{"id":226682,"date":"2026-07-06T15:02:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T20:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=226682"},"modified":"2026-07-06T15:02:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T20:02:15","slug":"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\/","title":{"rendered":"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-estimated-reading-time yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time: <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">10<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chronic Wasting Disease keeps showing up in headlines, camp talk, and state regulations, but panic has a way of outrunning facts. Here\u2019s the straight answer on what CWD is, how it spreads, what it looks like, and what hunters actually need to worry about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/drooling-deer-cwd-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Drooling deer with chronic wasting disease symptoms in a field\" class=\"wp-image-226685\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/drooling-deer-cwd-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/drooling-deer-cwd-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/drooling-deer-cwd-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/drooling-deer-cwd-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/drooling-deer-cwd.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo credit: Hunter-Ed)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-chronic-wasting-disease-in-deer-panic-hype-or-a-real-threat\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer: Panic, Hype, or a Real Threat?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-quick-cwd-facts-hunters-should-know\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">Quick CWD Facts Hunters Should Know<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-chronic-wasting-disease-really\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">What Is Chronic Wasting Disease, Really?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-do-deer-get-cwd-and-how-does-it-spread\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">How Do Deer Get CWD and How Does It Spread?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-does-cwd-look-like-in-deer\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">What Does CWD Look Like in Deer?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-can-humans-get-cwd-from-deer\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">Can Humans Get CWD from Deer?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-bad-is-cwd-really-for-wild-deer-and-hunters\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">How Bad Is CWD, Really, for Wild Deer and Hunters?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-could-chronic-wasting-disease-make-deer-endangered\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">Could Chronic Wasting Disease Make Deer Endangered?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-should-hunters-actually-worry-about-cwd\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">Should Hunters Actually Worry About CWD?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-useful-sources-and-further-reading-on-cwd\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">Useful Sources and Further Reading on CWD<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-related-reads-from-gunsamerica-digest\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" data-level=\"2\">Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-chronic-wasting-disease-in-deer-panic-hype-or-a-real-threat\"><strong>Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer: Panic, Hype, or a Real Threat?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s been decades since CWD, or Chronic Wasting Disease, began stealing headlines during deer season. For some hunters, it\u2019s gotten to the point where they simply ignore the random outcries of CWD outbreaks, but for others, it remains a serious concern. So what\u2019s the truth about chronic wasting disease? Is it a major problem that\u2019s threatening to wipe out deer hunting as we know it, or is it a case of the-sky-is-falling reports? Here\u2019s what we know now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quick-cwd-facts-hunters-should-know\"><strong>Quick CWD Facts Hunters Should Know<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Disease<\/th><td>Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Type<\/th><td>Prion disease<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Fatality Rate<\/th><td>100 percent mortality rate<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Common Hosts<\/th><td>Deer, elk, moose, and other cervids<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Visible Symptoms<\/th><td>Weight loss, ataxia, hypersalivation, tremors, teeth grinding<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Estimated Time to Death<\/th><td>One to two years<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Environmental Persistence<\/th><td>Up to three years in soil, possibly longer<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Human Guidance<\/th><td>Do not eat meat from obviously sick or CWD-positive deer<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-chronic-wasting-disease-really\"><strong>What Is Chronic Wasting Disease, Really?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, is a prion disease with a 100 percent mortality rate, according to pretty much every source out there, from the Centers for Disease Control to the National Deer Association to the Emerging Pathogens Institute. Keep that number in mind, because we\u2019re going to mention it again later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brain-deer-healthy-cwd-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Healthy deer brain tissue compared to CWD-infected brain tissue\" class=\"wp-image-226686\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brain-deer-healthy-cwd-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brain-deer-healthy-cwd-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brain-deer-healthy-cwd-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brain-deer-healthy-cwd-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brain-deer-healthy-cwd.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Normal brain tissue on the left and CWD-infected brain tissue on the right. (Photo credit: Elizabeth Williams)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders, with the prions themselves being misfolded proteins. The prions are infectious and build up in the brain, where they cause irreversible damage to nerve cells. Normal prions in an affected brain also become infected, meaning they start misfolding as well and spread further damage. There\u2019s currently no cure or even a treatment protocol for prion disease in animals or humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-deer-get-cwd-and-how-does-it-spread\"><strong>How Do Deer Get CWD and How Does It Spread?