Flathead Valley sees first case of CWD

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was recently detected in a white-tailed deer in Kalispell. This is the first time CWD has been detected in a wild herd in Hunting District 170, which encompasses most of the Flathead Valley.

FWP received reports of a symptomatic buck at the Flathead County Landfill. Wildlife biologists euthanized the animal and submitted samples for testing. The first test indicated that the deer as positive for CWD and a second follow-up test has been submitted for confirmation, following testing protocol.

FWP is working with Flathead County and will survey the landfill for any other potentially symptomatic deer on the property.

Also, FWP increased the availability of antlerless white-tailed deer hunting licenses in Hunting District 170 in the Flathead Valley following the detection of the deadly disease.

FWP received approval from Montana Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Tabor to increase the number of 170-00 Deer B licenses for individual hunters to two. Previously, hunters were allowed to purchase one. The additional licenses are available to purchase over the counter effective immediately.

The 170-00 Deer B License allows hunters in Hunting District 170 to harvest a white-tailed deer without antlers or with antlers less than 4 inches long as measured from the top of the skull. The 2024 general deer and elk hunting season opens Oct. 26.

CWD is a contagious neurological disease that infects members of the deer family, including elk, moose, mule deer and white-tailed deer. It is always fatal, and there is no known cure. It was first detected in Montana’s wild herds in 2017.

There is no known transmission of CWD to humans. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that hunters harvesting a deer, elk, or moose from an area where CWD is known to be present have their animal tested for CWD prior to consuming the meat and do not consume the meat if the animal tests positive. 

Hunting is the primary tool for monitoring and managing the spread of CWD. Concerns over CWD shouldn’t stop hunters from enjoying hunting season. Hunters are critical to conservation efforts across the state and protecting our wildlife heritage.

Following the latest detection, all hunters in HD 170 are encouraged to get their harvested deer and elk tested for CWD. Testing will aid FWP’s assessment of CWD’s potential prevalence in the Flathead Valley.

Hunters can bring their harvested animal to the FWP office in Kalispell, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. for sample collection during the general hunting season. Visit FWP’s website https://fwp.mt.gov/cwd for more details on how and where to get harvested animals tested.

Other CWD reminders

- Carcass disposal requirements: Carcass parts, such as brain, eyes, spleen, lymph glands, and spinal cord material, should be left at the kill site when possible. If the animal is transported for taxidermy or meat processing, the brain and spinal tissue must be bagged and disposed of in a Class II landfill. 

A carcass may be transported within the state regardless of where it was harvested if the carcass parts are disposed of in a landfill after butchering and processing. Dumping carcasses is illegal, unethical, and can spread diseases, including chronic wasting disease. This requirement applies to all deer, elk, and moose carcasses wherever in the state they are harvested by hunters or as vehicle-killed salvage. 

- CWD sample submission is voluntary in most places in Montana. There are new mandatory testing requirements for tags associated with CWD management near Libby. Testing is required for all animals harvested using the Deer B License 199-20 in HDs 100, 103 and 104, or Deer Permit 103-50 in HD 103. All hunters who want their harvested animal sampled can submit samples themselves by following steps on the Montana CWD Submission Guide or by visiting a CWD Sampling Station.

- If you intend to use scents to either mask human odor or as an attractant for deer and elk, you should be aware of the regulations regarding which can legally be used. You are safest if you use artificial scents, but you can also use scents certified by the Responsible Hunting Scent Association. You can identify these with the DPP✓ or RtQUIC✓ labels on them.

- Don't feed wildlife. Feeding wildlife places wildlife at risk and puts them on a collision course with humans. Wild animals being fed by humans may congregate in unnaturally high numbers, which can lead to disease spread. 

For more information on CWD in Montana, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/cwd.