JACKSON — Mississippi is two weeks into the 2023 Archery Season and going on six years of fighting Chronic Wasting Disease. Hunters are asked to submit samples from harvested deer to help survey for the 100 percent always fatal disease caused by an infectious prion, misfolded protein. 

Mississippi has one positive detection of Chronic Wasting Disease so far in the 2023-24 hunting season. A buck taken in Issaquena County during the September Velvet season tested positive for CWD. Deer samples are tested for the disease at the Mississippi State University Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Lab in Pearl.  

Hunters submitted 239 samples from the September velvet season for Chronic Wasting Disease. Since opening day of bow season, 83 samples have been submitted. No additional positives have been detected as of right now. 

Louisiana has had similar sampling activity. LDWF Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon said the samples are low due to limited harvest do date. There are no new detections in Louisiana thus far.

“Still early but sample numbers will pick up dramatically by month’s end as firearms season will be open in approximately half of the state,” Bordelon said. 

Check back later this month for an update on how many samples have been gathered in Louisiana. All of the positives found in Louisiana are in Tensas Parish which borders Claiborne County. 

Mississippi has detected 208 Chronic Wasting Disease positives since the first detection in 2018. Hunters can submit samples for CWD testing through participating taxidermists. 

Lincoln County’s participating taxidermists are Brent Opdyke, Allen Morgan and George Wilson. Self serve drop off coolers at the MSU Extension Office in Hazlehurst is another location in close proximity to Lincoln County. 

More samples are needed to survey for the disease. The sooner CWD is detected the easier it is to manage the disease before prevalence grows.