Fish and Wildlife Officials Take Action Against Chronic Wasting Disease

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources took action Monday to protect Kentucky's Deer and Elk herds from chronic wasting disease in five western Kentucky counties.

Although there are currently no known cases of the disease in Kentucky, a case was recently confirmed in Henry County, Tennessee, just 20 miles from Murray. 

As a precaution, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has implemented the following measures in Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, and Marshall Counties:

• Prohibition on baiting and feeding of all wildlife with any grain, salt, mineral, or other attractants;

• Prohibition on transporting entire deer carcasses, skull contents, or bones from harvested or slaughtered deer;

• Anyone in possession of or transporting a deer, elk, moose, or caribou carcass through the five counties must attach a clearly visible tag noting the species and sex of the animal, state and county of origin, date harvested or obtained, and the hunter's name, telephone number, and telecheck number.

• Anyone who harvests deer in the five counties must present either the entire carcass or the head and proof of sex at a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife-authorized check station for samples.

• Any currently rehabilitated whitetail deer must be released within the county where it was rehabilitated.

• Prohibition on rehabilitation of white-tail deer.

You can find more information and a list of authorized check stations by clicking here. 

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife will attempt to contact hunters who have harvested a deer in the five counties within the last five years.

Hunters are encouraged to report any sick deer by submitting a report by email to info.center@ky.gov or by calling 1-800-858-1549.