CWD management zones

Deer permit areas included

• 604, 605, 643 (was 343), 644 (was 344), 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655, 661, 679 and 684 (was 184)

Requirements

• Testing is mandatory during the opening weekend of the firearms A season (Nov. 4-5).
• Deer must be registered before sampling.
• Testing must be completed within 24 hours of harvest unless a hunter uses a mail-in kit, which must be obtained prior to Saturday, Nov. 4, and the resulting sample postmarked within 72 hours of harvest.
• Carcass movement restrictions are in place. All deer, including fawns, harvested in any season cannot be moved out of a management zone until a "not-detected" test result is received. Hunters can transport properly quartered or boned meat - make plans to process your deer.
• Deer feeding and attractant bans may be in place. Deer permit areas (DPAs) do not necessarily follow county lines. A DPA may only partially overlap with a county that has a deer feeding and attractant ban in place.

Special regulations

• Hunters may use either a Statewide (A) or a Late Southeast (B) license during any firearms season.
• Disease management permits may be used in DPAs 604, 605, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655 and 661. Disease management permits also may be used during special hunts within DPAs 679 and 684 where the harvest of more than one deer is allowed. Permits are available for $2.50 each and can be used to harvest antlerless deer.
• Antler point restrictions (APR) are canceled.
• Cross-tagging for antlered bucks is allowed.

How to get your deer sampled

CWD sampling options available for deer harvested Nov. 4-5 to complete the mandatory requirement include: 

• Staffed sampling stations available Nov. 4-6
• Self-service sampling stations available during firearms season only within CWD management zones* Using a self-service station
• Taxidermists and processors participating in the partner sampling program
• Mail-in kits (while supplies last) or unused kits from previous years

* Self-service sampling stations will no longer be available in archery and muzzleloader seasons for DPAs located in management zones.

Interested in getting your deer sampled even if it's not required? Take advantage of: 

• Taxidermists or processors participating in the partner sampling program
• Mail-in kits (while supplies last) or unused kits from previous years
• Making an appointment at a local DNR wildlife management area office within CWD areas during regular business hours
• Self-service sampling stations during firearms season (check our list below for availability)

How to prepare

• Deer must be registered before sampling.
• Hunters who harvest a deer either Saturday, Nov. 4 or Sunday, Nov. 5 in DPAs requiring mandatory sampling must have any adult deer (1 year or older) sampled.
• Hunters will need their Public Land Survey (PLS) number or GPS coordinates in latitude and longitude at staffed and self-service sampling stations so the township, range and section of your harvest can be recorded. For the PLS number, zoom completely in to your harvest location on recreation compass and click. Write down the PLS number that appears in the popup box.
• Dumpsters for proper carcass disposal will be available in CWD management zones. Some of these dumpsters will have quartering stations so hunters can immediately transport meat from untested deer out of the CWD management zone. Check back here in September for dumpster locations.

Sampling stations and dumpsters

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Staffed sampling stations are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, to Monday, Nov. 6. Staffed sampling stations will be open Monday, Nov. 6 to allow hunters who harvest a deer late in the evening Sunday, Nov. 5, the ability to submit a sample.

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Dumpsters and quartering stations are available to hunters so they can comply with carcass movement restrictions.

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Southeast CWD management zones

Map depicting contiguous CWD management zone DPAs in southeastern Minnesota

Hunters are encouraged to use the sampling station nearest to their harvest location.

But deer harvested within deer permit areas 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649 and 655 could be taken to any sampling station in that group of contiguous southeastern Minnesota DPAs.

For example, a deer harvested near Caledonia in DPA 649 could be taken to the Preston station in DPA 648 for sampling and vice versa.

Note that no deer carcass can be transported out of this block of contiguous control zone DPAs until a "not detected" test result is received. Hunters can immediately transport properly prepared meat and dispose of remains within the area using quartering stations and dumpsters available at some sampling stations.

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