FWP has detected CWD in its first elk in the Southeast part of the state. This is only the fourth elk across the state that tested positive and the fifth elk tested positive soon after in the Southwest portion of the state.
The elk was found in District 704 on private land. The bull was symptomatic and was thin and lethargic. It couldn’t pick its head up and was not afraid of people or vehicles. CWD can take 18-24 months to kill the animal but it is thought to always be lethal on animals that test positive. FWP believes there are much fewer cases of CWD found in elk compared to deer just for the fact that they test elk much less frequently than deer. Statewide FWP has sampled 38,600 deer but only 4,800 elk.
Personally, I encourage everyone to get their deer tested if you are hunting in areas with known cases of CWD and use basic safety precautions when handling and gutting deer and using latex gloves. Even the healthiest looking animals can still be positive for CWD. The best way to test is by removing the intact retropharyngeal lymph nodes in the neck. If you are unsure of how to do this, bring in the head with a portion of the neck attached for technicians to extract the lymph nodes, and be on the lookout for a future video on how to do this on Eastmans’ Hunting Journals YouTube channel.
Source:
https://www.theoutdoorwire.com/releases/6a20988a-895b-461b-af8c-adf5befc1c23
