The Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Deer Hunt Area 121. The mule deer that tested positive was harvested by a hunter near Heart Mountain, which is north of Cody. The animal was harvested on November 2. CWD is a fatal neurological disease of deer, elk and moose. This is the first time CWD has been found in Deer Hunt Area 121, which is adjacent to deer area 122, an area where CWD was found in 2007.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved an updated CWD Management Plan earlier this year. The department is implementing that plan and increasing monitoring. Game and Fish also reminds hunters that they play a significant role in monitoring the distribution of this disease and provide valuable information for managing CWD.  If you see a deer, elk or moose that appears to be sick or not acting in a normal manner, please contact your local game warden, wildlife biologist or Game and Fish office immediately. Game and Fish personnel collect and analyze more than 1,600 CWD samples annually throughout the state.

Please visit the Game and Fish website for more information on chronic wasting disease transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that people should not eat deer, elk or moose that test positive for CWD.