CWD is a contagious and fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk, and moose populations. There is no cure for this fatal disease.
Chronic Wasting Disease in Idaho
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been detected in Idaho.
Special Hunting Rules for 2024
Special Hunting Rules
Before harvesting or salvaging a deer, elk, or moose in Game Management Units (GMUs)1, 14, 18, 23, 24, or 32A, it is important to know what you can and cannot transport out of a CWD Management Zone and what testing is mandatory.
How Hunters Can Help
Whether you are hunting in Idaho or out of state, help minimize the spread of chronic wasting disease in Idaho and protect big game herds.
Rules to Minimize the Spread
Everyone plays a role in minimizing the spread of CWD in Idaho. Find rules for in-state and out-of-state carcass transport and possession, urine for big game hunting, and public feeding.
Where Samples Are Needed
Are CWD samples needed in your hunting unit? Some units are on a yearly or rotational schedule to monitor other areas of the state for CWD. See if samples are needed in your unit.
Request a CWD Sample Kit
By collecting a sample from your harvested or salvaged animal, you help increase the number of deer, elk or moose tested for CWD. When preparing for your hunt, request a kit to place in your pack.
How to Collect a Sample
Hunters, or those that salvage an animal, can retrieve lymph nodes from their harvested animal and submit them for CWD testing. Learn how to collect a lymph node sample and age your animal.
Sample Drop-off Locations
After harvesting or salvaging a deer, elk, or moose, submitting a lymph node sample or head for CWD testing is easy. See a list of drop-off sites, check stations, and Idaho Fish and Game regional offices.
Test Results Look-up
If you submit a sample for CWD testing at a drop-off location, check station, or Idaho Fish and Game office, you can check the test results. Allow up to 4-6 weeks for results.
What Idaho Fish and Game is Doing
Learn how Idaho Fish and Game is working to prevent the spread of CWD in Idaho and managing populations within the CWD Management Zone.
CWD Strategy
What is Idaho Fish and Game's strategy for managing and monitoring CWD in Idaho? View the plan that provides guidance for CWD management, monitoring, detection, communications and more.
Surveillance and Monitoring
Know where Idaho Fish and Game is monitoring for CWD and focusing its efforts. See a game unit map to know where CWD testing is required and where it's being requested from hunters.
Important reminders about chronic wasting disease rules in a portion of Unit 1 in the Panhandle Region
Idaho Fish and Game staff in the Panhandle Region are prepared and committed to make complying with rules of the Unit 1 Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone as easy as possible.
Important details to help hunters comply with new Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone in a portion of Unit 1
Idaho Fish and Game staff in the Panhandle Region are prepared and committed to make complying with the new rules of the new Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone in a portion of Unit 1 as easy as possible.
Summary of results from chronic wasting disease surveillance hunt in Unit 1
Sample results from the recent chronic wasting disease surveillance hunt in a portion of Unit 1 yielded two additional white-tailed deer that tested positive for CWD; results are pending from 11 remaining samples.
Chronic wasting disease Community Chat meetings in Bonners Ferry have concluded
Chronic wasting disease Community Chat meetings in Bonners Ferry have concluded, effective Sept. 17.
Heading out hunting? Here's what you need to know about CWD rules
Idaho Fish and Game officials remind hunters about special chronic wasting disease rules to help test for and manage the disease.
Details for chronic wasting disease surveillance hunt in portion of Unit 1 in the Panhandle Region
In response to the Commission’s decision on Aug. 15, Idaho Fish and Game will conduct a surveillance hunt from Aug. 24 to Sept. 1. Stipulations for participating are different from those of general and controlled hunts in Idaho.
F&G Commission approves new CWD surveillance hunt in portion of Unit 1
Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved a 9-day chronic wasting disease surveillance hunt starting Aug. 24 with the goal of collecting additional samples to better understand disease prevalence and distribution. An adult white-tailed doe found dead in July tested positive for CWD about 3 miles from Bonners Ferry, which is the first positive CWD case in north Idaho.
White-tailed deer in north Idaho’s Boundary County tests positive for chronic wasting disease
Idaho Fish and Game recently received test results confirming a positive case of chronic wasting disease in an adult female white-tailed deer found dead roughly 3 miles outside of Bonners Ferry in hunting Unit 1.
Attention big game hunters, new CWD rules could affect your hunts
Deer hunters will see more mandatory CWD testing requirements for several hunting units in central Idaho along the U.S. 95/Highway 55 corridors south of Grangeville. Effective management of CWD spread requires wildlife managers and hunters to adapt to changing conditions as Fish and Game gathers new information about where the disease is - and is not - based on annual testing.
F&G will resume project starting Feb. 5 to reduce deer densities in the Slate Creek area and minimize CWD spread
Starting Feb. 5, Fish and Game staff will resume a control action to reduce deer density in Slate Creek and adjacent areas as a continued attempt to minimize the spread of chronic wasting disease. CWD testing over the past 3 years indicate that Fish and Game’s management efforts are working to reduce the CWD prevalence rate and potential of spread in and outside of Unit 14. Animals that test negative will be processed with the meat donated to local families in need and food banks.
Fish and Game is running check stations in November to monitor for chronic wasting disease in the Panhandle
Idaho Fish and Game staff will be collecting samples from deer at hunter check stations across the Panhandle over two weekends in November as part of a statewide surveillance program for chronic wasting disease.
Mule deer taken in Hunting Unit 32A tests positive for chronic wasting disease
Idaho Fish and Game recently received test results confirming a positive case of chronic wasting disease in a mule deer buck harvested roughly 7 miles south of New Meadows in Game Management Unit 32A. This is the first known case of CWD outside of Unit 14 north of Riggins, where the disease was first detected in Idaho in the fall of 2021.
Landowners in CWD project area authorized to harvest additional deer
Landowner involvement and participation is essential when it comes to CWD management. Without the involvement, understanding, and help from landowners and hunters, IDFG cannot accomplish the goals of collecting information, managing, and containing CWD.
Idaho Chronic Wasting Disease Awareness Week is Sept. 11-18, 2023
As hunting season gets underway, Idaho Fish and Game is raising awareness about chronic wasting disease (CWD); an infectious, incurable, and fatal disease that affects deer, elk, and moose that was first detected in Idaho in 2021.
Resources
Frequently Ask Questions
What are the symptoms of CWD? How can you report a sick animal? Can you eat the meat?