ODFW reminds hunters to check for chronic wasting disease
By Terry Murry on Friday, November 14th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – Rocky Mountain elk season ends Sunday in Eastern Oregon while general west Cascade elk season ends today. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reminds successful deer and elk hunters to have the carcasses checked for chronic wasting disease (CDW).
There are options for the testing process. ODFW opened check stations earlier this month. In addition, field offices, taxidermists, or meat processors can test for the disease.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, chronic wasting disease is a deadly neurological illness that affects deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. CWD is not caused by a bacteria or virus. Instead it is caused by misfolded natural proteins called prions. When prions fold incorrectly they kill brain cells.
Infected animals can appear healthy for months or even years, but can transmit the disease to other animals. In its final stages, CWD causes the animals to become debilitated and then die.
While CWD has not yet been reported in Oregon, it has been found in Washington state and western Idaho. A total of 36 states have reported the disease.
