Chronic wasting disease management

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You can sign up to receive meat from healthy deer taken during DNR culling efforts to help control the potential spread of CWD. Meat is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. There already are a number of people on the list so add your name today.

CWD zones explained

Every deer permit area affected by chronic wasting disease is designated a management, control or surveillance zone. Hunters must follow the CWD management measures in place for each type of zone.

Management

CWD has been found in wild deer in these areas. Multiple management actions designed to help mitigate disease spread are in place. Management zones have the most restrictions.

Control

This area borders a management zone where CWD in wild deer persists or a slight spread has been documented. This buffer helps prevent further disease spread. Control zones have fewer restrictions.

Surveillance

CWD has been found in captive deer or wild deer in a nearby area. Precautionary management actions in place here can detect an infection early. Surveillance zones have the least restrictions.

Are you hunting in a CWD zone?

Interactive map

Use the map below to find the DPA where you hunt. Clicking the map enlarges it.

Alert for DPAs 261 & 262

The first suspected case of CWD along Minnesota’s border with North Dakota has been found in a wild deer harvested southwest of Climax. Hunters in DPAs 261 and 262 are strongly encouraged to use the self-service sampling stations in Climax and Nielsville throughout the 2021 firearms deer season.

Review CWD information for your DPA

Click the button below that matches the color of the DPA where you hunt. With the exception of permit areas 261 and 262, DPAs not numbered are not impacted by CWD.

Hunting in management zones

Hunting in control zones

Hunting in surveillance zones

Testing is free for deer harvested in permit areas 261 and 262 as well as any other deer permit area designated a CWD surveillance, control or management zone. Hunters outside a CWD zone can collect lymph node samples and pay a small fee for a CWD test. View complete video instructions on how to properly collect a lymph node sample and laboratory submission information.

What is CWD?

Chronic wasting disease, commonly referred to as CWD, is a fatal neurological disease that affects cervids, including white-tailed deer. It is found globally and in about half of the states in the U.S. CWD remains relatively rare in Minnesota but is a concern as there is no known cure.

The DNR's management actions are in place to help limit its spread.