Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) may define the legacy of our generation to conservation. The occurrence of CWD and its continuing spread challenges the foundations of wildlife conservation, both in the short term and perhaps more significantly in the longer term.

In the short term, CWD is causing reallocation of precious financial and staff-time resources within state wildlife agencies and in many states is already disrupting existing programs. In the longer term, CWD poses a threat to the existence of wildlife conservation as we know it today.  Sales of deer hunting licenses represent a large proportion of annual revenue, as much as 50 percent of the entire fish and wildlife budgets of some states. The loss of these revenues means that ALL conservation programs would be likely to change dramatically.

When the Boone and Crockett Club was formed in 1887, a major element of its charter was to take charge of all matters pertaining to the future of big game in North America. The Club’s accomplishments in this regard are legendary. The reason that the Club has invested in science through its research grants and especially its university programs is to stay in the vanguard and maintain its vigilance in this arena. CWD is rapidly becoming front and center, and we need to marshal all of our talent to meet the challenges posed by this disease. And, it's threats like CWD that give cause to the science reporting on our website and of Fair Chase Magazine. Every hunter needs to be aware, and actively involved in addressing this problem.

We begin to update you and all hunters about the status of CWD and what science can tell us about it today. 
 

CWD - Part 1

CWD – Part 2

CWD – Part 3

CWD – Part 4