If you’re a Mississippi hunter, you’ve likely heard the buzz about chronic wasting disease, commonly referred to as CWD. Some say the disease is a ticking time bomb for our whitetail deer, while others swear it’s a myth cooked up to ruin deer season. I’ve been digging into this on my SuperTalk Outdoors show, and it’s a growingly hot topic in Mississippi, where the woods are as much home as the front porch.
A while back, I had Mississippi State University’s Dr. Bronson Strickland and William McKinley of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks on air to cut through the noise – lies, myths, and all. What we found, backed by data piling up across the country, is worth a hard look – especially with Benton County sounding the alarm.
CWD isn’t new. It’s been creeping around since the 1960s, starting in Colorado. It’s a prion disease, a nasty little protein that turns deer brains to mush, leaving them skinny, dazed, and doomed. Here in Mississippi, it hit our radar in 2018 when a buck in Issaquena County tested positive. Since then, MDWFP has tracked it in 17 counties. But Benton County, up near the Tennessee line, has become the canary in the coal mine. Prevalence there has hit a point of no return with too many positives to call it a fluke anymore. And from a hunter’s perspective, mature deer are few and far between. It’s a wake-up call for the rest of us.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s latest map tracking CWD, updated on March 4, 2025, shows it in 36 states in wild herds and 22 in captive ones. That’s rapid growth – data multiplying faster than kudzu – and it’s got folks like Strickland and McKinley paying attention. Benton’s not an outlier; it’s a preview.
On the show, we have tackled the big skepticism of, “If I haven’t seen it, it isn’t real.” I get it – most of our bucks still look fat and happy, chasing does through the woods. But Strickland, who studies at Mississippi State’s Deer Lab, pointed out that CWD isn’t always that obvious. A deer can carry the disease for months, even years, before it staggers into sight. McKinley has said as much on my show several times.
I’ve worried that moving deer around – like from those breeding operations – spreads it faster than a wildfire in July. Look at the updated USGS map and form your own concerns. A buck shipped from a farm in Texas to one in Louisiana? That’s potential trouble on four legs, according to the USGS map. Track the red dots on the map. Thank God we have never allowed the sale and transfer of deer by breeders in Mississippi!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been sounding the CWD alarm, and its herd certification program is trying to keep tabs on it. Now, nobody in Mississippi likes being told what to do, especially by outsiders. I’ve heard plenty of y’all say, “The feds just want more control.” Fair enough. But the USDA and MDWFP aren’t out to lock down your lease or snatch your rifle. I promise. They, instead, are crunching numbers – real data, not guesses – to protect what we’ve got.
Strickland showed us how CWD has jumped across state lines. McKinley stressed that it’s not about shutting down hunting; it’s about keeping our herds strong by doing everything possible to slow the spread. Last season, MDWFP tested over 10,000 deer statewide and found 128 positive cases in 17 counties. Union County had its first positive. And with Benton County tipping the scales with 1 in 5 testing positive, it’s a trend we can’t ignore.
So, is CWD a lie? Not according to the maps, the labs, or the folks who have seen it – like hunters in hard-hit spots up north and now closer to home. Is it the end for Mississippi deer hunting? Not by a long shot. We busted that myth on air, as well. CWD is not wiping out herds overnight. But brushing it off won’t make it vanish, either.
Benton County is the warning. The data is clear. CWD is here, it’s growing, and we’ve got to deal with it smartly. Test your harvested deer next season and tune in to SuperTalk Outdoors every Monday at noon for the latest. We’ll keep sorting the truth from the misinformation – Mississippi style. God bless you and stay safe. Always put safety first!!!
