FWP Unpacks Chronic Wasting Disease


Hunters play an important part in helping Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks learn where Chronic wasting disease is and how it spreads. When hunters have their harvested deer, elk and moose tested for CWD, they provide key insights into the effectiveness of CWD management, the disease’s prevalence and its presence.
Hunters can have their animals tested at CWD sampling stations or most FWP offices. It’s best to call ahead to check on availability. Hunters can also take the samples themselves, fill out the online hunter submission form and mail the samples to the Wildlife Health Lab in Bozeman.
To submit a sample at an FWP regional office or CWD sampling station, bring the following items: Animal’s head: Leave 2 to 4 inches of the neck below the lower jawbone and base of the skull to ensure lymph nodes are present and not inadvertently left with the carcass. Samples cannot be collected from frozen heads.
Location of harvest: GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude) of where you harvested your animal.
Testing is voluntary, except for in some HDs near Libby, and free. There are CWD testing requirements in HDs 100, 103 and 104; please review the 2024 hunting regulations to determine if testing requirements apply.
If an animal tests positive, public health agencies recommend that people do not consume the meat. If the hunter chooses not to consume the meat, they can request a new license for this year or next year. To request a new license and coordinate next steps, hunters should call the local FWP regional office or the licensing call center at 406-444-2950. The carcass will need to be disposed of in a Class II landfill and antlers will need to be turned in to FWP.
For more information on how to take your own samples, or the location of sampling stations visit fwp.mt.gov/conservation/ chronic-wasting-disease/ get-your-animal-sampled.