WHEATLAND – Hunting season is officially underway, and in order to prevent potential spread of disease, the Wyoming Game and Fish will be providing big game carcass dumpsters.
According to the WGFD, chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a chronic, fatal disease in deer, elk, and moose. It is found in almost every mule deer hunt area statewide and about half of elk hunt areas. Minimizing its prevalence is critical to protecting big game populations. CWD can perpetuate in the environment after an animal dies and can infect other animals when they eat contaminated forage. Furthermore, if a hunter harvests an animal that has CWD, improper disposal could spread CWD to new areas.

From Oct. 1 – 31, a big game carcass disposal dumpster will be located on the north side of North Road in Wheatland, just east from the junction of 9th Street and North Road. Anyone planning to hunt in another region of Wyoming is encouraged to look at the disposal locations for animal carcasses on the WGFD.wyo.gov website.
“The dumpster is not for any kind of trash. It is for elk, deer, antelope, or moose carcasses only,” Wheatland wildlife biologist Keaton Weber said.
Hunters are reminded they are required to take all edible portions of meat and evidence of sex. They are also WGFD is accepting CWD samples from hunters and encourages participation, particularly in priority hunt areas.
For more information about CWD, visit wgfd.wyo.gov/cwd. Anyone with questions about the dumpsters or CWD, contact Weber at 307-399-2507.