How can hunters help prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)?

Preventing the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is crucial for wildlife health and hunting practices. The correct approach involves avoiding the handling of deer carcasses from areas known to have CWD. This measure is essential because CWD is a transmissible neurodegenerative disease that affects deer and elk populations and can spread through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.

By not handling carcasses from infected areas, hunters can significantly reduce the risk of introducing the disease to new locations. CWD prions, which cause the disease, can remain in the environment, and by avoiding contact with potentially infected carcasses or bodily fluids, hunters help limit the potential spread to healthy deer populations.

Other options, such as discussing CWD or hunting exclusively in areas without deer, do not effectively address the need for active disease prevention. Handling carcasses from all areas increases the risk of exposure, and restricting hunting to areas devoid of deer is impractical and does not contribute to managing the disease in existing populations. Thus, the most effective strategy is to avoid handling deer carcasses from regions known to have CWD.