Introducing TRCP’s New Series: Deer Season - Hunting and CWD | Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

posted in: CWD

October 23, 2025

Introducing TRCP’s New Series: Deer Season – Hunting and CWD

This new TRCP series shares the personal deer hunting stories of three staff members while exploring the practices aimed at addressing the spread of chronic wasting disease.

This year marks my 24^th year as a deer hunter, and almost all that hunting has taken place within 20 miles of where I’m sitting right now. I suppose I could call it 25 years, but I wasn’t old enough to carry a rifle the first time I got to go along. Back then we had a real deer camp. Dave and Arlene, my great uncle and aunt, had a piece of property a little ways east of here, in the part of western Minnesota that starts to look like the swamps and woods further east.

There were probably 6-10 hunters on any given day. We’d head for our stands before first light and sit until Uncle Dave got restless, which usually didn’t take more than a few hours, and then we’d get together and plan the midday deer drive. Generally, those who still had tags to fill would sit on stumps, buckets, or box stands on likely escape routes. Everybody else, including the “husky” 11-year-old I was at the time, formed a line and drove the tamarack and cattail swamps toward the posted hunters.

I still have a clear memory of that first drive. Watching my Dad duct tape the tops of his rubber boots to his jeans, I wondered if I might be in over my head. Turns out I just about was. It was mid-November in Minnesota, and the swamps were frozen, but the ice was only about a half inch thick. Most steps I’d break through, but I was determined to keep up my place on the line. Eventually I figured out I could hop from root to root on the tamaracks and make pretty good progress.

My strategy fell apart when the forested swamp faded into an open cattail slough. The cattails were taller than I was, so I couldn’t see the rest of the drivers, but I could hear the steady whoops and whistles we used to keep track of each other. About the time I thought I couldn’t break cattails for another step, I stumbled into a beaver run going exactly the direction I was heading. I was soaked to the knee already, so walking in the water was no problem, and I silently praised my genius as a navigator.

That is, until about 50 yards later when the foot deep beaver trail dropped off to four feet and left me standing neck deep in icy water. I’ll never forget the laughter and pride in Uncle Dave’s eyes when he saw me pop out of the swamp at the end of that drive, exhausted, soaked, grinning, and a newly minted lifelong deer hunter.

I’d bet that every deer hunter reading this has a similar story, and probably several. Deer hunting creates community, it teaches life lessons, it fosters a connection to nature, and it feeds families.

That’s why this fall, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is launching a new blog series, Deer Season: Hunting and CWD. Through the eyes of three TRCP staff members: Ryan Chapin in Montana, Aaron Field in Minnesota, and Jim Kauffman in Pennsylvania, we’ll share personal stories from the field and explore what hunters can do to help slow the spread of CWD.

Deer Season – Hunting and CWD

As deer seasons open across the country, hunters are packing gear, checking maps, and preparing for the moments that define another fall outdoors. But today’s deer hunters face new challenges – chief among them, the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a 100-percent fatal neurodegenerative wildlife disease that affects members of the deer family. While more and more hunters are finding CWD in their backyards, it remains a source of confusion for many.

From pre-season prep and regulation changes to lessons learned in the woods and around deer camp, these stories will show how everyday hunters are part of the solution. Along the way, you’ll find tips, resources, and reflections that tie together our love of the hunt with our shared responsibility to keep deer herds healthy for future generations.

As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen.” This season, we invite you to follow along and take part in preserving what we love most about deer hunting.

Learn more about Chronic Wasting Disease here.

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by: Ryan Lockwood

posted in: CWD

October 10, 2025

TRCP Announces New Conservation Staff Member in Pennsylvania

PA field representative will focus on key state conservation issues as well as national wildlife health concerns, including Chronic Wasting Disease

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announced today the addition of Jim Kauffman, who will serve as the organization’s Pennsylvania field representative and wildlife health coordinator. This position will ensure that hunting, fishing, and trapping opportunities are maintained for all Pennsylvanians through sound conservation policy and scientific management strategies while helping TRCP achieve its mission to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.

In this role, Kauffman will serve as the organization’s state representative for conservation, access, and habitat policies affecting hunters and anglers, as well as work to address water quality concerns that affect Pennsylvania’s trout streams, wetlands, and downstream waters including the Chesapeake Bay. He also will coordinate the organization’s strategy to combat Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) nationwide and support partners in educating hunters about other relevant wildlife diseases and pest threats.

