The Government of Saskatchewan is ending its Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing program, citing low use. “Government is always looking at efficiencies and since uptake across our hunters has been low, we see this as an opportunity for efficiency,” the province said in its update Thursday. Despite ending the current testing regime, the province says it will continue clinically suspect animal reporting, carcass-handling and consumption advice in addition to emergency wildlife health responses. The province launched mandatory CWD testing in select wildlife management zones for the 2025-26 hunting season. Hunters who harvested deer or elk in those select zones were required to submit the animal’s head for testing. According to the province, CWD was first detected in wild deer in Saskatchewan in 2000. Since then, the disease has been found in 63 of the province’s 83 wildlife management zones. The program will officially be shuttered on Oct. 31. Samples from mandatory testing zones that are submitted on or before the end date will still be processed. CWD dropoff kiosks will be closed Nov. 2. Hunters caught off-guard Don Gordon, president of the Saskatchewan Trappers Association, told The Canadian Press the move could result in less hunting, because hunters might not want to eat untested meat. “It’s a step backward for the people who have become accustomed to ensuring that, in their minds, what they’re consuming as wild game is free of chronic wasting disease,” he said from Nipawin, Sask. “(Another) concern that I might hear from our organization would be how much of these animals or how many of these are going to be dumped because of the uncertainty.” Health Canada describes CWD as a progressive, fatal nervous system disease that affects deer, elk and moose. CWD is a prion disease, which is a rare, fatal degenerative brain disorder. There have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, Health Canada cautions residents against consuming meat from infected animals. Darrell Crabbe, executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, said the province informed him of its decision Wednesday night – catching him off guard. “This was kind of a bombshell for us.” Crabbe declined to provide the federation’s opinion on the decision, because the organization is still developing its position. The province advised hunters who are uncomfortable with eating untested meat to forfeit their hunting opportunity, gift the meat to someone who is comfortable with consuming it or feeding the meat, granted it is thoroughly cooked, to pets. Refunds will not be granted to hunters who have already purchased licenses and the province noted that edible flesh is not allowed to be wasted, destroyed, spoiled or abandoned. With files from The Canadian Press
