Sportsmen Discuss CWD on Capitol Hill

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation on Oct. 17 hosted Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus members, other federal policymakers, state agency representatives, leaders of both the wild deer community and deer farmers, and leaders of the broader sportsmen's conservation community for a bipartisan Capitol Hill luncheon to discuss chronic wasting disease (CWD).

CWD affects cervids such as deer and elk and has been detected in 26 states. The fatal neurological disease affects both farmed and free-ranging cervids and has no known vaccine or cure.

CWD first was detected in Pennsylvania in 2012. Since then, more than 250 wild deer have tested positive for CWD. In areas where CWD-positive deer have been detected, special regulations are enacted to limit the spread of the disease. These areas are known as Disease Management Areas.

The luncheon provided a moderated panel discussion featuring Nick Pinizzotto, of the National Deer Alliance; Shawn Schafer, of the National Deer Farmers Association; and Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Veasey also provided comments. Panel discussion included the varying perspectives on CWD and identified measures that should be considered when developing legislation to assist wildlife managers in reducing the prevalence and spread of CWD.