“Despite growing up in suburban Pennsylvania, I was fortunate to have access to two cabins on public land that allowed my family to maintain our rural roots and passion for the outdoors,” said Jim Kauffman, Pennsylvania field representative and wildlife health coordinator for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Those places have inspired in me a life dedicated to wildlife conservation, fair access to public lands, and the ethical pursuit of game.”

A lifelong Pennsylvanian, Kauffman holds a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Penn State and a master’s in biology from East Stroudsburg University. His career initially focused on the research and management of wildlife species including river otters, bobcats, fishers, and ring-necked pheasants. He has also worked extensively with private landowners to deliver habitat-incentive programs, provide forestry guidance, and promote public hunting access.

Learn more here about how TRCP works in Pennsylvania.

by: Jamelle Ellis

posted in: CWD

March 6, 2025

The Science of Chronic Wasting Disease: Why Every Hunter Should Care

Addressing the silent threat to deer, elk, moose and our hunting traditions

Photo Credit: Jay Beyer | www.jaybeyer.com

Imagine sitting in your favorite deer stand at dawn, the crisp autumn air filling your lungs. You scan the tree line, waiting for a familiar sight – the graceful movement of a whitetail buck stepping into view. But what if that buck was sick? What if it showed no fear, moved erratically, or looked alarmingly thin? This is the reality of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), an often invisible but devastating threat to deer populations and the future of hunting.

What Is CWD and Why Should Hunters Care?

CWD is an always-fatal disease affecting deer, elk, and moose. It attacks the brain and nervous system, causing drastic weight loss, strange behavior, and eventual death. CWD is caused by prions – misfolded proteins that spread like a domino effect, corrupting healthy proteins. Unlike other diseases, there’s no vaccine, no cure, and no easy way to stop it. As it spreads across North America, CWD threatens not just wildlife but the hunting traditions that have been passed down for generations.

How CWD Spreads

CWD spreads in multiple ways:

Direct Transmission (Horizontal Spread) – When an infected animal comes into close contact with a healthy one, it can pass the disease through saliva, urine, feces, and even antler velvet.

Environmental Contamination (Indirect Spread) – Prions can linger in soil, water, and plants for years, infecting animals that come into contact with these contaminated areas.

Mother-to-Offspring Transmission (Vertical Spread) – There is growing evidence that infected mothers may pass CWD to their offspring, though this pathway is less common.¹

Unfortunately, human activities can worsen the problem. Moving live deer or improperly disposing of carcasses can introduce CWD into new areas, making its spread even harder to control. Where CWD has already been established, activities that artificially concentrate animals, like feeding, baiting, or mineral supplementation, can increase spread.

The Impact on Hunting and Conservation

For hunters, CWD isn’t just a wildlife disease, it’s a direct threat to our sporting traditions. Deer hunting generates billions of dollars annually for local and regional economies.² If deer populations decline, hunting opportunities shrink, and funding for conservation efforts could take a major hit.

What TRCP is Doing

The TRCP is working to slow the spread of CWD alongside the wild deer and elk hunting communities, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Fish and Wildlife Health Committee, the American Wildlife Conservation Partners CWD Work Group, and the National Deer Association’s CWD Coalition. Here’s how:

Advocacy for Funding and Research – The TRCP and our partners are working to ensure hunters have the tools they need to help protect wild deer and deer hunting, both through individual actions and through federal policy.
Education – The TRCP and our partners work together to provide hunters with science-based information on disease prevention, transmission risks, and management strategies.
Research and Surveillance Collaboration – The TRCP partners with agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state wildlife departments to improve disease detection and inform policy decisions.³

What Can Hunters Do Right Now

Hunters play a crucial role in managing CWD. Here’s how you can help:

Get harvested deer tested for CWD to help track and manage the disease.
Follow carcass transport and disposal regulations to prevent the spread of infected material.
Make informed choices about activities that artificially concentrate wild deer, like feeding, baiting, and mineral supplementation.
Stay informed and advocate for science-based CWD management to ensure policies protect both wildlife and the future of hunting.

The Road Ahead

CWD is a serious challenge, but hunters have always been the backbone of conservation in North America. By taking responsible action, supporting research, and advocating for sound policies, we can help slow the spread of this disease and preserve our hunting traditions for generations to come. The fight against CWD isn’t just about protecting deer – it’s about protecting the future of hunting itself.

