A Plea to Hunters: Your Help is Needed.

Hunters are crucial in managing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and protecting wildlife for future generations.

CWD is 100% fatal for all infected cervids. By participating in CWD surveillance and testing, you help ensure the health of our deer populations and preserve our hunting traditions. Every sample collected adds valuable data, allowing provincial biologists to track and contain the spread of this disease.

Your involvement is a powerful step toward safeguarding the traditions you love and contributing to conservation efforts that benefit both wildlife and the hunting community. Together, we can make a difference.

SAMPLE DROP OFF LOCATIONS WEBINAR - LINK TO VIDEO

How You Can Slow The Spread of CWD

Hunter education is important for slowing the spread of CWD in British Columbia. As hunters you can inadvertently spread CWD by transporting waste elements from your harvest. By following the guidelines in the video below and by submitting your samples you can be a part of the solution.

How You Can Help Prevent Chronic Wasting Disease in BC

Hunters are the number one tool for preventing the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in British Columbia.

Through participating in legal hunts within CWD affected management units and dropping off your CWD samples in the region you harvested your animal YOU are making a difference. Thank you!

CWD Hunting Opportunities

Planning for CWD response is underway, the summary points are:

Targeted removal of deer around Cranbrook will be conducted with the goal of decreasing deer density, risk of spread, and environmental contamination. Maps of the targeted removal area are being developed and will be shared as soon as possible.
Planned activities include permitted special hunt – permits will be issued to local licensed hunters. We will be working with East Kootenay Wildlife Association to get these permits issued. Initially, 50 permits will be supplied to local hunters and additional permits may be issued. More information on this process to come.
Contractors may be utilized to remove additional deer if required. This will depend on the success of local hunters

Preventing CWD Spread

Once CWD is introduced to an area it is unlikely that the disease will be eradicated completely. However, if caught early, attempts can be made to contain the disease to limit further spread. Understanding what causes CWD and limiting risky activities is key to preventing the spread of CWD to new areas.

Infected animals will shed prions into the environment around them (through bodily fluids) and all parts of the carcass may contain prions. As such, vectors for disease spread can include live infected animals, infected carcasses and contaminated material, such as hay or equipment.

Natural animal movement can spread disease locally. People can transport carcasses and contaminated materials farther distances.

See the response and management page for more information on managing disease prevalence locally.

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Human Activities that Increase CWD Risk

There are human activities that increase the risk of CWD spread in B.C.These activities include:

Transporting cervid carcasses from areas affected by CWD into and within BC: BC regulations prohibit the import of high risk tissues (brain, spinal cord, organs, lymph nodes) into the province and require hunters to process the animals before returning to B.C. and returning with only the meat (de-boned).
Using cervid-based products (scents) that can contain CWD prions
Importing hay and feed materials from areas affected by CWD
Baiting, feeding and other attractants (e.g., salt blocks) can concentrate animals and create disease hot spots.

Reports to the BC Wildlife Health Program indicate that carcasses continue to be unlawfully transported into the province and dumped in the environment.

The resiliency of prions and the potential transmission pathways of CWD complicate management of the disease. An infected animal will shed prions through saliva, urine, feces and infected carcasses. Prions will persist in the environment for several years, possibly decades. (Read that again! Don’t be that hunter!)

See updated list of Hunting Regulations and Restrictions here.

CWD Sample Drop-off Locations

Drop-off locations are available during hunting season. These locations are subject to change. If a drop-off location is not available in your area, contact the B.C. Wildlife Health Program at 250-751-3219 to arrange drop-off.

To see the updated list of drop off locations please visit this page or view the drop off location map here.

CWD Sample Drop Off Locations in British Columbia

What Hunters for BC is Doing to Help

In 2023, Hunters for BC made a significant investment in personal protective gear, supplies, and secured dedicated space in the Okanagan to facilitate Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sampling.

Volunteers and members received hands-on training from biologists and successfully processed nearly 200 deer heads as part of the CWD surveillance program.

We strongly believe in supporting Wildlife Health programs with initiatives like this, ensuring the long-term health of our wildlife populations.

Since this time Hunters for BC has been engaging with provincial biologists and providing hunters with tools and education for managing hunts in CWD regions.

Your Membership Dollars at Work!