Our Wildlife

CWD is a neurological disease that affects cervids – deer, elk, moose, and caribou – and is always fatal. Symptoms include changes or difficulty in movement, weight loss, lethargy, lack of wariness of humans, drooping ears, and excessive salivation or urination. Because the onset of obvious physical signs of CWD is delayed from the initial transmission of the disease by 18-24 months, it remains vitally important that all harvested animals, regardless of appearance, are tested to help manage the spread.

CWD is spread through direct contact and bodily fluids – like saliva, blood, and urine. It is important to note that the prions (misfolded proteins) responsible for the disease can be found in the environment even after the infected animals have left the area.

Maintaining a healthy wildlife population ensures that our rich hunting heritage can continue for future generations. Unmanaged, CWD has the potential to contribute to a long-lasting decline of wildlife in our area. We encourage you to spread the word and motivate others to have their harvested or salvaged animals tested. Together, we can actively monitor and safeguard the health of our local deer and elk populations.

For all 100 series GMUs:

Transport restrictions of dead wildlife – If you harvest a deer, elk, or moose, only the following items may be transported outside of this area:

·         Meat that has been de-boned where it was harvested and is imported as boned-out meat

·         Skulls and antlers (with velvet removed), antlers attached to the skull plate, or upper canine teeth (bugler, whistlers, ivories) from which all soft tissue has been removed

·         Hides or capes without heads attached

·         Tissue imported for use by a diagnostic or research laboratory

·         Finished taxidermy mounts

New regulations specific to GMUs 124, 127, and 130:

Samples must include the whole head with at least 3 inches of the neck attached or extracted retropharyngeal lymph nodes. Samples must also be submitted to WDFW for chronic wasting disease testing within three days of harvesting or salvaging.

·        Mandatory reporting of hunting activity – successful deer, elk, and moose hunters must submit the whole head of a harvested animal.

·        Mandatory CWD testing for salvaged deer and elk – anyone who salvages a deer or elk must submit the whole head.

·        Baiting – it is now unlawful to hunt for deer, elk, and moose in this area using any type of bait placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting deer or elk with the intent to hunt them; or natural or synthetic scents that contain or are derived from cervid urine and glandular extracts. 

Submit any harvested or salvaged animal for testing. KNRD has set up two self-service kiosks where you can drop off your samples:

• The Boat Barn near Headquarters (73 Pow Wow Park, Cusick, WA 99119)
• Near RV Site #1 at the north end of Kalispel RV Resort (370 Qlispé River Way, Cusick, WA 99119)