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Deer that catch CWD are exposed to the abnormal prions either through direct contact with sick animals or environmental contact. According to the National Institute of Health, CWD is technically airborne as well through minute infected droplets from infected animals. However, evidence shows direct contact is the most common and likely form of transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What this boils down to is that deer can catch CWD by licking or grooming an infected animal or by eating in a contaminated area. Once prions are in the soil, they remain infectious for up to three years, although there are some smaller studies out there that suggest it\u2019s even longer. Prions can\u2019t be burned or frozen out of existence by extreme temperatures, and the plants that grow from infected soil can also transmit the disease to deer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/whitetail-buck-head-hunt-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Healthy-looking whitetail buck that could still carry chronic wasting disease\" class=\"wp-image-226688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/whitetail-buck-head-hunt-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/whitetail-buck-head-hunt-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/whitetail-buck-head-hunt-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/whitetail-buck-head-hunt-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/whitetail-buck-head-hunt.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Deer with CWD can look perfectly healthy because symptoms don&#8217;t appear until the terminal stage. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-does-cwd-look-like-in-deer\"><strong>What Does CWD Look Like in Deer?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Infected animals look totally normal at first. In fact, it\u2019s entirely possible for a deer carrying CWD to look normal for quite some time. Just like with any disease, the time it takes from incubation to the terminal stage varies by animal. From start to finish, it takes anywhere from one to two years for CWD to kill deer. It\u2019s a slow-spreading disease with visible symptoms that take time to show up, which is why areas with known CWD issues go ahead and test deer taken during hunting season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most obvious symptom of CWD is extreme weight loss, but even that doesn\u2019t appear until the disease reaches the terminal stage. Other symptoms include confusion, ataxia, meaning stumbling around as though they\u2019re drunk, hypersalivation, tremors, and grinding of teeth. These issues can also be connected to other diseases, which is why testing is the only way to definitively diagnose CWD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-humans-get-cwd-from-deer\"><strong>Can Humans Get CWD from Deer?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no evidence that people can be infected with CWD by sick deer, and scientists have looked. It also doesn\u2019t appear to be transmissible to domestic animals like cats and dogs. Despite that, the general rule is not to eat meat from an obviously sick deer or one that\u2019s been diagnosed with CWD. It\u2019s also advised not to consume brain or spinal tissue at all, meaning you can\u2019t include a deer\u2019s spine when you\u2019re cooking bone broth. Brain tanning using brains from deer is also discouraged, partly because there\u2019s simply not enough information about infectious rates or prion presence when it\u2019s used in that way. Common sense says brain tanning could easily result in prions being present in the finished hide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though current studies show you\u2019re not going to catch CWD from eating an infected deer, these things tend not to be worth the risk. So if you know for a fact the deer you shot was sick, consider not risking it. And whether your deer appears healthy or not, skip utilizing the brain or spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-bad-is-cwd-really-for-wild-deer-and-hunters\"><strong>How Bad Is CWD, Really, for Wild Deer and Hunters?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the part that\u2019s probably going to irritate some people, but it\u2019s all fact-based, so take it up with science. Although CWD does sometimes occur in wild deer, it\u2019s a significantly worse problem on high-fence and otherwise contained deer farms and ranches. Studies also show that wild deer catch CWD from those deer farms. Ground zero is often the farm itself, and wild deer get it through exposure to infected animals on the other side of the fence. Then there\u2019s the fact that hunters who frequent high-fence outfitters then spread the disease by removing an infected, but healthy appearing, carcass from that area and transporting it elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first case of CWD was found in 1967 in a captive mule deer in Colorado. After that, it showed up in the wild in 1981, also in Colorado. As of April 2025, the CDC reports cases in 36 states and 543 counties within those states. If you look at a map, you\u2019ll see CWD is most common in a concentrated area in the middle of the country, with Colorado at its center. Neighboring states such as Wyoming, Kansas, Montana, Utah, and South Dakota are also impacted more heavily. There are some outliers with high infection rates, like Wisconsin, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/map-cwd-spread-1024x614.jpg\" alt=\"Map showing chronic wasting disease spread across affected U.S. regions in 2025\" class=\"wp-image-226684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/map-cwd-spread-1024x614.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/map-cwd-spread-400x240.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/map-cwd-spread-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/map-cwd-spread-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/map-cwd-spread.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This map shows the areas affected by CWD as of 2025. (Photo credit: USGS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s impossible to know how widespread CWD is due to how healthy infected deer appear until they hit the terminal stage. There\u2019s also no way to know if it\u2019s present but not fatal in several deer, without cutting off heads and testing brains. The assumption that it\u2019s always fatal comes from, well, the dead deer. What science knows about prions makes it a logical assumption that deer infected with CWD will unequivocally die, eventually, but it\u2019s also not possible to know that for sure. Come at me for that, but science is constantly changing and evolving as more information becomes available and technology advances. All you can do is work with the information currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-could-chronic-wasting-disease-make-deer-endangered\"><strong>Could Chronic Wasting Disease Make Deer Endangered?