(Radio Iowa) – The archery deer season is underway and D-N-R deer program leader Tyler Harms says while there are not as many deer taken — they still are looking for samples to help track a disease that is deadly to the animals. “ChronicWasting Disease or C-W-D is what it is referred to — is something that we’re continuing to test for on an annual basis. And we certainly do that statewide during the archery season,” Harms says.

He says hunters can play a key role in the monitoring program. “If they are willing to help us out with that effort in tracking where the disease is in the state, just submit a sample. And they can do that by contacting their local wildlife biologist,” Harms says.

There have been a total of 89 positive C-W-D tests in the wild deer population since testing began in 2013. A majority of the cases have been found in the northeast corner of the state.