Chronic Wasting Disease Spreads Closer to Alcorn County — Hunters Urged to Take Action
CORINTH, Miss. – Chronic wasting disease (CWD) continues to spread in Mississippi’s deer herd, and wildlife officials are urging Alcorn County hunters to take preventive steps as the disease edges into nearby counties.
From July 2024 to June 2025, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) confirmed 128 deer positive for CWD statewide, an increase from 110 cases the year before. Since statewide testing began in 2018, more than 58,800 deer have been screened, with 446 testing positive.
While Alcorn County has not yet confirmed a CWD case, the disease is established in nearby Benton, Marshall, and Union counties, all within easy range of the county’s borders. Benton and Marshall counties—just west of Alcorn—are considered the state’s highest prevalence areas.
“The highest prevalence area is in Benton and Marshall counties along the Tennessee line,” said Jacob Dykes, wildlife specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “This is part of a larger regional outbreak covering multiple states.”
What Alcorn County Hunters Should Know
CWD is a 100% fatal neurological disease affecting white-tailed deer, elk, and moose. It spreads through saliva, urine, feces, and contaminated environments. While there’s no evidence it infects humans, the CDC strongly recommends not eating meat from an infected deer.
Because deer often appear healthy until the disease’s late stages, testing is the only way to confirm infection.
Free CWD Testing Near Alcorn County
MDWFP offers free CWD testing through drop-off freezer locations and participating taxidermists. Hunters in Alcorn County—especially those hunting near the Benton, Tippah, or Tishomingo county lines—are encouraged to use these nearby testing stations:
- Benton County Drop Box – Location details here
- Tippah County Drop Box – Location details here
- Tishomingo County Drop Box – Location details here
Results are typically available within two to three weeks outside peak hunting times.
How Alcorn County Can Help Keep CWD Out
Wildlife officials recommend local hunters and landowners take these proactive steps:
- Avoid supplemental feeding or mineral licks to prevent unnatural congregation.
- Harvest more bucks and maintain a healthy doe harvest to control deer density.
- Limit movement of carcasses from CWD-positive counties into Alcorn County.
Hunters within three miles of a confirmed CWD detection—such as in parts of neighboring Benton County—may qualify for the CWD Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). This program allows unlimited harvest of either sex during any open season, with no weapon restrictions. All deer taken under DMAP are tested and do not count toward bag limits.
Early Action Can Make the Difference
Even in counties with no confirmed cases, CWD may already be present but undetected for years.
“The disease is always beyond the farthest known location,” said Kamen Campbell, MDWFP assistant deer program coordinator. “Stopping feeding and limiting carcass movement can make a difference before it becomes established.”
For more information on CWD in Mississippi and to find the nearest testing site, visit the MDWFP Chronic Wasting Disease page.
