If you are hunting and consuming the meat, please have it tested for CWD first. It is not worth taking the chance and contacting CWD is a horrible way to die.
Seriously? Where do you get your info because wherever it is, is completely wrong. Straight Outta The CDC's Mouth "Humans can't get cwd from eating infected animals". Not to mention, if I tried to get my deer meat tested for consumption, I'd be laughed at by every butcher and deer biologist in the state.
An article today in USA Today newspaper about CWD in deer being the same type of disease the Mad Cow is to cattle. Took years for it to cross from cattle to humans, they may have a three person link (all friends and avid deer hunters/eaters) with disease linked to CWD. It is real and should be taken seriously.
Just have the deer tested; what harm can it do? Do you really want to take the chance with your family? Why this deer disease could change the way Americans hunt forever
Do you know how many times similar things has been stated. Just get the deer tested and then if one shows up with CWD you toss it and don't have to worry about your family eating something that could harm them.
OK, I will state it in a way that will please you. IF, IF, one was to contact CWD, it is a horrible way to die; slowly, while your brain tissues are destroyed. There is no privilege in being the first one to contact CWD. Plus, this is nothing new, CWD has been present for years in deer.
As of right now, there is no link to CWD from deer being transferred to humans via meat consumption. That is straight from the CDC. That being said, if I shot a deer and it was obvious that it was infect with something bad, I'd take it to the game commission and get a replacement tag. Not everyone would do the same, that is their choice. So let's please not get into an argument over it.....
I actually think there are two confirmed cases of CWD transference to humans. One was a kid in Utah about 5-6 years ago, another was an adult who had hunted out-of-state, don't remember where he lived. I'm in a mandatory CWD testing area. Take the head to a drop off point, they get results in a week or so. Doesn't bother me as I hang everything for longer than that. The areas on the carcass to be careful of are neck and near the spine. CWD turns your brain into swiss cheese within a year. I'll have them tested. Not worth the risk.
After being on this planet for 70 plus years, I am convinced that living can be hazardous to your health.LOL
I remember those cases. Sad they were swept under the rug with "don't ask don't tell" mentality. The last tv interview with the adult man before he died was heartbreaking seeing what it had done to him so quickly. It originated at the Colorado State University Foothills campus, sheep, cows, some captive deer kept together, and also the wild deer coming and going, yes, related to mad cow disease in more than one aspect.
I'm glad you remember them also, I've been searching the web but not found anything. If I recall, they looked at them as Creutzfeldt-Jacobs disease but determined it was CWD in the end. Yay!!, I'm not losing my mind! Ok...that may be premature...
Nope, your not losing your mind. I can't help but wonder that it had not spread as far as it had now and it was only aired regionally?
No idea. Might have just been an inter-mountain story that went away quick. I still can't find anything on the web, but it might have been further back than 5-6 years.? Dunno.
Michigan had no issues with CWD until recently. We now have some mandatory test counties. I didn't have my deer tested this year but I hunt a long way always from the currently known areas. Sad to think it won't be long before it affects all of Michigan.
