TL;DR
Get emergency and outdoor gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming are reporting fall outbreaks of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, a virus spread to deer and other hoofed wildlife by biting midges. South Dakota is offering full refunds for licenses in 16 Missouri River counties as reported deer deaths rise; the disease cannot infect people or pets.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) outbreaks are killing deer in South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming this fall, with South Dakota offering full refunds to hunters holding licenses for 16 counties along the Missouri River. The reports come as the state’s total of deer reported dead from EHD more than doubled between September and October, although only a portion of those deaths has been confirmed by laboratory testing.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is allowing hunters to voluntarily return deer licenses for a full refund if they planned to hunt in one of the 16 affected Missouri River counties. The agency also withdrew 62 unsold licenses. Earlier, it closed nine southeastern counties to mentored, youth and apprentice deer hunting, and changed statewide archery and muzzleloader licenses to buck-only for 2026.
The number of deer reported dead from EHD in South Dakota rose from 196 at the commission’s September meeting to 407 in October. The agency said 31 of the reported deaths were laboratory-confirmed as EHD. The reported total is slightly above the number recorded during all of the 2025 season; the available information does not establish that every reported death was caused by the virus.
Wisconsin has logged about 2,300 reports of sick or dead deer showing signs of EHD this fall, including about 1,300 in Washington County, according to the source report. In Wyoming, biologists are monitoring EHD cases among whitetails and pronghorn near Casper and Glenrock, while also tracking bluetongue, a related midge-borne virus. The report does not give a statewide Wyoming case total.
Hunting Plans and Deer Mortality
The outbreaks affect both wildlife management and hunting plans. South Dakota’s license refunds and hunting restrictions are a direct response to the situation in affected areas, while the reported deaths give state agencies information to monitor the spread. For hunters, the rules vary by location and license type, so the state’s county closures and buck-only restrictions matter when deciding where and how to hunt.
EHD is spread by biting midges, sometimes called no-see-ums, which can transmit the virus when they bite animals. The disease is not contagious between animals and cannot be contracted by people or pets, according to the source report. That distinction matters to the public: the reports concern wildlife health and do not indicate a human or pet outbreak.
The reported totals are not equivalent across states. South Dakota’s figures include reported deaths, with 31 lab-confirmed, while Wisconsin’s figure is reports of sick or dead deer showing signs of EHD. Those numbers describe different stages of confirmation and should not be treated as a directly comparable count of confirmed infections.
deer hunting license refund South Dakota
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How EHD Spreads This Fall
The South Dakota outbreak began in July and continued through an unusually warm September. The report says heavy rain left muddy pools that can serve as breeding areas for the midges that carry EHD. Deer often use the same water sources, bringing them into contact with the insects.
Infected animals may develop a fever within seven days of being bitten. Other signs can include swelling of the head or neck, weakness, and reduced fear of people. Sick deer often seek water and may be found dead near ponds, streams, seeps or rivers. Wyoming Game and Fish says acute infections can cause death within 24 to 36 hours, though EHD is not always fatal and some affected animals recover or show no symptoms.
A hard freeze would kill the biting midges and could help slow transmission, the report says. The timing and effect of a freeze are not established, and the source does not give a forecast for when conditions may change in the affected areas.
“A lot of our reports have come from the month of October.”
— Byron Buckley, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks senior wildlife biologist, as reported by the South Dakota Searchlight
deer hunting gear for archery and muzzleloader
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Reported Deaths Need Confirmation
The reported totals do not show how many deer have been laboratory-confirmed in each state. South Dakota has confirmed 31 of its 407 reported deaths; the source gives no comparable confirmation breakdown for Wisconsin or Wyoming. It is also unclear how many animals have recovered, how many deaths are still being investigated, and how much of the rise in reports reflects increased disease activity rather than increased public reporting.
The report does not provide a Wyoming case count or a final estimate of the outbreak’s geographic extent in any of the three states. It also does not say when South Dakota’s license-refund offer will end or how many hunters will use it. The effects of any coming freeze on the outbreaks remain uncertain.
midge repellent for wildlife protection
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Agency Monitoring and Hunting Rules
State wildlife agencies are continuing to collect reports and monitor affected areas. In South Dakota, hunters should check current Game, Fish and Parks notices for the 16-county refund option, county closures and license rules before going afield. The outbreak could change as weather shifts and more reports are assessed, but no end date or final mortality estimate has been announced in the source material.
Additional laboratory results and agency updates may clarify how many reported deaths were caused by EHD and whether the outbreaks are expanding or easing. Until then, the state totals should be read as reported cases or deaths using each agency’s stated categories, not as a uniform count of confirmed infections.
deer tracking and monitoring equipment
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What is EHD?
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is a virus transmitted to susceptible wildlife by biting midges. It affects hoofed animals such as deer and can cause fever, weakness and swelling; some infections are fatal.
Can people or pets catch EHD from deer?
No. The source report says EHD is not contagious between animals and cannot be contracted by people or pets.
Are all reported South Dakota deer deaths confirmed as EHD?
No. South Dakota reported 407 deer deaths by October, of which 31 were laboratory-confirmed as EHD, according to the source report.
Why is South Dakota refunding some deer licenses?
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is offering full refunds to hunters who voluntarily return licenses for hunting in 16 Missouri River counties affected by the outbreak. The state also withdrew 62 unsold licenses and has other county and license restrictions in place.
Can deer recover from EHD?
Yes. The disease is not always fatal, and some affected animals recover or show no symptoms. Severe acute infections can kill an animal within 24 to 36 hours, according to Wyoming Game and Fish as cited in the source report.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
