Throughout most of the U.S., the primary means of spreading CWD to new areas is the commerce of deer and elk bought and sold among game farms. Prohibitions on the interstate movement of captive deer and elk are already on the books in several states. However, there is so much money in canned hunting for selected genetics, supported by enhanced nutrition, that people still choose to ignore these restrictions.
I personally think that prohibiting game farming with cervids (deer, elk and moose) is the single most effective way to inhibit the spread of CWD to areas that are not currently infected. Unfortunately, the industry has become well organized and very adept at quashing attempts to do this in state legislatures. In quite a few states, they have been able to get themselves regulated by the states' departments of agriculture rather than the state game and fish departments and their captive animals are treated as domestic livestock.
Some states have had success simply killing as many animals as they can in infected populations, followed by restrictions on the export of anything but meat and antlers from those areas. Other states (like Colorado) have educational programs that identify GMUs where CWD has been confirmed. They provide hunters and game processors with information on how to properly butcher their animals so as not to export contaminated brain tissues and/or spinal fluids to uninfected areas. Other states have restrictions on the import of meat and trophies by hunters returning for out of state to ensure that they do not bring in contaminated materials.
All of these efforts do cost money and add extra concerns and work for hunters, most of whom are out there to get away from such things. This is the world that we live in today.
Last edited by mudhen; 03/12/14.
