The provided dataset is the coded analysis of qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted with managers and researchers who are experts on chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy disease that affects species in the Cervidae family. CWD has also proven difficult to manage and the disease continues to spread across North America and parts of Europe and Asia. The interviews were conducted with 12 participants, 2 were associated with tribal nation jurisdictions and 10 were associated with state agencies. The interviews sought to describe the experiences of experts working to manage CWD and connect those experiences to ecological transformation; a similarly challenging conservation issue that occurs when rapid shifts in ecosystem processes occur due to broad-scale stressors like global climate change.