CWD sampling continues in northeast Montana

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff are continuing to sample for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) across Montana during the general big game season. CWD sample submission is voluntary and free. If hunters want their harvested deer, elk, or moose sampled, they can submit samples themselves by following steps listed at fwp.mt.gov/CWD or by visiting a CWD sampling station.

CWD sampling stations in northeast Montana locations, days* in operation, and times:

Havre- Havre game check station: pull-out 5 miles east of Havre on US Hwy 2, north side 10 a.m.-sunset, Sat. and Sun.

Havre- Havre FWP Area Resource Office: 2165 Hwy 2 East 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. and Fri.

Malta- Malta CWD station: parking lot behind Westside Conoco gas station, west end of Malta 10 a.m.-sunset, Sat. and Sun.

Malta (south)- James Kipp CWD station: James Kipp Rec Area and Campground (Fred Robinson Bridge), US 191 70 miles south of Malta 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Mon. 11 a.m.-sunset, Fri.

Glasgow- Region 6 FWP Glasgow Headquarters Office: 1 Airport Road, northwest end of Glasgow 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

*all stations are closed on Nov. 8, 11, and 24 in observance of holidays

Hunters should make sure, if not bringing in the whole carcass, to leave about four inches of neck attached to the head for proper sampling, and to not bring in the head (or carcass) frozen. Hunters also need to be able to identify the location of the harvest, including the township, range, and section their animal was harvested in and/or an accurate GPS location.

Although FWP staff will help with sampling, when hunters bring their harvest to a CWD check station, staff will also help hunters learn how to sample it themselves.

"Hunters should take the opportunity while getting their harvest sampled to learn how to do it themselves," says Region 6 CWD logistics coordinator Sky Losleben. "Then, they can collect their own samples next time in the field or when they aren't near a CWD check station."

CWD sampling stations can be found across Montana. For more information about sampling station hours and locations, and other information about CWD in Montana, visit fwp.mt.gov/CWD.

About CWD

CWD is a contagious neurological disease that infects deer, elk and moose. 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 to not consume the meat if the animal tests positive.

Some simple precautions should be taken when field dressing harvested animals:

Wear rubber gloves and eye protection.

Minimize the handling of brain and spinal tissues.

Wash hands and instruments thoroughly after field dressing is completed. Instruments should be washed in a 40 percent bleach solution for 5 minutes.

Avoid processing and consuming brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils, and lymph nodes of harvested animals. (Normal field dressing coupled with boning out a carcass will essentially remove these parts.)

FWP also reminds hunters to not dump carcasses. Not only is it illegal, it's unsightly, and it can also spread CWD. All parts of the head or skull containing brain material and/or the spinal columns of deer, elk or moose should either be left in the field at the kill site or properly disposed of in a class II landfill.

If there are any questions about CWD or the check stations, please call the FWP Glasgow office at 406-228-3700.