CWD in county, local hunters to participate in 'surveillance hunt'

BONNERS FERRY — In response to the first confirmed case of chronic wasting disease in a white-tailed deer in Boundary County, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission has announced a nine-day “surveillance hunt” beginning Aug. 24.  

This is the first case of CWD in North Idaho. CWD is a deadly neurological illness that affects deer, elk and other members of the Cervidae family.  

Boundary County residents are first in line to participate in the hunt, as 300 tags are being sold at the public overflow boat parking lot directly south of the Boundary County Search and Dive Rescue boat launch, 6821 Riverside St., Thursday, Aug. 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

The hunt will go from Saturday, Aug. 24 until Sept. 1. 

The IDFG commission’s goal is to collect 200 samples from harvested white-tailed deer to gain a better understanding of the disease’s prevalence and spread. The hunt will take place around the same area where the infected deer's body was found.  

Participating in the surveillance hunt will not affect a hunter’s ability to participate in other deer hunts.   

“While disappointing, the CWD detection in Unit 1 is not completely surprising,” reads a press release. “Unit 1 is surrounded on three sides by Washington, British Columbia, and Montana, all of which have detected CWD, including relatively new detections in Washington and British Columbia.” 

Washington’s first confirmed case of CWD was confirmed in August, in the body of a white-tailed deer found north of Spokane.   

All participating hunters must only hunt within the defined boundaries of the hunt area. 

For the duration of the surveillance hunt, the head of any harvested deer must be brought to any Fish and Game regional office or drop-off site in Bonners Ferry within 24 hours for mandatory CWD testing. If a harvested deer does test positive for CWD, Fish and Game will contact the hunter who brought it in.   

Tags will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis at a discounted rate of $10 each cash or check payment only. Each tag is valid for either sex of white-tailed deer, and only available to Idaho residents.   

Tags may only be purchased by eligible hunters on-site, plus for their spouse or dependent children. Purchasing for friends is not allowed. 

Those wishing to purchase a tag must have and present a valid Idaho hunting license at the time of purchase. Hunting licenses will not be available for purchase at the tag sale location in Bonners Ferry. 

Any remaining, unsold tags will go on sale only at the Panhandle Regional office on Friday, Aug. 23 starting at 8 a.m., again on a first-come, first-served basis. Upon purchase and issuance of a tag, hunters will receive an informational packet and briefing from Fish and Game staff on-site. 

Fish and Game will be hosting weekly community chats in Bonners Ferry that will follow an open house format. Community members can stop by and talk with staff to voice concerns relative to CWD. 

“Fish and Game will be there for the community the whole way. From sharing updates at every step along the way to working with folks to remove the question marks around what this detection means and how it can affect hunters, we’re going to be there for you,” said Carson Watkins, Panhandle Regional Supervisor. 

Community chats will be held Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at the U.S. Forest Service Bonners Ferry Ranger Station (6286 Main St, 83805).  

The first community chat took place on Tuesday.  

Call the Panhandle Regional Office at 208-769-1414 for details.