Chronic Wasting Disease management: Thank you and next steps

Idaho Fish and Game and Commission would like to express gratitude for all of the participation in the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Action that occurred across the McKinzie Creek, Slate Creek, and John Day Creek drainages this past winter/early spring. As CWD was initially detected in this area in 2021, managers were faced with the difficult decision to reduce deer densities. This mission was highly contingent on the support of both the community and local landowners. 

Results

Idaho Fish and Game with the help of Wildlife Services and local landowners, removed and tested 555 animals, which consisted of 203 mule deer, 343 white-tailed deer, and 9 elk. Of the animals removed and tested, we detected a 5% overall positivity rate from a total of 27 animals positive with chronic wasting disease. This included 3 positive mule deer and 24 positive white-tailed deer. None of the elk that we tested resulted in a positive sample. Although a 5% positivity rate may seem low, managers learned from other CWD positive states that 5% is the threshold where population declines/effects start to occur.  The rate of spread outside of a known CWD area increases significantly when a 5% CWD positivity is reached. When CWD was detected in Idaho, Fish and Game managers wanted to act quickly to reduce or limit the spread of this fatal disease. 

"This project was a substantial effort to reduce animal densities and slow the spread and prevalence of chronic wasting disease, and it would not have been possible without all the help and participation that we received from our landowners and community partners. While none of us wanted to see these animals removed, this effort will benefit wild deer and elk populations, not only in the area where the project took place, but throughout the state," says regional wildlife manager, Jana Ashling. 

Ashing continues by saying, "Due to the selfless contributions, cooperation, and assistance in this effort from local landowners and community members/agencies (Wildlife Services & US Forest Service partners), we were able to achieve our goal of reducing deer densities to combat the spread of CWD. We greatly appreciate everyone's understanding and assistance in preserving, perpetuating, and managing Idaho’s wildlife resources."

Next steps

Next steps for CWD management include the continued statewide surveillance for the disease. Fish and Game will also continue the enforcement of mandatory CWD sample submissions for hunters in Game Management Units 14 and 15 to continue building our understanding of the prevalence and distribution of CWD. Additionally, changes to hunting seasons and tag allocations in Game Management Units 14 and 15 have been made to help achieve CWD objectives. Specifically, those changes include:

• Splitting Controlled Hunt No. 1007, previously October 10th – November 20th, into two hunts with 190 tags each. Both hunts will remain any weapon, mule deer only. One hunt will run from October 10th – October 31st while the other will run from November 1st – November 20th. Restructuring this hunt is intended to redistribute hunting pressure to facilitate increased harvest success.
• Splitting Controlled Hunt No. 1141, previously October 10th – November 20th, into two hunts with 125 tags each. Both hunts will remain, extra antlered deer, white-tailed deer only. One hunt will run from October 10th – October 31st while the other will run from November 1st – November 20th. This change was made to redistribute hunting pressure and facilitate increased harvest success.
• Increase the number of Landowner Permission Hunt (LPH) antlerless elk hunt tags in Hunt No. 2165 from 80 to 120 tags. This increase was made to help increase elk sampling within the CWD management area.

Managing CWD in Idaho will be an ongoing process for years to come. At this time, we will monitor and evaluate samples from the upcoming hunting season, road kills, and suspect deer. Once on the landscape, CWD does not go away.  To continue to keep deer densities down in the Slate Creek CWD “Hot Spot” area to reduce potential spread further in unit 14 and beyond, the plan is to continue the management action in the winter and spring of 2024. However, we will remain adaptable on CWD actions as we obtain more data. 

It is the hope that through continued involvement with private landowners, local communities, and hunters Fish and Game will be able to contain the spread and minimize the prevalence of CWD across Idaho. Please feel free to reach out with questions at (208) 799-5010 or further familiarize yourself with the symptoms and dangers of chronic wasting disease on our website: idfg.idaho.gov/cwd.