Seven mule deer bucks were found to be suspect of chronic wasting disease in the last week, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
A press release states four were harvested in CWD-positive areas in Blaine and Carbon counties while three were harvested in Valley and Daniels counties.
FWP reported that in Valley County, a positive deer was harvested about 18 miles west of Opheim. In Daniels County, a positive deer was harvested 15 miles northwest of Scobey near the Canadian border, and another just inside the Fort Peck Reservation about 15 miles southwest of Scobey.
In addition, a mule deer buck was confirmed positive in Hill County. As a result, Hill County, north of U.S. Highway 2 is now a CWD-positive area.
FWP conducted surveillance across the Hi-Line during the general big game season, which ended on November 25, and samples from the surveillance efforts are coming in weekly. The next new batch is expected next week.
Once the majority of CWD sample results are collected, FWP officials will determine the next steps, which may include expanding current CWD-positive areas and expanding CWD transportation restriction zones.
For more information on chronic wasting disease, please visit FWP’s website.
(NOVEMBER 2, 2018) A white-tailed buck harvested in southern Liberty County was found to be suspect for chronic wasting disease, according to a press release from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
In addition, a mule deer doe harvested within the CWD positive area in Carbon County was found to be suspect for CWD. The lab at Colorado State University is running a confirmation test, with results expected next week.
The suspect deer in Liberty County was harvested in hunting district 400, but outside both the current CWD-positive area and the 2018 priority surveillance area, which includes the northern half of Liberty County.
As a result, the CWD-positive area has been expanded to include all of Liberty County and FWP is now including all of HD 400 in the 2018 CWD surveillance effort.
The suspect deer in HD 575 was harvested northeast of Joliet in a current CWD-positive area, which encompasses Carbon County, east of U.S. Highway 212 and the Roberts-Cooney Road.
FWP has notified the hunters who submitted the suspect samples. Though the samples are considered suspect at this point, it is very rare that a suspect sample isn’t ultimately found positive. Therefore, FWP is moving forward as if both deer will ultimately be determined positive for CWD.
“Though this is disappointing news, it’s not a surprise,” said Gary Bertellotti, FWP’s Region 4 supervisor. “By expanding our surveillance efforts to include all of hunting district 400, we’re really emphasizing the need to get animals sampled from this area and the rest of our surveillance area.”
