CWD testing for this season?

[Shanman]

Not wanting to step on fairchaser's thread I thought I would start a new one on testing. So have any of you guys heard anything about testing statewide this season? Curious if TWRA has a plan/training to supply sample kits to processors/hunters. Just thinking out loud but if hunters had sample kits and online video instruction then we or the processors could send in the samples. Wouldn't TWRA benefit greatly from the vast amount of samples recieved from across the state, this way it would be detected sooner rather than later? Being on the eastern half of the state, I am completely in the dark on this subject and realize that it is just a matter of time before it hits hard here. What are your thoughts?

 

[Lost Lake]

I'm all for it, and also think more risk based sampling needs to be done Statewide.

 

[DaveB]

Probably will do something in those counties that border the hot zones.

Has anyone heard if the Madison county deer was killed in Madison or was it poached or something and the shooter was afraid to be truthful????????

 

[Andy S.]

Has anyone heard if the Madison county deer was killed in Madison........

Yes it was. The hunter just happened to take the deer to a processor in one of the hot zone counties where TWRA was testing, thus how he found out. Just blind luck on all accounts.

 

[BULL MOOSE]

Has anyone heard if the Madison county deer was killed in Madison........

Yes it was. The hunter just happened to take the deer to a processor in one of the hot zone counties where TWRA was testing, thus how he found out. Just blind luck on all accounts.

Wow!

 

[WilcoKen]

I agree Shanman—I'm watching this post for sure. Say from now on I forget about having a deer processed by butcher and do the processing myself (which I prefer anyways). Healthy looking deer at time of kill—how will I know deer wasn't carrying CWD? It's my understanding a deer can carry CWD for up to 2 years before it will die.

I'm in middle TN and have no idea where to feasibly have a deer tested. And from here on out I'd want every deer I kill tested. Without knowing a deer is infected it really has me considering not deer hunting until more is known. I agree with others on here that think it is more widespread across our state. If that's the case testing is needed in many more counties.

 

[TDW05]

It's my understanding a deer can carry CWD for up to 2 years before it will die.

That's how long a deer could have it before it shows signs or symptoms.

 

[fairchaser]

This information is based on what I understand from the last public meeting back in April.

Just like last season, there will he drop offs and some mandatory check station weekends where all deer will be tested.That will include positive counties as well as those in the zone. More sampling will be done outside the zone too.

However, that doesn't mean every deer killed in the zone will be tested. You will be able to send off samples for testing on your own at your expense. The cost is unknown as well as the procedure for collecting, packaging and mailing.

If you kill a deer during the week and you want it tested, you will have to drop the head off at one of the drop off locations or your out of luck. I don't think there are any plans to supply test kits or instructions on how to retrieve the sample tissue and send it off on your own. There is too much opportunity for mishandling and spoilage of the tissue.

 

[WilcoKen]

Thanks Fairchaser—it doesn't sound like there will be a way to know reasonably quickly if a deer I kill has it. As it stands today, when a deer is tested at a TWRA test station, how long does it take before the hunter is notified of a test result?

 

[woodyard]

I just got around to reading my Arkansas Wildlife magazine and it has a cwd article. They have a lab in Arkansas that has been approved to do the testing now. They are hoping for a two-three week turnaround time on testing now. They are also offering testing for any hunter-harvested animal statewide for any hunter concerned about their deer or elk.

 

[Andy S.]

Thanks Fairchaser—it doesn't sound like there will be a way to know reasonably quickly if a deer I kill has it. As it stands today, when a deer is tested at a TWRA test station, how long does it take before the hunter is notified of a test result?

3-4 weeks was the norm Dec - Jan of this past season.

 

[Bone Collector]

I'm in middle TN and have no idea where to feasibly have a deer tested.

I am too and as others have mentioned, you can send it off yourself, at your expense. I think we need to be more proactive and have more testing available statewide. There are YouTube videos showing how you can remove the lymph nodes from a deer's head. I have no idea how to package it to send it off.

It is good to hear there is now a testing center in Arkansas. Before that they were all way out west/NW as far as I know. Of course we'll need to get the address and the procedure for mailing it for the Arkansas center. Kill one on the weekend and I would assume you would need to freeze it's lymph nodes or whole head.

 

[Mike Belt]

Is Ark a CWD state? Have they had an outbreak? Since we have a high percentage in a hot spot I'd like to see a testing site closer to this area.

 

[Andy S.]

Is Ark a CWD state? Have they had an outbreak? Since we have a high percentage in a hot spot I'd like to see a testing site closer to this area.

Yes, it has been detected in the northwest portion of the State, up near where the elk were imported/relocated back in the early 1980s.

See this page.

https://www.agfc.com/en/hunting/big-game/deer/cwd/

I was taken back by this statement on the AGFC page:

"Chronic Wasting Disease was first discovered in Arkansas in February 2016. Later testing, determined that the disease has likely been in the state for decades before being detected."

That is a pretty bold statement to make with no way to truly validate it.

 

[BULL MOOSE]

How hard can it be to test for it? Surely somebody with a freezer, a centrifuge, and a microscope can open shop in Jackson and try getting rich.

 

[fairchaser]

How hard can it be to test for it? Surely somebody with a freezer, a centrifuge, and a microscope can open shop in Jackson and try getting rich.

I wish it was that easy. I saw them testing samples and it takes 11 steps over several days. I hope they eventually develop a field test or at least an easier test.

 

[BULL MOOSE]

Here is one test. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUlIsZeCYMA

 

[Boll Weevil]

Is TWRA collecting samples at processors only on the weekends in the CWD counties? i'm trying to gain clarifications and can't find the reg (at least i thought i ready that somewhere).

 

[fairchaser]

Is TWRA collecting samples at processors only on the weekends in the CWD counties? i'm trying to gain clarifications and can't find the reg (at least i thought i ready that somewhere).

They will be collecting samples during specified weekends in the zone and will have drop off freezers for hunters to drop off heads for testing from anywhere in the state. I don't know where the drop off locations will be but likely be in and around the CWD zone.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Has anyone heard if the Madison county deer was killed in Madison........

Yes it was. The hunter just happened to take the deer to a processor in one of the hot zone counties where TWRA was testing, thus how he found out. Just blind luck on all accounts.

Wow!

And that's why if TWRA considers this a "random sample" and isn't implementing all efforts to map out Madison county (and I would go a step further and say the counties bordering Madison) to see where it's headed, it is truly a lack of logical proactive thought - to do anything otherwise would be a terrible mistake. I have the belief that the this exceeds WAY outside the hot zone. Hope I'm wrong