You can learn more about Chronic Wasting Disease HERE

Citations

Haley, N. J., & Hoover, E. A. (2015). Chronic wasting disease of cervids: Current knowledge and future perspectives. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, 3(1), 305-325. arav3Haley 305..325
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.
Thompson, N. E., Huang, M. H., Christensen, S. A., & Demarais, S. (2023). Wildlife agency responses to chronic wasting disease in free‐ranging cervids. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 47(2), e1435. Wildlife agency responses to chronic wasting disease in free‐ranging cervids.

The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.

by: Jamelle Ellis

posted in: CWD

February 14, 2025

Fighting Misinformation and Strengthening Science-Based Policy in CWD Legislation

New legislative proposals influenced by misinformation campaigns could undermine CWD management efforts, influence public perception, and disrupt conservation funding.

The ongoing push for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) solutions is not just about science and wildlife management, it’s also about striving against misinformation and misguided policies that could worsen the crisis. Recently, legislative proposals in North Dakota and Indiana have raised concerns among conservationists and wildlife professionals. These bills could undermine CWD management efforts, influence public perception of the disease, and disrupt conservation funding.

North Dakota’s Controversial CWD Bills: A Dangerous Precedent

In North Dakota, a series of proposed bills threaten to erode science-based CWD policies in favor of narratives that contradict well-established research.

SB2137 (The Baiting Bill): Passed in the Senate, this bill restricts the state’s ability to regulate baiting, a practice known to increase CWD transmission among cervids. This undermines existing science-backed measures designed to slow the spread of the disease. It also takes management decisions away from professional wildlife biologists and gives it to legislators.

HB1236 & HB1325: These bills seek to prevent the North Dakota Game and Fish Department from allocating funds to CWD management and redefine diagnostic requirements in ways that contradict established prion science.

Public Access to CWD Records Bill: This legislation, promoted by individuals questioning the legitimacy of CWD, aims to make all positive detections publicly available for four years, including microscopic slides of prions and necropsy reports. However, the proposal ignores the scientific consensus on CWD testing and the logistical challenges of cataloging slides for every positive test.

These bills have been strongly influenced by misinformation campaigns that question the very existence of prions—the infectious proteins responsible for CWD. Some proponents falsely claim that CWD is a nutritional deficiency rather than a contagious disease. This rhetoric mirrors past disinformation efforts that sought to dismiss the severity of prion diseases like Mad Cow Disease.

Indiana’s Risky Genetic Experimentation Bill

In Indiana, another troubling piece of legislation, SB32, proposes a program to breed and release deer that are “genetically resistant” to CWD. While the idea of genetic resistance is intriguing, the science behind it remains inconclusive. The approach assumes that some deer might have genes that make them immune to CWD, yet research has shown that so-called “resistant” deer can still become infected—just at a slower rate.^1,2

Similar programs have been proposed in other states, but their implementation risks unintended consequences, such as the spread of undetected infections and disruptions to natural selection in wild deer populations. Conservation groups have expressed strong opposition to this bill, citing concerns over inadequate scientific backing and potential ecological risks.

The vast majority of CWD researchers agree that this is a bad idea. Read their statement HERE

The Role of Science in Combating Misinformation

The push for legislation based on misinformation highlights the urgent need for strong, science-backed communication efforts. Misinformation about CWD isn’t just a public relations issue. It has real-world consequences. Policies influenced by unverified claims can increase disease transmission, misallocate conservation funding, and erode public trust in wildlife management agencies.

To counter these narratives, conservation organizations and wildlife professionals must prioritize:

Clear, evidence-based communication: Explaining CWD’s prion pathology in accessible language.

Proactive engagement with policymakers: Ensuring that legislative decisions are informed by peer-reviewed research.

Funding for CWD response: Advocating for sustained funding to support CWD research, surveillance, management, and suppression efforts, ensuring long-term disease control.

A Responsible Approach to CWD Management

The TRCP and other conservation groups recognize the need to address CWD with urgency, but without alarmism. The spread of CWD is a serious issue that requires measured, science-driven responses. While some states struggle with misinformation-driven policies, others continue to advance responsible wildlife management strategies that emphasize testing, research, and adaptive management.

