The first major push of big game hunters heads into the field this weekend as the archery seasons begin for elk, deer and antelope across Montana on Saturday.

And, it seems to be a recurring theme in recent years that some wildlife disease or another will play a role in individuals’ big game hunts. This year is no different.

Last year, it was antelope and bluetongue. The years before that, there were major outbreaks of EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease) and deer. Both of those diseases knocked down big game populations in some areas.

But this year, there are new concerns and while they don’t seem to have had huge impacts on wildlife numbers, they may pose some risks to bowhunters. They are, at least, diseases that bowhunters should be aware of as they head into the field. The diseases are anthrax and brucellosis.

An outbreak of naturally-occurring anthrax hit Ted Turner’s Flying D Ranch during the months of July and August. A total of nearly 300 domestic bison died from the disease.

Bowhunters heading to that area between the Gallatin and Madison rivers, north of the Spanish Peaks to Highway 84, should be aware that 14 bull elk also succumbed to the disease and a couple of dead white-tailed deer have been found as well. A black bear death is also suspected to be have been caused by anthrax. Dead animals were discovered as recently as last week.

“Anthrax is caused by a naturally occurring bacteria that can lie dormant in the ground for decades, then become active under ideal soil and weather conditions,” said FWP spokesman Ron Aasheim, in Helena.

“It’s a seasonal disease,” he added, “occurring in late summer during periods of prolonged hot, dry weather after flooding or heavy rains.”

According to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS), there are three types of anthrax n skin (cutaneous), lungs (inhalation) and digestive (gastrointestinal). Skin anthrax can be contracted by handling infected animals, lung anthrax by inhaling spores from the animal and digestive anthrax by eating undercooked meat from the animal.

Here’s the bad news from DPHHS on symptoms:

Skin: The first symptom is a small sore that develops into a blister. The blister then develops into a skin ulcer with a black area in the center. The sore, blister and ulcer do not hurt.

Digestive: The first symptoms are nausea, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, and fever, followed by bad stomach pain.

Lungs: The first symptoms of inhalation anthrax are like cold or flu symptoms and can include a sore throat, mild fever and muscle aches. Later symptoms include cough, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, tiredness and muscle aches.

According to DPHHS, symptoms can appear from within a few hours up to seven days or, for inhalation anthrax, it can take up to 42 days for them to appear. Antibiotics are used to treat all three types of anthrax. Early identification and treatment are important. The disease can be fatal in untreated cases.

One of the problems with anthrax is that you can’t always identify animals that have contracted the disease. They can appear healthy as the disease develops within them. Then, in some cases, animals just suddenly die.

According to the North Dakota State University College of Agriculture and its Extension Service, “Anthrax usually is a fatal disease with no symptoms observed. Upon or near death, blood oozes from the body openings. This blood is heavily laden with anthrax organisms.

“If the infection is less acute, there may be a sudden staggering, difficult breathing, trembling, collapse and death. In horses, colic may be observed. Edema and swelling may be seen over the body, particularly at the brisket. Illness is observed for one or two days, but it may last five days; symptoms are preceded by fever, with a period of excitement in which the animal may charge anyone nearby,” NDSU reported.

The big question for bowhunters is how big is the risk? The answer is that it’s going to be up to the individual hunters to assess it. This type of anthrax occurs naturally, but outbreaks are typically small. This is a very big one.

“The risk of a hunter being infected with anthrax is very low,” said Dr. Kammy Johnson at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. “The small risk can be further minimized by taking common sense precautions that all hunters should follow.”

Those precautions include:

n Do not harvest animals that appear ill or are acting abnormally.

n Wear rubber (latex) gloves when field dressing game.

n Minimize contact with animal fluids, brain and spinal tissues.

n Wash hands and instruments thoroughly after field dressing or processing.

n Cook all meat until well done before consuming.

“All hunters should adopt these precautions wherever and whenever they are hunting,” Johnson said.

As the outbreak appears to be ongoing, Aasheim said hunters who are concerned about even a minimal risk of exposure may want to choose a different area to hunt until cold weather arrives or snow covers the ground. Cold and snow tend to end outbreaks.

For more information, hunters, taxidermists and meat processors can visit the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services website at dphhs.mt.gov. Click “Precautions for Hunters,” listed under “Featured Topics.” Individuals may also call the DPHHS at 444-0273.

Billings Gazette Outdoor Editor Mark Henckel: 657-1395 or henckel@billingsgazette.com