The infectious proteins that cause brain-wasting disease have been found in the leg muscles of infected deer, a laboratory experiment shows.

Scientists say there is no evidence people have caught the disease from infected deer. But the new findings, in Friday's issue of the journal Science, suggest hunters could potentially be exposed from sick animals.

Chronic wasting disease affects ranched elk and wild deer in Saskatchewan and Alberta, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It is also found in deer and elk across the U.S. West and Midwest.

Like BSE or mad cow disease, chronic wasting disease is a "transmissible spongiform encephalopathy." In such diseases, infectious proteins called prions infect the brain and spinal cord.............

http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2006/01/27/cwd-muscle060127.html

well, at least now I have an excuse

Ya, and I thought I was going senile.

I heard they had found the deer in west virginia with somehting like mad cow disease. Hunters there had been advised not to eat the meat. This must have been what they were talking about.

I also heard they found some in the Mule Deer in Colorado. Keep my fingers crossed it does not show up here

Seriously it's a pretty big concern in Co. More for the elk than the deer. Lots of counties have mandatory testing for all commercially processed elk and deer. They keep saying it can't cross to humans but their great concern gives them away in my book. I also pray it doesn't like the warm climates.