bismarck and Mandan hunters operate?

KFYR-TV: Brief announcement of the ongoing CWD surveillance program describing basic submission methods available to hunters. Read it → · Ads
Bismarck Source: Comprehensive guide to the testing program including specific hunting units, detailed submission options, timeline for results, carcass disposal rules, and the additional jaw-collection initiative for population age tracking. Read it →

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