As hunters, conservationists, and policymakers navigate the complexities of CWD, it is crucial to remain steadfast in the commitment to scientific integrity. The hunting community plays a vital role in monitoring and mitigating CWD, but they must be equipped with accurate information and supported by policies that prioritize conservation over controversy.

The fight against CWD is not just about managing disease. It’s about ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy healthy wildlife populations and sustainable hunting traditions.

Learn more about CWD by clicking HERE

Citations

Robinson, S. J., Samuel, M. D., O’Rourke, K. I., & Johnson, C. J. (2012). The role of genetics in chronic wasting disease of North American cervids. Prion, 6(2), 153-162. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.4161/pri.19640.

Research indicates that deer with certain genetic traits, previously thought to have genes that make them immune to CWD, can still become infected, albeit at slower rates. This study found that white-tailed deer possessing at least one copy of the 96S allele were infected at rates three to four times lower than those with the 96GG genotype. However, these “resistant” deer still contracted the disease, suggesting that the 96S allele delays infection rather than prevents it entirely.

Moazami-Goudarzi, K., Andréoletti, O., Vilotte, J. L., & Béringue, V. (2021). Review on PRNP genetics and susceptibility to chronic wasting disease of Cervidae. Veterinary Research, 52, 1-15. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13567-021-00993-z

This study highlighted that while certain prion protein gene (PRNP) polymorphisms are associated with reduced susceptibility to CWD, they do not provide complete immunity. Deer with these polymorphisms may experience longer incubation periods before clinical signs appear, but they remain susceptible to infection.

by: Jamelle Ellis

posted in: CWD

February 5, 2025

Chronic Wasting Disease: A Call to Action for Hunters and Conservationists

TRCP’s senior scientist delves into the recent detection of CWD in Georgia and how we all have roles to play in safeguarding wildlife and the traditions we cherish.

I often find myself reflecting on the crucial role hunters play in conservation. With the recent confirmation of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Georgia, now is a pivotal moment to discuss what this means for hunters and the broader scientific community.

Understanding CWD

Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease affecting cervids like deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. It is caused by prions, infectious proteins that target normal brain proteins and make them fold abnormally. Infected animals shed CWD prions in body fluids, potentially exposing other cervids during social encounters. CWD prions are highly resilient, persisting in soil and plants for years, and they spread through bodily fluids such as saliva and urine. Since its discovery in Colorado in 1967, CWD has spread to 36 U.S. states, parts of Canada, and even Europe.

CWD poses no documented risk to humans, but its parallels with other prion diseases, like Mad Cow Disease, have raised concerns about potential cross-species transmission. Current scientific priorities include understanding the different types of the disease, improving testing methods, and expanding efforts to monitor its spread

Why Georgia Matters

The detection of CWD in Georgia marks a significant turning point. This state has a robust hunting tradition and is home to diverse ecosystems that sustain both game species and non-hunting wildlife enthusiasts. The arrival of CWD could alter this balance, affecting hunting culture and wildlife management practices. For hunters, this confirmation should inspire a renewed commitment to vigilance. Testing wild-caught cervids for CWD isn’t just a precaution, it’s an act of stewardship. Hunters are on the front lines, acting as both participants in and protectors of healthy ecosystems

Testing and Vigilance

Hunters in CWD-affected areas should consider testing their harvested animals, especially when planning to consume the meat. Testing turnaround times vary by state, but they generally range from one to three weeks. This wait time might seem inconvenient, but it’s a small price to pay for safety and sustainability.

Here are some steps to make the testing process easier:

Plan Ahead – Check your state’s testing requirements and find the nearest testing location before hunting.
Field Dress with Care – Use gloves and avoid cutting into the spine or brain, where prions are concentrated.
Utilize Resources – Many state wildlife agencies offer drop-off locations and guidance on sample submission.

By adopting these practices, hunters not only protect their families but also contribute vital data for monitoring CWD’s spread.

The Broader Impact

From a scientific perspective, Georgia’s confirmation of CWD underscores the need for continued research and collaboration. The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy recently emphasized gaps in our understanding of prions and their long-lasting presence in the environment. Working together across different agencies and scientific fields is key to improving testing, monitoring, and decontamination methods.

The fight against CWD requires a united front. Hunters, researchers, and policymakers all have roles to play in safeguarding wildlife and the traditions we cherish. Together, we can ensure that hunting remains a cornerstone of conservation for generations to come.