BC Game Check: Chronic Wasting Disease

[markt308]

My hunting buddy emailed yesterday. He was driving from Quesnel to Armstrong and was stopped at game check that was specifically geared toward CWD education with a biologist doing on-site tests apparently.
The biologist highly recommended getting your deer tested this year.

I know CWD has been on our radar in BC but I did not think there were confirmed cases.
Can any biologists or other CWD experts speak to this?

Thanks

[2chodi]

There are no confirmed cases of CWD in BC to date. Over 1000 samples were processed from the East Kootenays last year. Since CWD has been confirmed in and around Libby Montana, it is important to get more samples tested from the East Kootenays and there is an order in place that makes is compulsory to provide samples from white-tailed and mule deer taken in MUs 4-01 to 4-07

See: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/wildlife-health/wildlife-diseases/chronic-wasting-disease

Yes you can still keep the antlers and cape should you want to do some kind of mount: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/wildlife-health/wildlife-diseases/chronic-wasting-disease/cwd-surveillance-and-testing

Hunters from around the province are encouraged to submit samples from deer, elk, moose and caribou, but the main focus is on the Kootenays and the Peace, the areas that are in closest proximity to game farms and known cases in Alberta and Montana.

If you have hunted outside the Province and are bringing back your harvested game, there are rules about what parts of the deer family you can bring back. Check the hunting regulations.

The federal government is suggesting that you do not consume meat from the deer family that was harvested from know CWD areas before you get the test results back. If the test is positive, you need to contact government about disposal options.

An interesting webinar from last week: https://youtu.be/ZO_wN6aoSNc

Mandatory submission for CWD testing is required for white-tailed & mule deer harvested Sept 1st, 2020 to Dec 20th, 2020 in MUs 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6 & 4-7 (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/sports-recreation-arts-and-culture/outdoor-recreation/fishing-and-hunting/hunting/regulations/2020-2022/hunting-trapping-synopsis-2020-2022-region4.pdf)within one week of harvest.
Visit CWD Surveillance & Testing (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/wildlife-health/wildlife-diseases/chronic-wasting-disease/cwd-surveillance-and-testing) for submission instructions

[markt308]

Thanks for all of the excellent info!