I don't know but saying there is a danger when no proof is available is fear mongering at best.

Could it happen? Based on some disease transmission probabilities, it COULD happen. Nothing has been proven is my point.

If a deer tests positive that I harvest (which I will never test) I would confidently still eat the meat. I would not eat the brain or spinal cord.

Does anyone believe we haven't eaten beef that wasn't brain infected? I am sure we have. There hasn't been a massive outbreak of CJD is my point.

I have a friend who hunts with me in NC, and he also hunts on a farm he owns in Indiana. He says the processors in Indiana blend venison from several deer when grinding burger. You get burger from several deer.

I think that should be illegal.

More about what can be done because of a positive sample

FYI for those interested in where the prions have been detected in cervid body parts....

PF,
I haven't found any research related to climate vs CWD.

I process my own. Have for decades. Although I did have one cooler-aged, cut up, and vacuum sealed last season by a friend. Personally I never wanted to pay high processing prices. CWD is another reason to not use a processor.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4070593/

Looks like we better be more concerned about hot dogs, bologna and kielbasa. Of course now this study was in 2014.

Seriously. How many more people eat hot dogs than venison?

And we need to be worried about CWD? Come on!! Industry, science and Ag are not worried about hot dogs, bologna and kielbasa, so why are DNRs worried about back strap?

I'm telling you. Boogie man!!

They will conclude this study by saying "Yep CWD exists. It might cause CJD. We aren't sure. Either way we can't do anything about it."

Until a method is found to kill or eliminate prions, they will exist indefinitely. Instead of testing for presence, the need should be to find a way to get rid of it. But testing brings funding. Eliminating the problem eliminates funding.

You say nothing has been proven. Ironically, that is the position the CDC takes. No known crossover to humans is know - but it has not proven it cant happen. Prior to 2024, we thought there was no cross over from cervid species to other families of species. We know now that is not true. Cwd prion material has been detected in nervous system cells of suidae - in particular - feral hogs. As far as I have read, this is the only KNOWN cwd prion jump outside the cervidae family. Scientists only found that out two years ago. So far, there are no known cases of clinical cwd in feral pigs - so far.

Of course, CDC and most DNR’s are taking the safe route. Our DNR recommended against eating feral hogs - even before we knew of the crossover of cwd prions. To my knowledge, there are no regulations or adverse actions administered by any agency for eating cwd infected deer.

But to your point, I believe there is very low risk of cwd cross over to humans. That doesnt mean I am going to eat a known infected deer. I dont eat any animals that have a known infection. I dont eat feral hogs - but a lot of people do, even knowing some folks have died from handling or eating feral hogs. At least cwd infected deer are not known to have killed anyone yet.

And mandatory testing brings more funding. Again, why I say get the federal govt funding out of the picture and make states conduct their own research and talk to other states and see what they have learned. Missouri obviously did not learn from the Arkansas study of killing more deer........or maybe they have and just don't credit it. Just like covid - billions and billions will be spent and all hyped up and then nothing.......some may die and some may gain resistance. My money is on - there will be deer left that adapt. I still remember the days of hunting when if you had an opportunity of seeing and shooting at a deer - it was a good season.

Missouri's CWD response & actions began a few years before the NW Arkansas study. Hard to learn from something that had not happened yet. Didn't Missouri recently stop sharpshooting? Hmmm.

Give these agencies a chance. They are plowing new ground.

I guess I don't worry about something that has not had an effect on humans killing me. More people die from man made stuff then anything. Virous, vaccines and mechanical.

Interesting discussion.
So swamp, how about the squirrel brains and CFJ disease?

My personal research and involvement has somehow overlooked squirrels. As busy as I am with whitetail deer (season opening) I will have to leave the squirrel research to you.

Google Search is your friend. Let us know what you find out so we'll know you're safe when eating your next meal of squirrel brains and eggs.

This is 50% of the way to look at it....

The general consensus used to be you would never run out of deer, even in high cwd prevalence areas, just because deer continue to bred and does continue to give birth because it is usually an extended time from cwd contraction until death by cwd.

That still may be the case, but the AR study proved it wasnt the case if doe hunting was still allowed at elevated levels - a limit of three does during five weeks of firearm season - was too much. They literally killed out the deer in one of the three study areas. This year will see a a one doe limit with a firearm for about 12 days.

While many on this thread believe what they experience is true everywhere - that is not the case. Conditions affecting deer densities vary all over the country. People from WI who live in high infection rate cwd areas claim to see many deer. I believe them (but they dont seem to believe me ). But when looking at their hunting regulations, it is fairly obvious they are trying to reduce deer densities because they allow special doe only seasons and you can purchase extra doe permits in many of these areas.

These differences in deer densities, habitat, hunter participation, etc - across the country - are the very reason why continued cwd research is needed. What works in WI will obviously not work in areas of AR - and vice versa. And other areas are most likely the same

We were allowed unlimited doe tags in the "eradication zone" for several years. That area is a semi urban, suburban mix of small farms, rural homes, and very steep terrain. Lots of room for deer to go to avoid hunting pressure.
All that seemed to accomplish was to concentrate deer in low pressure. There was no way that the deer in that area would ever be "eradicated".

So if you spin shoot a deer which is often my preferred high shoulder or neck shot that would spread the crap thorough the meat in the area I would think. Any spinal fluid leaking out would also spread it through the carcass to anything it touches. Also seems like back strip may be more likely to become infected being its proximity against the spine.

Most places do that. Costs too much time and money to set up and take down. They won't do that for each individual deer.

PF,
Getting your deer tested will eliminate those concerns. This is why I'm glad Georgia has made it free and convenient here in the southern half of the state.

And why beside the cost I don't use a processor. I make sure our deer are recovered and gutted and cool down quickly. Its warm during a large part of our season. I dont want to get back deer that laid out in the woods not gutted and or drove around in the sun in the back of truck all over showing off to their friends all day...

Processing is just to easy to do and be sure you are geting exactly what you want. I know no one else will handel my deer as careful and particularly as I do.