Excellent postThe prions that cause it are in the deer, its shed into the soil from urine, feces, and saliva. They arent present in the soil until a sick deer puts them there.
They are in the highest concentration in the brain, spinal column and lymph nodes but prions are present throughout the meat as well.
Common sense says to try and stop or slow the spread of a fatal disease in deer that can potentially make the jump to humans or other species like sheep or cattle rather than just standing idly by and making it our kids and grandkids problem.
I agree with a lot you've said, the sky isn't falling and there will always be deer whether we have CWD or not but I refuse to believe that "let nature take its course" is the best course of action.