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Wildlife agencies are tracking epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) outbreaks in South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. South Dakota has offered full refunds to hunters with licenses for 16 counties along the Missouri River, while reported deer deaths have risen to 407 statewide. Case counts and impacts are still developing, and most reported deaths have not been laboratory-confirmed.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks also withdrew **62 unsold licenses**. The state had previously closed nine southeastern counties to mentored, youth and apprentice deer hunting and changed statewide archery and muzzleloader licenses to **buck-only** for 2026. The refund applies to hunters planning to pursue deer in the 16 listed Missouri River counties; it is voluntary.
The South Dakota outbreak began in **July** and continued through an unusually warm September. The report links the risk to biting midges, which carry the virus, and to mud holes left by heavy rain. The state’s reported-death figure includes suspected cases: **31 of the 407** were lab-confirmed. Officials have not said how many deer have died in total across the three states.
Wisconsin has logged roughly **2,300 reports of sick or dead deer showing EHD signs** this fall, including about 1,300 in Washington County, according to the report. Wyoming biologists are monitoring EHD in the Casper and Glenrock areas, alongside bluetongue, a related midge-borne virus. The Wyoming report cited cases in whitetail deer and pronghorn.
How the Outbreak Affects Hunting
For hunters in affected areas, the outbreak may change **where and how deer can be hunted**. South Dakota’s license refunds and earlier restrictions offer hunters a choice to leave designated areas or adjust plans, while buck-only rules limit the deer hunters may pursue under those licenses. The measures also show how disease reports can affect hunting access and management during an active season.
The mortality reports are not equivalent to a final count of disease deaths. Some reports are based on signs observed in the field, and only a portion of South Dakota’s reported deaths had laboratory confirmation. Wildlife managers use such reports to track where the disease may be spreading, but the figures can also reflect how many people are outdoors and reporting carcasses.
EHD is **not contagious from animal to animal**, according to the supplied report, and people and pets cannot contract it. It affects hoofed animals, including deer and other wild ungulates. The disease can still cause rapid deaths among infected animals, while some infected deer show no symptoms or recover.
deer hunting license refund South Dakota
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How Midges Spread EHD
EHD is transmitted when **biting midges**, sometimes called no-see-ums, carry the virus from an infected animal to another mammal. Deer may develop a fever within seven days of a bite. Other possible signs include a swollen head or neck, weakness and reduced wariness of people; sick deer may seek water and be found near ponds, streams or other water sources.
South Dakota wildlife biologist **Byron Buckley** told the South Dakota Searchlight that October reports had increased. He said the increase could reflect more disease or simply more people on the landscape reporting what they see. The report says a hard freeze would kill midges and could help stem transmission, but does not establish when that might happen or how much it would reduce cases.
Wyoming is also monitoring **bluetongue**, a related virus carried by midges. The report says bluetongue can affect deer and is especially hard on domestic sheep. EHD and bluetongue are separate diseases, and the reported Wyoming monitoring should not be read as confirmation that every sick animal has either virus.
“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
Case Counts Still Developing
The available figures do not establish the **total number of confirmed EHD deaths** in the three states. South Dakota’s 407 reports include suspected cases, with 31 laboratory-confirmed by the time of the report; Wisconsin’s roughly 2,300 figure refers to reports of sick or dead deer with signs of EHD, not confirmed infections. Comparable totals for Wyoming were not provided.
It is also unclear how much of the reported mortality will continue, how many deer may recover, and how weather will affect midge activity. Buckley’s comment leaves open whether South Dakota’s October increase reflects a wider outbreak, increased public reporting, or both. The report does not give an end date for the license refund offer or name all 16 South Dakota counties.
What Hunters and Agencies Watch
State wildlife agencies are expected to continue monitoring reports and laboratory testing as the fall outbreak develops. In South Dakota, hunters should check Game, Fish and Parks notices for the counties covered by the **voluntary refund** and for any changes to season rules. The supplied report does not specify a deadline for returning licenses, so hunters should confirm current instructions with the agency before acting.
A hard freeze may reduce the number of virus-carrying midges, but it is not a confirmed end to the outbreak. Further agency updates should clarify whether reported cases keep rising, how many deaths are confirmed, and whether restrictions or license options change. Readers who find sick or dead wildlife should follow the relevant state agency’s reporting guidance.
Key Questions
Which states are reporting EHD this fall?
The report identifies **South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming** as states monitoring EHD outbreaks this fall.
Can people or pets catch EHD from deer?
No. The supplied report says EHD is **not contagious between animals** and cannot be contracted by people or pets.
How many South Dakota deer deaths have been confirmed?
South Dakota had **407 reported deer deaths** as of October, but 31 had been laboratory-confirmed as EHD deaths. The remaining reports should not be treated as confirmed cases.
What is South Dakota offering affected hunters?
Hunters may voluntarily return eligible deer licenses for a **full refund** if they planned to hunt in one of 16 counties along the Missouri River. The report does not list those counties or state a refund deadline.
Does EHD kill every infected deer?
No. The report says some affected animals recover or show no symptoms, while acute infections can cause death within 24 to 36 hours, according to Wyoming Game and Fish.
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