Three counties added to western Kentucky chronic wasting watch zone

Hunters in western Kentucky need to be aware of the area's newly expanded Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance zone.

In December 2023, Chronic Wasting Disease was detected in Ballard County, marking the first time CWD has been documented in Kentucky. CWD is a fatal neurologic disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and other members of the deer family.

Following the CWD Response Plan, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has expanded its CWD Surveillance Zone to include Ballard, Carlisle and McCracken counties. The zone also continues to include Calloway, Marshall, Graves, Hickman and Fulton counties.

Special regulations, including a ban on deer baiting and carcass transportation restrictions, apply in this zone.

All deer harvested within the zone in November must be brought to a CWD check station or a CWD Sample Drop-Off site. Drop-off sites accept only the heads of harvested animals and are also available for use outside of mandatory check dates.

Hunters outside of the CWD Surveillance Zone can support the department's CWD monitoring efforts by dropping off the heads of legally harvested and telechecked deer at CWD Sample Drop-Off sites located across the state.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no evidence suggests that CWD can infect people. Routine safety precautions should be followed when handling, processing and consuming meat from harvested game. Hunters should not harvest or handle any animals that appear sick or unhealthy.