By paNOW

CWD testing to begin

Oct 26, 2010 | 1:32 PM

The province will be checking for chronic wasting disease this fall in east-central Saskatchewan.

The CWD testing program will target nine wild life management zones where the province hopes to collect hundreds of samples of dead deer and elk, from hunters.

The ministry requires a minimum of 600 samples collected within each wildlife management zone over a three year period, said Brad Tokaruk, a wild life specialist with the ministry of environment.

“And what we do is use that to determine the prevalence if any of (the disease) in a particular wildlife management zone,” he said.

CWD is a fatal disease affecting deer and elk.

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“It takes many years to reach a fatal stage — but it’s a wasting disease — it’s a debilitating disease,” he said.

The province is asking hunters to turn in head samples of their animals to one of three sampling stations or any ministry of environment office.

The sampling stations are located in Hudson Bay, Preeceville and Yorkton.

The Hudson Bay office will operate Nov. 4 through Dec. 20.

The province hopes the stations will make it more convenient for hunters to turn in head samples.

bbosker@rawlco.com