PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has announced that Arizona continues to be clear of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal wildlife disease that affects the nervous system of deer and elk.
CWD has now been detected in 36 states and five Canadian provinces, with some states reporting depressed deer and elk populations as a result of the disease.
Department officials did not find any cases of CWD in the 1,543 deer (mule and white-tailed) and elk that were sampled in 2024. AZGFD collected 711 samples from animals that were harvested and voluntarily submitted by hunters, and another 787 samples through partnerships with game processors and taxidermists. An additional 45 samples were obtained from high priority animals that were involved in vehicle collisions or subject to other fatalities.
The department has prioritized sample collections based on the occurrence of the disease in neighboring states — 733 samples were collected from high priority areas. AZGFD also tested 22 samples from animals that were harvested outside of Arizona. As a reminder, hunters should only bring packaged meat, quarters, cleaned skulls, or finished taxidermy mounts into the state.
AZGFD has been testing for the presence of the disease in Arizona since 1998. While CWD has been found in the neighboring states of Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and California, the disease has not been detected in Arizona. CWD has not been documented to cause disease in people.
AZGFD appreciates the assistance of hunters who submit deer and elk heads for testing, as well as the cooperation of game processors and taxidermists. For more information about CWD, visit www.azgfd.com/healthy.
