Can CWD Spread Through Reused Arrows? What Hunters Need to Know
The answer is more unsettling than most hunters realize. Bowhunting involves close-range shots that pierce muscle tissue, blood vessels, and lymph nodes prime sites for prion contamination if the deer is infected. Arrows retrieved from the carcass are often wiped off and reused, but standard cleaning methods don’t neutralize prions. A study by the National Institutes of Health found that prions bind tightly to steel and plastic surfaces and remain infectious even after routine cleaning. While a five-minute soak in 40% household bleach can deactivate prions on stainless steel, bleach cannot penetrate solid tissue. Infected brain matter remained infectious after a 30-minute soak in undiluted bleach meaning arrows contaminated with tissue fragments may still carry active prions, even after soaking. 📎 Source: NIH Prion Decontamination Guidelines (PDF) Bleach vs. Prions: What Actually Works Full-strength household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) can red...