polski
Deer Under Surveillance, Wild Boar Under Pressure: What's New in the Fight Against Wildlife Disease
September 2026 is a reminder that modern hunting today is as much about epidemiology as it is about the hunt itself. In the United States, the management zone for chronic wasting disease in deer is expanding, while in Poland, African swine fever in wild boar shows no sign of slowing down. We take a look at what these two stories mean in practical terms for hunters on both sides of the Atlantic — and why it's worth keeping an eye on developments no matter where you happen to hunt.
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01 · Wildlife Disease
Delaware: A Third CWD Case and New Rules in the Field
On September 16, 2026, the State of Delaware (DNREC) confirmed a third case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer, this time in Sussex County [1]. As a result, the CWD management zone has expanded to include another administrative unit. Local authorities have simultaneously introduced temporary regulations restricting deer congregation and expanded mandatory testing requirements for deer harvested during the upcoming hunting season.
For European hunters, the American experience with CWD offers valuable points of comparison. The disease, which in Europe still remains on the margins of attention for many hunting clubs, has for years forced increasingly strict population monitoring protocols for deer species in North America. The gradual expansion of management zones, mandatory sample testing, and restrictions on gathering sites are a scenario worth following closely — if only to understand which disease-management tools work in practice before similar challenges come closer to our own hunting grounds.
02 · ASF and Sanitary Culling
Poland: ASF in Wild Boar Shows No Signs of Slowing, Over 40 New Outbreaks in a Week
The same mechanism — surveillance, testing, regulation — is also at work on the Vistula, though this time the culprit isn't CWD but African swine fever (ASF). According to a report from the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate dated September 7, 2026, more than 40 new ASF outbreaks in wild boar were confirmed in just one week, concentrated mainly in the Pomeranian and Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeships [2]. This shows that, despite years of countermeasures, the disease is still actively circulating within the wild boar population.
The scale and pace of the outbreaks directly affect current sanitary culling rules and the compensation rates for hunters taking part in wild boar population reduction. Unlike America's CWD situation, ASF is an issue that affects Polish hunting clubs here and now — from organizing sanitary hunts and carcass disposal logistics to the financial matters tied to compensation for participating in culls. The Pomeranian and Kuyavian-Pomeranian regions currently remain the focus of veterinary services and hunt organizers.
Summary
Summary
Both stories — the American and the Polish — share one common thread: wildlife population health has today become an inseparable part of hunting planning, alongside the traditional topics of gear, tactics, and hunting regulations. Following such signals from different parts of the world helps us better prepare for challenges that, sooner or later, may reach our own hunting grounds as well.
Want to talk about wildlife health monitoring, testing procedures, and equipment that supports safe sanitary culling? Visit the Międzynarodowe Targi Myśliwskie - Hunting Expo 2026 and meet experts from the hunting, veterinary, and outdoor industries all in one place.
Invitation
The topics of CWD and ASF show just how important reliable knowledge and modern wildlife monitoring tools have become today. Visit Międzynarodowe Targi Myśliwskie - Hunting Expo 2026 and talk with experts about testing, sanitary culling, and equipment that genuinely supports safe wildlife population management. See you there!
Hunting Expo 2026Footnotes
[1] State of Delaware News (DNREC) — https://news.delaware.gov/2026/09/16/delaware-confirms-third-case-of-chronic-wasting-disease-in-deer/[2] farmer.pl — https://www.farmer.pl/produkcja-zwierzeca/trzoda-chlewna/ponad-40-nowych-ognisk-asf-dzikow-dominuja-dwa-regiony-raport-z-7-wrzesnia,183080.html