General questions
What is chronic wasting disease?
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an infectious disease that affects the brain and nervous system of members of the deer family (cervids) – including deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. There is no cure or vaccine and the disease is always fatal. It causes damage to the brain of the infected animal, which eventually results in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death. CWD is caused by abnormal proteins called prions and is in the same group of diseases as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease), scrapie (sheep) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (humans). Visit the about page for more information.
What wildlife species other than deer are affected by CWD?
CWD is a disease that is specific to members of the deer family including deer, moose, elk, and reindeer. This group of wildlife is collectively called "cervids." Current research has found no evidence that CWD is naturally transmitted to other species outside the deer family, even among species that may come into contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.
What should I do if I see a sick deer?
Please immediately report any sick deer to your local conservation officer or area wildlife office.
Is my deer safe to eat?
To date, there have been no documented cases of CWD in humans and no strong evidence that CWD can spread to people. However, because other prion diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) have been transmitted to people and research on CWD is still ongoing, public health officials recommend that hunters do not consume meat from animals known to be infected. More information is available from the CDC at www.cdc.gov/prions/cwd.
Consider having your deer processed and wrapped individually, either privately or commercially.
Consider having your deer tested if you are outside of DNR’s mandatory sampling framework. Although CWD testing is not a food safety test it could indicate if your deer is infected.
All deer that are tested should either be processed or stored in a manner to prevent wanton waste while waiting for test results.
It is the hunter’s choice to consume venison prior to receiving test results.
The prions that cause CWD are very resistant to heat and freezing temperatures. Cooking or freezing the meat will not remove prions from infected meat.
You can find additional information on the about page and the resources page.
Can cattle get CWD?
Currently there are no reported cases of natural transmission between CWD-infected animals and cattle. There are several ongoing investigations and research efforts to further understand the risks.
Where has CWD been found?
A chronic wasting syndrome was first documented in captive mule deer at a wildlife research facility in Colorado in the late 1960s, but the disease was not diagnosed as a transmissable spongiform encephalopathy until 1978. Since then, CWD has been detected in wild and/or captive cervides in more than 35 states, several Canadian provinces, South Korea, Finland, Norway and Sweden. For more information on where CWD has been found in North America, visit CWD Info-org or the USGS National Wildlife Health Center.
For more information and a timeline of CWD in Minnesota, please visit the about page and click on the Minnesota CWD timeline heading.
Where did CWD come from?
The exact origin of CWD is unknown, but scientists have proposed two possible hypothesis
- Spontaneous origin: CWD may have originated through the spontaneous change of a normal deer prion protein into an abnormal disease-causing prion.
- Spread from sheep: CWD may have originated through the transmission of the prion that causes scrapie in domestic sheep to deer.
How is it spread in deer?
CWD is spread through both direct (animal-to-animal) and indirect (environmental) contact. Deer can become infected through:
Contact with infected saliva, urine, blood, feces, and antler velvet.
Contact with environments contaminated by infected deer or decomposed carcasses. Prions can persist in soil for years.
Artificial feeding sites, or attractants such as salt licks and scents. These sites concentrate deer and increase opportunities for transmission through both direct contact and environmental contamination.
What are CWD symptoms seen in deer?
CWD is a slow, progressive disease. In early stages, infected deer show no visible signs of illness but can still spread the disease to other animals and contaminate the environment. The majority of harvested animals that test positive for CWD show no outward signs of disease.
It can take months to years before signs appear and these may include:
- Weight loss, emaciation
- Excessive drooling
- Increased drinking and urination
- Lethargy and reluctance to move
- Loss of awareness, may not notice or respond to human presence normally
- Drooping head or ears
Testing questions
Why does the DNR ask hunters to submit samples for testing?
Testing deer helps the DNR determine how prevalent and to what geographic scale the disease is in an area. The more deer that we test, the better we understand this information which helps us determine the best management actions to take to keep our deer herd healthy. Every sample you submit helps to provide critical information to support the long-term health of our wild deer.
How does DNR test for CWD?
Testing is conducted through collection of two lymph nodes from the head/neck of a harvested deer. These samples are sent to a certified laboratory, where the sample is prepared and the test is completed. Results are reported back to DNR as either "detected" or "not detected".
What is the CWD testing process like?
First, lymph nodes from the neck of the deer are removed and data about the deer (including its harvest location) is collected. Then, the data is proofed, matched with the sample, entered in a database, and double checked before the lymph nodes are shipped to the testing laboratory. Once at the laboratory, the sample is prepared for testing. The initial screening test is completed within about three days. If the screening test comes back positive, a second test, to confirm CWD, is completed. This test can take up to a week to complete.
