On the issue of Chronic Wasting Disease
The Pennsylvania Game Commission established a Disease Management Area (DMA) surrounding the Adams County farm where deer tested positive to CWD. As part of that plan, hunters may not move high-risk deer parts out of the area, including parts of the head and spinal column.
“Since the first positive deer was found in Pennsylvania last month, the Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force has put in place aggressive measures to prevent further spread of the disease,” said Agriculture Secretary George Greig. “This positive deer was found because of those efforts, and we will continue our work to protect the state’s captive and wild deer populations.”
Hunters who harvest a deer within the DMA during the two-week firearms deer season (Nov. 26-Dec. 8) are required to bring their deer to a mandatory check station so samples can be collected for testing. HSH participating Meat Processors that are listed as checkpoints for the PA Game Commission deer testing stations within the CWD Management Area are Butcher Block Meat & Seafood, Biglerville PA (717)677-7977 in Adams County; and Gary’s Meat Locker, Hanover, PA (717)633-6773 in York.
Together with the PA Game Commission and the PA Dept of Agriculture, Hunters Sharing the Harvest is alerting hunters who intend to donate deer meat that there is no scientific evidence that links CWD to humans and that the disease is not transmissible to humans or domestic livestock according to the Centers of Disease Control and World Health Organization. Deer donated to the program will be processed through a statewide network of experienced butchers. The meat will be stored until test results are known and then distributed to the food banks in Pennsylvania.
For a brochure about Chronic Wasting Disease, Questions and Answers click here or call the HSH toll free number 1-866-HSH-2141.