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The odds of deer becoming endangered over CWD outbreaks are slim. It\u2019s not impossible that deer numbers can decline dramatically in areas with major outbreaks, but thus far, it\u2019s more of an assumption than anything else. It\u2019s important to note that when CWD is diagnosed at a high-fence deer operation or deer farm, the entire herd is euthanized. That\u2019s led to what appears to be a decline in deer numbers, and when you combine that with some deer farms getting out of the business because of it, well, it can cause some confusing statistics. There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What studies are showing is that there are ways to slow and fight the spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A study by the U.S. Geological Survey and Wyoming Fish and Game titled \u201cThe effectiveness of harvest for limiting wildlife disease: Insights from 20 years of chronic wasting disease in Wyoming\u201d was released in January 2025, and it presents some interesting details. According to the study, hunting bucks is an effective tool for reducing the spread of CWD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wynne Moss, lead author and USGS scientist, stated, \u201cWe found that harvesting a high proportion of the adult males in the herd &#8211; around 40% every year for 20 years, is expected to keep chronic wasting disease infections at low numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/buck-texas-camera-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Trail camera buck used to illustrate hunting pressure and CWD management\" class=\"wp-image-226687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/buck-texas-camera-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/buck-texas-camera-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/buck-texas-camera-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/buck-texas-camera-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/buck-texas-camera.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Could harvesting more bucks reduce CWD spread? Studies point to yes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul Cross, co-author of the study and USGS scientist, added, \u201cOur results suggest that the use of hunting is a promising, scientifically supported way to manage chronic wasting disease; however, it is important to note that this approach is more likely to slow the disease down than eradicate it. This study provides important evidence about the effects of hunting on wildlife disease management for deer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>USGS is quick to point out that the real-life implications aren\u2019t fully understood yet due to a lack of more evidence, but the study itself is promising. The study did report that shorter spans of time with a high harvest rate of bucks are also effective, but sticking to it beyond just a few years yields the greatest results. Data provided by Wyoming Fish and Game showed that increased hunting pressure is an effective tool, albeit a controversial one for those who dislike hunting in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And in a study published in 2021 that didn\u2019t get nearly enough attention, it was discovered that a previously endangered deer\u2019s genes might protect it from prion disease like CWD. That study was led by the University of Illinois and focused on the Pere David\u2019s deer, a Chinese species once reduced to just 18 animals. Today, careful breeding has brought the population up over 3000. Here\u2019s the cool part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tolulope Perrin-Stowe, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, led the research during her doctoral program. She reported: \u201cThe gene variants we found in P\u00e8re David\u2019s deer have been linked to reduced susceptibility to CWD in other species. Studies would have to be done in this species to know if the gene variants really have the protective effect, but this is a good starting point to understand potential susceptibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-should-hunters-actually-worry-about-cwd\"><strong>Should Hunters Actually Worry About CWD?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a good idea to be well-informed and aware of potential problems when you hunt, especially if you\u2019re hunting in a heavily impacted region. Take care to follow regulations such as providing heads for testing, and understand that the reason baiting isn\u2019t allowed in those areas is an attempt to stop the spread. But take heart in the reality that studies are showing CWD isn\u2019t necessarily a disease without management possibilities, maybe better if the Pere David deer study leads to something more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep hunting. Fill your buck tags. And don&#8217;t consume or otherwise utilize brains and spines from harvested deer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-useful-sources-and-further-reading-on-cwd\"><strong>Useful Sources and Further Reading on CWD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check out the USGS study <a href=\"https:\/\/esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/eap.3089\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Read about the Pere David study <a href=\"https:\/\/aces.illinois.edu\/news\/endangered-deers-prion-gene-could-protect-it-chronic-wasting-disease\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-related-reads-from-gunsamerica-digest\"><strong>Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/hunt365-how-to-remove-deer-lymph-nodes-for-cwd-testing\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Remove Deer Lymph Nodes for Chronic Wasting Disease Testing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/hunt365-video-how-to-easily-debone-venison-for-travel-in-cwd-zones\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Easily Debone Venison for Travel in CWD Zones<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/hunt365-dogs-detect-chronic-wasting-disease-cwd-in-deer\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"hunt365-chronic-wasting-disease-deer-hunters-truth\" title=\"CWD in Deer: The Hard Truth Hunters Need\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Can Dogs Detect Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Deer?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chronic Wasting Disease keeps showing up in headlines, camp talk, and state regulations, but panic has a way of outrunning facts. Here\u2019s the straight answer on what CWD is, how it spreads, what it looks like, and what hunters actually need to worry about.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":226685,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"manual","footnotes":""},"categories":[4305,1217,4320],"tags":[1207,1209],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-226682","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-expert-guides","8":"category-hunt365","9":"category-hunting-hunt365","10":"tag-deer","11":"tag-hunt365"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.9 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Wasting Disease: What Hunters Need Now<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CWD keeps spreading, but panic is cheap. 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