The Department of Agriculture has released recommended best management practices to protect hunters and their families against chronic wasting disease.

“As fall washes over the commonwealth and more than 850,000 licensed hunters move to the woods, we encourage them to keep health and safety in mind,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “With a few simple steps, hunters can protect themselves and their families ... from risks associated with CWD.”

Since being identified in Pennsylvania, hunters have had a heightened awareness of the fatal neurological disease that can affect deer, elk, moose and caribou.

The following best management practices are recommended to be adopted:

•Do not shoot, handle or eat meat from wild deer or elk that look sick, are acting strangely or are found dead.

•Report any sightings of sick or abnormal-acting wild deer or elk to the Pa. Game Commission.

•If you are hunting in or near a disease management area, place your deer’s head in Pa. Game Commission collection containers to submit it for CWD testing.

•If you have your deer or elk commercially processed, consider asking that your animal be processed separately to avoid mixing meat from multiple animals.

An FAQ on testing locations, fees and process can be found on the PADLS website or to learn more about CWD visit pgc.pa.gov.