Hunters: Look for signs of illness in deer
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EmailIdentifying deer with chronic wasting disease (CWD) is not always possible by visual observation. There are common signs that may indicate a deer is sick, but it may or may not have CWD.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a disorder of the neurological system that affects cervids, which include deer, elk, and moose. CWD is caused by a prion, or a misfolded protein; prions are mostly found in the brain, spinal cord, saliva, urine, feces, and blood.
Cervids that contract CWD may take months or even years to show outward symptoms of having the disease. Symptoms can include extreme weight loss, lack of coordination, drooping head and/or ears, excessive drooling, excessive drinking, and excessive urination. CWD is always fatal to infected cervids.
CWD spreads by both direct contact between animals and indirect contact of saliva, urine, feces, blood, carcass parts of an infected animal, and contaminated soil or plants. Once the prions are on the landscape, they can stay infectious for years. Unlike viruses, bacteria or fungus, there is no antidote or cure for a prion disease; prions are resistant to denaturation by chemical agents such as disinfectants, or physical agents such as incineration.
CWD has been found in both wild and captive deer in 35 states, 5 Canadian Provinces, Norway, and South Korea. Thirteen counties in Michigan have had detections of deer infected with CWD: Dickenson, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw, and Washtenaw counties.
The disease is not known to affect humans, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization recommend not eating meat from infected cervids. Beyond the potential human health risks, CWD threatens the health and management of deer populations.
Hunting of deer is an important wildlife management tool and has substantial direct (e.g., licensing) and indirect (e.g., travel, gear, venison processing) impacts on Michigan’s economy. The potential spread of CWD could have significant economic implications, making it even more crucial to take preventative measures.
Identifying deer with chronic wasting disease is not possible by visual observation alone. For a positive identification, the deer’s lymph nodes must be tested in a lab. Common signs that may indicate a deer is sick include poor body condition, like rib, hip and/or back bones showing, and lack of alertness or reaction to sounds around them. Deer with CWD may also have lost their fear of humans.
However, deer can be in poor body condition but not be sick if they have recently been lactating or are in an environment with limited access to feed. Or deer may be suffering from a different illness.
CWD testing is recommended but not required. In 2025, deer heads for testing are being requested from Baraga, Chippewa, Dickinson, Houghton, Iosco, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Ogemaw, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft Counties. Deer heads from these counties can be submitted at any disease sample submission site.
Free self-sample shipping kits are available for hunters in all other counties. The kits are available at various sites throughout the state.
Hunters play a very important role in reducing the spread of CWD by human behaviors. Some strategies hunters can use to reduce their risk of spreading CWD are by following proper field dressing procedures and using best practices for carcass handling and disposal. Hunters can also help in disease surveillance by submitting their harvested deer’s lymph nodes for testing if harvesting deer in an area where CWD has been detected.
Movement restrictions apply to animals harvested in Montcalm County in its entirety, and Otisco, Orleans, Ronald or North Plains Townships in Ionia County. Harvested animals in Nelson, Spencer, Courtland, Oakfield, Grattan or Cannon Townships in Kent County cannot be possessed or transported outside of those listed areas, unless:
- The harvested deer is deboned meat, quarters or other parts that do not have any part of the spinal column or head attached: antlers; antlers attached to a skull or skull cap cleaned of all brain and muscle tissue; hides; upper canine teeth; or a finished taxidermist mount.
- OR the deer carcass is taken directly to a registered processor.
- AND/OR the intact deer head detached from the carcass is taken directly to a licensed taxidermist.
Although it is highly unlikely that you will see a free ranging deer that has CWD, it is important to know the signs of sick deer. If you do encounter one, contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453, or the afterhours Report All Poaching (RAP) line that is available 24/7 at 1-800-292-7800. Reports of a sick deer can also be submitted online.
Report your harvest
Don’t forget that deer hunters are required to report a successful harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer to another person, processor, or taxidermist. Harvest reporting allows the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to obtain real-time data on the number of deer harvested which helps the department make decisions about deer herd management, better assess hunter activity, and helps determine disease prevalence rates.
Information that is collected from the harvest survey is not public and is only utilized when specifically required by law. Hunters can receive technical assistance to report their harvest over the phone by identifying their closest DNR customer service center location and calling the phone number listed for that location or by calling the main Wildlife Division line at 517-284-WILD (9453) during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To learn more and find additional resources for white-tailed deer management, visit the Michigan State University Extension website at extension.msu.edu/deer.
