CWD and Hunting Tactics — What Adjustments Should You Make?

Assessing Hunting Areas

When hunting in areas with CWD, it’s essential to assess the risk levels and adjust your tactics accordingly. Use online resources or consult with local wildlife experts to determine the CWD prevalence in the area. If the risk is high, consider hunting in areas with low to moderate CWD levels. For example, if the local CWD prevalence is 10%, consider hunting in areas with a prevalence of 2-5%. This will minimize the risk of transferring the disease to your hunting area.

Scent-Control Techniques

To reduce the risk of transferring CWD, use scent-control techniques when handling deer carcasses. This includes wearing rubber gloves, using a scent-control spray on your hunting gear, and storing deer carcasses in airtight containers. When handling deer, aim to minimize skin contact and avoid touching your face or mouth. For example, when field-dressing a deer, wear gloves and use a knife with a secure grip to minimize skin contact.

Increased Approach Distance and Monitoring

Increase the distance of your approach to minimize the risk of exposing deer to your scent. In areas with CWD, this can mean increasing your approach distance from 50-100 yards to 200-300 yards or more. Additionally, regularly monitor deer behavior and body condition to detect any signs of CWD. If you notice any unusual behavior or body condition changes, report it to local wildlife authorities and adjust your hunting tactics accordingly. For example, if you notice a deer with unusual behavior, consider avoiding that area for the remainder of the hunting season.