ARKANSAS, USA — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) has confirmed that two deer in the state have tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD).
According to AGFC officials, one of the deer who tested positive was from Conway County, and the other from Stone County. Both were harvested during the alternative firearms season in Arkansas which ended on October 27.
CWD is a deadly neurological disease that affects deer, elk, caribou, and moose. It was first detected in Arkansas back in 2016. Since the first detection, AGFC has tested over 61,000 deer and elk from across the state.
Until now, there are 1,769 deer and 56 elk that have tested positive for the disease in Arkansas.
The deer from Conway County was harvested from the Ed Gordon Point Remove Wildlife Management area. Due to its close proximity of multiple CWD-positive samples in nearby Pope and Van Buren Counties, Conway County was very high up on the AGFC's watchlist for chronic wasting disease.
The deer from Stone County was taken from private land adjacent to the Sylamore WMA. Due to its close proximity to positive samples from Searcy, Van Buren, and Independence County, Stone County had already been included in the existing CWD Management Zone.
AGFC Deputy Director Brad Carner explained that no regulation changes are planned for the current deer season.
"In advance of modern gun deer season we want to encourage hunters to get their deer tested at any of our free testing locations around the state," he added.
AGFC Director Austin Booth explained that the agency will be evaluating to see if there is any need for the expansion of the CWD Management Zone and regulations once the deer hunting season is over.
"Local hunters can help us a great deal by taking advantage of the free testing facilities and getting their deer tested for CWD,” Booth said. “More hunter-harvested samples means more chances to find any new concentrations of the disease and give our staff a better picture of the landscape so they can make better-informed decisions moving forward.”
To report any sick or dead animals, you are encouraged to contact the AGFC at (833) 356-0824.
For more information on chronic wasting disease, please click here.
