Your Actions Today Could Slow the Spread of CWD
Hunters play a crucial role in managing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) by reducing the number of infected animals and potential hosts, contributing to surveillance, and supporting research efforts. You can personally make a difference.
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Hunter Role
Your Role as a Hunter
Hunters are an important tool in the management of Chronic Wasting Disease. Through selective harvest, hunters reduce the number of cervids in the CWD zone containment. This density reduction slows the spread of the disease and contamination of the environment.
Through sample submission, hunters help biologists understand the status of CWD. Data from these samples is used to set management boundaries, create policy and drive efforts to contain CWD.
Through sample submission, hunters help biologists understand the status of CWD. Data from these samples is used to set management boundaries, create policy and drive efforts to contain CWD.
Safe Handling of Meat and Samples
01 – Field Care
Processing a Deer
The method outlined here reduces your hanging weight at the butcher (reducing processing costs) and reduces the chances of CWD spreading to a secondary environment.
02 – Submit a Head
Simple Head Sample
The head must be removed from the body, with at least three inches of neck still attached to preserve the tissues at the back of the throat that are required for testing.
03 – Removing Samples
Technical Sample
The technical sample consists of removal of the tonsils and lymph nodes. Hunters wishing to retain the skull for taxidermy purposes should follow this procedure to submit samples.
04 – Dropping off Samples
Sample Drop Offs
Drop-off locations are available during hunting season and are subject to change. Check out drop off location page for the drop off closest to you!
Chronic Wasting Disease
In British Columbia Statistics
0
Deer Sampled
These samples were collected over the past 2 sampling years. 2023-24 and 2024-25.
2023-24 = 2 cases / 839 samples
2024-25 = 4 cases / 3849 samples
2024-25 = 4 cases / 3849 samples
As of June 9th, 2025
0
Of Samples Submitted by Hunters
Hunters play a massive role in collecting and submitting samples, as evidenced by the astonishingly high percentage of samples submitted by hunters. Kudos to all of you who have submitted a sample!
As of June 9th, 2025
0
CWD Cases in BC
While the 6 cases may appear small, we don’t know what we don’t know. We need to expand our sampling to other species to determine the number of affected cervids. Through harvest and sample submission, hunters allow biologists to understand the current state of CWD in BC.
As of June 9th, 2025
0
Disease Prevalence in CWD Management Zone
Chronic Wasting Disease is manageable at the current infection rate. This represents an opportunity for hunters to make a significant impact.
At 5%, CWD management efforts become less effective. Published models generally predict that CWD has a population-level impact when its prevalence within the herd exceeds 25%. Herds are currently infected with CWD at rates higher than 40% in locations where the disease has not been actively managed.
Active management is the only way to contain CWD in BC.
As of June 9th, 2025
Sample Drop Off Locations
You should drop off your CWD samples at the nearest drop-off location. Check this page for sample drop-off locations and information related to finding your CWD test results.
Latest News
A collection of CWD news releases for the province of British Columbia.
Chronic Wasting Disease Maps
CWD was detected for the first time in B.C. in January 2024 in deer samples from the Kootenay Region. View the Positive Detections Map to see the known cases of CWD in BC.
Surveillance and preventative measures have been ongoing in B.C. for over 20 years, with targeted efforts in the highest risk areas. With vital support from partners and communities, the government of B.C. has been able to detect this disease early. The priority now is expanded surveillance and risk mitigation that aims to reduce disease transmission, prevent spread to new areas and limit the negative impacts of CWD as much as possible.
Surveillance and preventative measures have been ongoing in B.C. for over 20 years, with targeted efforts in the highest risk areas. With vital support from partners and communities, the government of B.C. has been able to detect this disease early. The priority now is expanded surveillance and risk mitigation that aims to reduce disease transmission, prevent spread to new areas and limit the negative impacts of CWD as much as possible.
Recent Provincial Updates
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To subscribe to provincial news updates, simply register on the BC CWD website and complete the verification process.
