Why 82 Mule Deer Were Killed Inside Captive Elk Facility

Imagine the delicate balance between wildlife management and public safety — that’s exactly what officials navigated in a recent, impactful decision.

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE PRECAUTIONS

Our next door neighbors in Idaho tell us that over the past few months, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game removed 82 wild mule deer that had slipped under fencing into a captive elk facility in the Spencer, Dubois, and Rexburg area of the state. (Game Management Unit 60A).

Hunters had reported seeing them inside during the 2025 season. Although no elk at that facility have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), other facilities in the region have had recent cases, and because there’s no reliable live test for CWD.

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WILD DEER CAN'T LEGALLY REMAIN IN CAPTIVITY

After evaluating several options, including hazing deer out of the enclosure, Fish and Game determined that the lethal removal of these deer was the most responsible course of action. This difficult decision was made out of an abundance of caution to prevent any possible spread of CWD.

The deer were taken by a mix of public hunters and agency staff, tested for CWD (with 76 negatives so far and no positives), and the meat was either kept by hunters or, after negative results, processed and donated to local food banks, with costs covered jointly by Fish and Game and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

ALL IS NOT LOST

About half of the deer were harvested by public hunters and were kept for personal consumption. After testing negative for CWD, the remainder are being professionally processed and donated to local food banks.