Ariz. seeks tissue samples from deer, elk

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona officials are asking deer and elk hunters help the state monitor for a wildlife disease that's already present in numerous other states.

The Game and Fish Department wants hunters to allow department personnel, taxidermists and wildlife meat processors to collect tissue samples deer and elk killed by hunters.

The department is looking for signs of chronic wasting disease. It has been detected in 22 states and Canadian provinces, including the neighboring states of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.

The department says no samples have tested positive in Arizona so far.

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