Zombie deer disease complicates hunting season in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — Wildlife officials are raising awareness of a zombie-like deer disease ahead of the upcoming 2024-2025 Kansas deer hunting season, along with a few other need-to-knows.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Disease Program Coordinator Shane Hesting and Big Game Program Coordinator Levi Jaster say hunters need to be aware heading into the season, especially about where chronic wasting disease, also known as zombie deer disease .

Debunking a CWD myth

Although CWD is widespread in parts of Kansas, Hesting says hunters need not be concerned about it spreading to humans. There is currently no evidence of people contracting CWD through deer. In fact, a study by the National Institutes of Health shows that the disease is unlikely to spread to humans.

“The risk is not zero, though,” says Hesting. “Wildlife and Parks does not recommend eating sick deer.”

Cooking the deer meat alone will not sterilize it. CWD is a Prion disease that requires an internal temperature of at least 1,832°F to destroy it.

Where is CWD in Kansas?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the disease has been found in 49 Kansas counties. Most reported cases have been in the western half of the state .

Below is the most recently published map from the CDC, dated July 2024. Counties marked red are areas where positive cases of CWD have been found.

The disease is difficult to eliminate. It can remain in soil and water for years, making it difficult to remove.

Hesting said KDWP staff conducted surveillance of the disease in the southwest zone of Kansas last year but are moving their attention to the northwest zone for 2024. This is the heaviest-hit part of the state for the disease, with nearly half of all surveyed deer found to be carrying it.

CWD testing and management

Hesting encourages hunters to take advantage of free CWD testing this year. His department’s budget allows for about 1,200 free deer tests throughout the state, except for the northwest zone, where 300 tests are already marked down for use. Hunters can find information on testing in the KDWP hunting summary or on the KDWP’s website.

“On the bright side, we still have a healthy deer herd for the most part,” says Hesting. “That’s what the prevalence is in two-and-a-half-year-old and older bucks. The northwest zone is about a flip of a coin now. But we have a lot of healthy deer out there. We have a lot of healthy, nice big bucks to hunt.”

Hesting says hunters should not shy away from taking down yearling bucks or does to help control the spread of the disease. Yearling bucks can take the disease with them to new parts of the state, while doe groups carrying the disease help keep CWD situated in a specific area.

Hunters should also watch out for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) , which the department is currently monitoring. The disease is transported by biting midges and can cause dehydration, fever and death. Hesting says there has been an uptick in the disease in Kansas.

“I think the wet weather is keeping it at bay this year,” says Hesting. “Keep an eye out for sick deer and report them to wildlife and parks.”

Deer season outlook

Jaster says deer season will be fairly typical for the state’s hunters. In general, conditions regarding regulations and herd sizes haven’t changed much from last year, with deer numbers being lower in the west and higher in the east.

“Anywhere in Kansas holds a chance for a mature quality deer,” says Jaster. “Our numbers are highest in the southeast and northeast.’

Jaster says there are fewer deer in the western portion of the state this year. He says the best chance for spotting them this season is in eastern Kansas.

Hunters are also reminded to follow the new hunting regulations on trail cameras, which were banned on KDWP lands last year following the public outcry. Last year, frequent thefts and misuse were cited as leading factors behind the ban.

“They were causing a lot of disturbance,” says Jaster. “A lot of people were using those not to monitor game anymore and were monitoring other hunters.”

Hesting said KDWP commissioners will also discuss a carcass movement regulation during the Aug. 29 meeting in Hays. This will include discussing strategies being used by other states to help reduce the spread of diseases like CWD to other parts of Kansas.

Click here for information on deer hunting in Kansas, including season dates and purchasing permits and tags.

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