The Associated Press

SADIEVILLE, Ky. - State wildlife officials are testing deer and elk for "chronic wasting disease," which has already hit wildlife in 10 states.

By noon Saturday - the first day this hunting season that Kentuckians could use modern firearms to kill deer - heads from 12 carcasses were turned over to state wildlife biologist Clay Smitson so they could be tested for the disease.

Mr. Smitson said the state aims to test 1,000 hunter-harvested deer and elk this year. They want to keep the disease, which causes deer to behave strangely and then die, out of the state.

Related to mad cow disease, CWD has invaded 10 states and most recently appeared in Illinois.

CWD is not known to be transferable to humans, but the disease potentially could devastate the states' hunting industries. Each year, hunters pump $350 million into Kentucky's economy.

"People are more than willing to allow us to take those heads. They share our concerns about the disease and they're more than willing to help out," said Mr. Smitson, speaking at a processing plant near Lexington.

CWD was identified more than 20 years ago. Elk, white-tailed deer and mule deer have tested positive in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado.

Ohio aims to test 500 deer despite state officials' skepticism that any will test positive. "Our chances of having that in the state right now are pretty slim. However, we want to do everything that we can to keep it out," said Todd Haines of the Ohio Division of Wildlife.