Researchers are asking southwest Saskatchewan Hunters for their help.

The Ministry of Environment in Saskatchewan is asking for samples to be donated by hunters, as they look for signs of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer populations.

Donations requested would be the heads of any whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn, elk, or moose that hunters can provide. Any and all members of the deer family.

Iga Stasiak, a wildlife health specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, is looking forward to receiving any samples that come in.

"We don't get a lot of caribou submitted," said Stasiak. "But if there were any, we would be interested in those also."

Donations are specifically requested from zones 50, 37, 35, 10, which includes Leader and Cabri, 9, west of Swift Current and northeast of Maple Creek, and 2W, southeast of Shaunavon.

"They go to the diagnostic lab at the veterinary college at the University of Saskatchewan for tests," said Stasiaks.

Chronic Wasting Disease has been documented to be spreading through deer populations in Canada and the U.S. The disease, which sees prions eat the brain matter of the deer, is incurable at this time, and the spread of the disease could eventually lead to the deterioration of deer populations.

By tracking the rate at which it is found on donated samples, they can monitor the spread of the disease, and monitor the severity of its spread.

While it is not recommended by the Ministry of Environment, there have been no confirmed cases of Chronic Wasting Disease transferring to humans via consumption of infected animals. So if hunters do donate a head, and it's confirmed as contaminated by the disease, they can choose to still consume the meat regardless.

"It's a risk that you know hunters need to evaluate on their own," she said.

If you or anyone you know is interested in turning over samples, you can contact the Ministry of Environment, or check the government website.