Chronic wasting disease can easily be transmitted by saliva dropped when deer feed next to each other, but aerosol transmission is many times more effective. A snort (as many bowhunters can tell you) is common, a sneeze into the crowd, maybe more often as an infected animal weakens, or just breathing into another’s nose as they compete for the last few bites can be sufficient. Turkeys are included, as they live long enough for the symptoms to be pronounced and transmitted to the hunter.

Don Miller

Mt. Pleasant Township

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