DNR Reminds Hunters To Test Harvested Deer And Take Action To Slow The Spread Of CWD This Fall

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters to test their deer for CWD this fall. Testing is available statewide, but the DNR is particularly interested in samples from priority areas near recent CWD detection locations.

CWD is a contagious, fatal neurological disease that affects the nervous system of deer, elk, moose and caribou. It belongs to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or prion diseases. Prions are misshaped proteins that can spread the disease through direct animal-to-animal contact or in the environment through bodily substances or the carcass of infected deer.

Prions are extremely resilient and capable of remaining in the soil for years, potentially infecting several deer from a single source. Common signs of infected deer in the later stages of the disease are drastic weight loss, drooped head and ears, loss of coordination, excessive salivation and reduced fear of humans.

For the 2024 - 2025 deer seasons, the DNR is especially interested in receiving more samples from the 2024 Fall Priority Areas. Additional samples in these areas will help the DNR better understand disease levels and distribution. In addition to the desire for additional testing within the priority areas, testing is again available statewide this hunting season.

How To Test Your Deer

The DNR offers free and accessible options to test deer for CWD. Hunters can find the nearest location using the DNR’s CWD Sample and Disposal Locations map.

Any hunter in the state may choose from the following testing options:

• Self-service kiosks, open 24/7: Kiosks contain supplies for hunters to drop off a deer head with 5 inches of neck attached.
• In-person with cooperating partners: Meat processors and other businesses can collect the deer head for sampling or remove the lymph nodes at the time of drop-off. This is a convenient option for hunters who intend to mount their deer. If a taxidermist is not a cooperator, ask for the caped-out head back to submit at a kiosk.
• At-home lymph node extraction: Hunters may pick up a kit ahead of time, extract the retropharyngeal lymph nodes using the provided instructions and return the lymph nodes to the DNR or a kiosk for testing.
• By appointment with local DNR staff: Hunters can contact their local wildlife management staff to schedule an in-person appointment.

Replacement Harvest Authorizations 

If a hunter receives a CWD-positive test result, a replacement authorization will be issued to their Go Wild account within two to four days. A positive result from an antlered harvest authorization will result in a replacement antlered harvest authorization for the hunter (valid statewide). If the positive result was received for an antlerless harvest registration, an either-sex replacement harvest authorization will be issued for the same DMU and land type.

The replacement authorizations aren’t weapon-specific and are valid for the remainder of the current hunting season and next year's hunting seasons (starting in September 2025).

Carcass Disposal Reminders

Proper disposal of deer carcasses can reduce the chance of CWD being introduced to a new area. Several disposal resources are available for hunters, including deer carcass disposal dumpsters, landfills or transfer stations. These options can be found on the DNR's CWD Sample and Disposal Locations map, and we encourage hunters to check throughout the season, as more dumpsters will be added closer to the nine-day gun hunting season.

Baiting And Feeding

Hunters should check the DNR’s Baiting and Feeding webpage for the current feeding bans. There are several counties with new bans since last year’s hunting seasons, including Ozaukee, Pierce and St. Croix.

The DNR’s Chronic Wasting Disease webpage provides more information about baiting and feeding bans, testing options and disposal options.

Consuming Venison

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization all recommend against consuming meat from deer that test positive for CWD. Infected deer typically appear healthy for many months after contracting the disease, so DHS encourages testing for the disease regardless of the physical condition of the harvested deer, especially in areas prevalent with CWD. To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans.