Wyoming elk hunters need to be aware of three new elk hunt areas with confirmed cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD was confirmed in three hunter-harvested bull elk in Elk Hunt Areas (EHA) 98, 36 and 129, according to a press release. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) used lymph node samples to confirm the disease. 

EHA 98 is in the Pinedale area and “overlays” Deer Hunt Area (DHA) 138 where CWD was confirmed in January. The other two EHAs are in the Sheridan region. EHA 36 shares borders with EHAs 37, 46 and 35 – all of which “have been CWD-positive since 2019, 2020 and 2009,” according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). Further, EHA 129 overlaps nine CWD DHAs (8, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26 and 29) as well as DHA 31, which is CWD negative. 

WGFD would like hunters to continue to send in lymph node samples from harvested deer and elk for testing as the season continues so they can track the prevalence of the disease.

“Each CWD sample we receive is valuable for monitoring and understanding the disease,” said Hank Edwards, WGFD Health Laboratory supervisor. “Please make an effort to submit a CWD sample of your harvest.”

Check out this previous article to learn how to remove a lymph node from your deer or elk.