According to Game and Fish, Arizona remains Chronic Wasting Disease free. In 2017, the department did not find any cases of CWD in the 1,200-plus deer and elk that were harvested by hunters and voluntarily submitted for testing. Officials are asking everyone to continue doing their part to help keep this fatal neurodegenerative wildlife disease at bay. All successful deer and elk hunters are encouraged to bring the head of their harvested animal, especially bucks and bulls, to any department office statewide between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The preferred method for delivery is to place the head in a heavy-duty plastic trash bag, and keep it cool and out of the sun. The department also requests hunters to provide accurate hunt information, which would be crucial should a positive CWD sample occur.
