2017 DEER SEASON – CWD REPORTING:  What hunters need 
to do after harvesting deer…in areas monitored for 
Chronic Wasting Disease…ahead on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a neurological illness 
not known to affect humans…but is eventually fatal to 
infected deer.

06—Chronic wasting disease has been a concern in Texas since 
2012 since the first discovery in the Trans Pecos.
 
Alan Cain is whitetail program leader at TPW. Texas has 
three designated CWD zones:
 
19—West Texas, and one in the Panhandle, and one in South 
Central Texas. In each of those zones, it is mandatory sampling 
of hunter harvested deer, and also mandatory carcass movement 
restrictions. So, hunters are encouraged to go on our Parks and 
Wildlife website, and check out the CWD page, where they can 
find more information.

Although the agency requires hunters’ cooperation when 
monitoring CWD in the three zones—that shouldn’t stop 
anyone from getting into the field. 

Sufficient rains and healthy habitat also boosted the mule 
deer populations in West Texas. 

10— We’ve had some good rainfall out there in West Texas, and 
we expect hunters to have a good season out there, probably 
average, just as we’d expect for the whitetail deer hunting.

Whitetail season runs through January 7th in the North 
Zone and January 21 in the South Zone.  Mule Deer season 
begins November 18 in the Panhandle, and November 24 
in the Trans-Pecos. Find CWD monitoring information on 
the TPW website.

The Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.


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