Eating Deer from CWD Zones

[Duk Dog]

Just curious if there is any known risk to people eating meat from animals in known CWD areas? Obviously if the animal isn't infected there would be no issue, but what if they are? Do they provide test results to the hunter that turned in the head for research? If so is it suggested to hold off on eating the meat until hearing about the test results?

[sa-lefty]

far as i know, if you hunt a CWD area it is reccomended to send in the heads and if they test positive the carcasses need to be destroyed because there is a slight chance that people can get it just like "madcow" in beef

[slipbobber]

I used to live out there and still go back to hunt. I mark the packages when I freeze them. When I get the info back telling me my deer did not have CWD its safe to eat.

[Duk Dog]

Thanks for the replies.

[Bear]

Like has been said. Just mark the packages and wait for the results to come in. Another thing to be carefull of is to never use the same knife to cut thru the spine and you use to cut meat. The spine, brain and some tissue in the neck is concidered the specific risk material for prion diesease like CWD.

There has never been a confirmed case of CWD being passed to a human that has consumed game but really do you want to chance it. Just wait for the tests to come back.

[WTBooner]

Do "hunters for the homeless" accept deer from CWD zones? If so, I wonder how they deal with them?

[Duk Dog]

Good question, not sure of the answer however.

[buckshoot]

I've hunted CWD areas before and just marked each deer different in case it was positive, and deboned it just like I do all my deer

[moosecaller]

is there a concern with the elk having cwd in these zones?

[archdlx]

I live in Edgerton....

Have hunted the 'main CWD" area north of town (Edgerton) for over 30 years. Have eaten flags and mulies every year, including last year. I am not worried about it. I also check wells in that area. Have not seen any sickly deer, have never seen any deer that look sick.
If you are worried, hang the deer till results come back...if you have the room. Or do as buckshot does.
If I get sick from eating CWD venison, at least it will be doing something I enjoy!

sa-lefty...it is now MANDATORY in our area to send the heads in.

archdlx...aka...LeRoy

[bobalong]

archdix
I was raised in Chauvin, and have hunted that area for about the past 30 years as well. After the slaughter there this spring I am wondering if there are any deer left down there (I live in Edmonton now). Two of my sons and I will down again this year to see though, is the drop off for the cwd heads still at Dillberry Lake.

One of my sons first deer from that area a few years back
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/bobalong/Hunting/nicksfirstdeer.jpg
One of my other sons with his first Mule buck
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/bobalong/Hunting/chrismulebuck.jpg
I hope there are still some of these left down there
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/bobalong/Hunting/chauvindeer164.jpg