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CWD detected for first time in hunting district 405 near Belt

Nov 10, 2022 4:31 PM

GREAT FALLS - Wildlife health staff with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks detected chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a mule deer buck recently harvested from hunting district 405 about 10 miles north of the town of Belt.

This marks the first time CWD has been detected in this hunting district out of more than 100 deer sampled there over the last three years. FWP has conducted rotating surveillance for CWD throughout the state for several years, and HD 405 is within this year’s priority surveillance area.

CWD is a contagious neurological disease that infects deer, elk, and moose. It is always fatal, and there is no known cure. It was first detected in Montana’s wild herds in 2017. The disease is known to exist in other parts of north-central Montana, especially north of Highway 2, as well as in other areas of the state.

Hunters play a significant role in CWD management by providing test samples from harvested animals. FWP has provided resources to help hunters collect and submit samples for free testing on their own. In addition, FWP offers several locations around the state where FWP staff will collect samples for hunters. These resources and others can be found at https://fwp.mt.gov/cwd

CWD is not known to infect humans. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people not eat meat from infected animals and have their harvested animals tested before eating them if they were taken from an area where CWD is known to exist. For more information on CDC recommendations, please visit https://go.usa.gov/xAcnc

Here are the CWD sampling stations located in Region 4: 

  • Belt    Located at pull-out at the intersection of Highwood Rd. and State Highway 331, 9 miles north of Belt;   Open Saturday & Sunday, 10am – Sunset  

  • Chester   Located at Lions Park Rest Area;   Open Saturday & Sunday, 10am – Dark   

  • Fort Benton   Located at pull-out 1 mile west of Fort Benton at the intersection of State Highway 386 and US Highway 87;   Open Mondays 9am - 2pm; Fridays 1pm – Sunset;   

  • Grass Range   Located at pull-out 1/2 mile west of the intersection of US-87/ HWY 200 and HWY 19;   Open Saturdays & Sundays 10am - Sunset; Mondays 9am - 1pm; Fridays 12pm – Sunset (closed Nov 11)

  • Shelby   Located at I-15 Southbound Weigh Station, 3 miles north of Shelby;   Open Saturday - Monday, 10am - 1 hour past dark

  • Great Falls   Located at FWP Region 4 Office 4600 Giant Springs Road, Great Falls, MT 59405;   Open Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm