WDFW issues chronic wasting disease rule
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SPOKANE – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has adopted a rule change that allows WDFW to offer an incentive to hunters who have their harvested deer and elk tested for chronic wasting disease.
The rule will offer the hunters in Eastern Region 1 another chance at a deer hunt in a random drawing of those who submit samples for CWD testing. A total of 100 free multi-season deer tags are offered in the drawing.
While chronic wasting disease has not been found in Washington, it is spreading and has been confirmed in Idaho, 31 other states, and four Canadian provinces. The fatal disease of deer, elk, and moose spreads among the animals through bodily fluids and contaminated soil, food, and water.
The random drawing comes as WDFW partners with the Washington chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. That group is partially funding the tags, which are separate from regular multi-season tags and will not impact those draw odds. The full rule is published on the WDFW website.
