If you have hunted deer, elk, reindeer, or moose, you've likely heard about CWD or Chronic Wasting Disease in those animals.

CWD is a fatal, infectious disease that affects the central nervous system. It's also recommended that once you harvest an animal that you get the head of that animal tested for the disease.

The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation held a convention over the weekend discussing topics such as CWD. Director Darrel Crabbe gave an update on the testing program.

"The Chronic Wasting disease program will change quite a bit next year. We're going to try providing direction with downloadable videos on how to extract the required brain stem portion for testing. This will greatly reduce the timelapse between testing and confirmation."

Crabbe added that he's seen an increase in the number of animals being tested.

"It increased dramatically. We're waiting to get final numbers but it looks like a significant increase in people submitting their heads for testing."

It's important to note that no human has ever gotten sick or died from ingesting diseased meat but you are still advised to get it tested.

Also discussed at the convention were the possible impacts the new trespass legislation will have on hunting. 

Crabbe gave more detail on the situation.

"We had a number of conversations and workshops about that trying to develop new programming where we can find contact information or communication opportunities between landowners and hunters. Also how we are going to manage our own properties as we move ahead."

Crabbe added that because of the recent decisions of the provincial government that don't require seniors, Canadian Armed Forces veterans, or metis to have licenses, it will impact how the SWF will be able to fund all the things they do in the province.