Ginger Stout presented an informational briefing to the Northeastern Regional RAC on a trial mandatory chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing program. The program is being piloted to expand surveillance and will initially offer multiple submission options: hunter self-sampling kits, drop-off freezers or head-drop barrels, office drop-offs and submissions through biologists. Stout said the department will produce instructional videos and brochures to teach sample removal so hunters are not required to transport whole heads from backcountry locations.

Stout and RAC members discussed logistics. She said voluntary target units have testing paid for by the department and turnaround times for results are typically two to six weeks. For units not in the voluntary rotation, hunters would be responsible for test costs. During the trial year, noncompliance is expected to be handled as a fee under existing code rather than an application penalty; the department said details will be discussed after the pilot.

Dalen Christiansen, the regional wildlife manager, described intensified testing and outreach in the Myton area, cooperation with landowners to harvest suspect mature bucks, some live-animal testing and the start of GPS-collar monitoring to track movements. He said the outcomes of those efforts will be evaluated over the next year or two to determine whether the approaches slow spread.

Members and public commenters asked about public-health risk. DWR staff said there is currently no direct evidence CWD has caused prion disease in humans, but the department continues to advise against eating meat from positive animals and emphasized the need for caution because prion strains can change.

The CWD testing presentation was informational; the RAC did not take a vote on the proposal at this meeting.