1996 I took a trip up to Rangley where I saw dozens of dead deer rotting. Pretty sure it was from CWD, a variant of mad cow disease. I would only eat deer and elk if there was no other meat. If you get this disease there is no known cure. I'm sure others will argue that it is perfectly safe. Last winter local doves were dropping dead from bird flu and now local rabbits are dying from tularemia and the plague. There is a map in this link...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_wasting_disease