The Government of Saskatchewan is reversing its decision to end the chronic wasting disease testing program. On Thursday, the province announced it had updated its testing approach for the 2026-27 hunting season to be in line with the approach used in 2025-26. The province says the revision was made in response to feedback received from hunters who stressed the importance of continued testing when making decisions about consuming wild game. “We heard clearly from hunters that access to CWD testing matters to them and their families,” said Environment Minister Darlene Rowden in a news release. “Returning to the previous testing approach will provide hunters with information to support their decisions and maintain important surveillance information to support wildlife management.” The province will continue to enact mandatory testing in designated wildlife management zones and will continue to accept eligible voluntary samples through the existing CWD program. The province reiterated it will also continue to test samples already submitted. “The revised approach will allow the ministry to continue collecting information about the prevalence and distribution of CWD, support wildlife health monitoring and provide individual hunters with the status of submitted samples,” read the release. “Hunters required to submit samples must continue to follow the requirements that apply to the wildlife management zone, species and license under which the animal was harvested.” The province further advised hunters to continue to follow current submission instructions and visit Saskatchewan.ca/CWD for testing information, eligible species submission locations and updates. It added that the web content is expected to be updated later today. Hunters are expected to be notified of the updated requirements by Oct. 31, 2026.
