LARAMIE — Game and Fish needs help from hunters to collect lymph nodes from deer and elk in mandatory and focus areas for chronic wasting disease sampling. Hunters play a critical role in helping Game and Fish understand the disease and inform herd management.
This year, two elk herds and two deer herds, together encompassing nine hunt areas in southeastern Wyoming, are due for targeted CWD sample submission. Each herd unit requires at least 200 viable samples to be submitted to the Game and Fish Wildlife Health Laboratory for accurate estimates of disease prevalence.
To effectively determine disease prevalence, focused sampling efforts rotate hunt areas each year for both deer and elk. There are mandatory and monitoring areas across the state for both species which can be found online.
Some areas that have limited harvest and/or sample submission are designated as mandatory sample areas, whereas herds with high harvest and sample submission rotate through focus sample areas where sample submission is highly encouraged, but not mandatory.
Laramie Region Mandatory CWD Sample Areas:
- Deer Hunt Areas 15, 61, 74-77
Laramie Region Focus CWD Sample Areas:
- Elk Hunt Areas 6, 13, 15, 21, 108, 130
In light of a new detection of CWD in Moose Hunt Area 45, moose hunters are strongly recommended to submit samples as well.
CWD is a 100% fatal neurological disease affecting deer, elk, and moose. Detection through proper lymph node collection is essential for monitoring and surveillance of the disease. Continued monitoring of CWD over time is important to help Game and Fish understand the potential impacts of the disease, as well as evaluate future management actions.
To submit a harvested animal for testing, hunters can
- Bring the carcass or head to a regional office (Monday-Friday 8-5)
- Visit a game check station (typically staffed 9-3 on weekends in October)
- Saratoga: Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger Station (2171 WY-130)
- Laramie: Corner of Pierce and Snowy Range Road (1856 Snowy Range Rd)
- Arlington: Near junction of Forest Rd 101 and County Rd 402
- Wheatland: H’s Custom Cuts (49 Rock Lake Rd)
- Bring the animal, or head with at least 2” of the neck to a Game and Fish regional office
- Drop the head with at least 2” of the neck attached in a head drop-box. Drop-boxes can be found throughout the Laramie region:
- Glendo: Glendo: 42.48506, -105.01052
- Guernsey: 42.262194, -104.754619
- Torrington: Game warden station next to the garage (2642 E. A Street)
- Chugwater: Chug Springs Butchery (190 S Chugwater Hwy)
- Cheyenne: Home on the Range Meat Processing (12108 Deike Ct)
- Laramie: WGF Regional office, near south bay doors (1212 S Adams St)
- Arlington: Junction of Forest Rd-111 and County Rd 402 (41.603522, -106.226812)
- Saratoga: WGF Shop near the Saratoga Gun Club (41.453592, -106.789221)
- Or collect your own sample by following online instructions and a how-to video and dropping the sample at a regional office or mailing it directly to the Wildlife Health Lab.
Game and Fish is available to help sample and will accept samples from deer, elk and moose harvested from any hunt areas in the state.
CWD sampling results are typically available online within three weeks through the hunter's online dashboard, or within 10 working days via the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab in Laramie for an expedite fee.
While field dressing, hunters are encouraged to
- Wear latex or rubber gloves
- Minimize handling of brain and spinal tissue
- Clean processing tools of tissue and disinfect in a 40% household bleach solution for at least five minutes before rinsing
To minimize spread of the disease, hunters should be familiar with carcass transport and disposal regulations. Game and Fish follows the CDC recommendations for consumption of animals testing positive for CWD.
In addition to submitting mandatory samples, hunters can further assist wildlife management by reporting sick animals to their nearest Game and Fish office or warden station.
More information about CWD, and interactive maps, can be found on the Game and Fish website.
- WGFD -