The DNR contacts the hunter if the test result is positive. Results that come back as "not detected" are posted on the website, allowing hunters to view their individual results. Test results typically take up between 7 and 14 days, but might fluctuate throughout the season when higher volumes of samples are shipped to the lab.
How long will it take to receive my test result back?
The time it takes to receive test results will depend on the volume of samples the lab is currently processing. Test results are typically received in 7-14 days however, we ask for your patience during longer waiting periods. We will post results on the website as soon as we receive them.
I’m not hunting in an area with mandatory CWD testing. Can I still get my deer tested for CWD?
Free testing options through MNDNR include:
Mail-in kits:The DNR will provide a kit that includes instructions and all items needed to submit a CWD sample by mail. Hunters will need to remove the lymph nodes from the deer, list the harvest location, their contact information, and deliver the kit to a shipping vendor.
Partner sampling program: The DNR has partnered with taxidermists and others to collect samples from deer. These partners will submit samples to the DNR. Additional services provided by the partner may require a fee.
You may also schedule an appointment at any area wildlife office to have samples removed. A list of wildlife offices and their contact information can be found here.
If you wish to pay for your own tests you may submit samples directly to the laboratories listed below.
Where can I check my DNR test results online?
Your results will be available online on the CWD test results page.
Can I bring in just the head or head and spinal column for testing, or does it have to be the entire deer?
You can bring in the head with 4” of neck, or head and spinal column. DNR staff needs to extract lymph nodes from the neck.
What do I do about testing if I harvest a trophy deer that I want to get mounted?
You have a couple of options. The DIY option is to provide lymph nodes at a DNR sampling station or through a mail-in kit after extracting them from the deer. Otherwise, bring your deer to get it sampled at a listed partner in our partner sampling program or make an appointment with a local DNR wildlife office once a taxidermist has removed the cape and antlers.
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Questions about CWD regulations and the DNR's disease response
What are the feeding and attractant bans? Am I affected?
Currently, restrictions are in place within the state to help reduce concentrations of deer in areas where CWD is known to be a risk. For definitions of feed and attractants, a map of affected counties, and more information, please visit the feeding and attractant bans page.
Are there rules for deer carcass movement in Minnesota?
Yes. Deer harvested in a chronic wasting disease management zone are subject to the carcass disposal rule. There are no restrictions for deer harvested within the state outside of these areas. Cervids harvested outside of Minnesota are subject to carcass import restrictions. Please see the deer carcass import and movement restrictions webpage for more information.
For carcasses subject to the disposal rule, what are acceptable disposal methods?
Whole carcasses of all deer, including fawns, taken within a CWD management zone are required to be disposed of properly.
Proper disposal of carcasses includes:
In a sanitary landfill, via a hunter's household waste, or by bringing the carcass to the landfill.
Through a Minnesota meat processor.
Through a Minnesota taxidermist.
Dispose of on the private property that the deer was harvested on.
If a "not detected" test result is received, the carcass can be disposed of in any legal manner.
See more information on the carcass movement and restrictions page.
Can I import deer, elk, moose and caribou from outside of Minnesota?
Minnesota does not allow whole carcasses from cervids (deer, elk, moose, caribou and reindeer) into the state from any state or province, regardless of CWD status. Exemptions apply to this rule such as quarters or heads with cape and neck attached being transported to a licensed taxidermist. This is part of a comprehensive carcass importation rule aimed at decreasing risk associated with importing potentially infected carcasses.
Since 2003, carcasses from areas known to have CWD have been prohibited from entry into the state. With the increasing CWD infections in captive and wild cervids across the country, it is difficult to maintain current information that allows hunters to make an informed decision about importation. As we are all very concerned about the long-term health of our deer (and elk and moose), we changed the rules to prohibit all whole carcasses from any state or province, regardless of CWD status. We realize this potentially presents an inconvenience for hunters; however, we ask that you incorporate carcass handling and trophy preparation into your trip planning process.
You can watch these videos to learn how to quarter your deer for legal importation. For your trophy mount, we suggest that you work with your local taxidermist or a taxidermist in your destination state and arrange to have it caped at that location. Alternatively, you can or cape your own animal.
Hunters traveling on a direct route through Minnesota back to their home state are exempt from this regulation.
For more information and a full list of exemptions, please see the deer carcass import and movement restrictions webpage.
Do other states have carcass restrictions?
Yes. CWD is a disease of national importance and Minnesota is one of many states that have imposed some sort of carcass restriction. Out-of-state hunters are encouraged to check their destination state regulations for more information.
What is the DNR doing to manage chronic wasting disease?
The DNR is committed to maintaining a healthy deer herd and is taking three primary management actions to control the disease in areas where CWD has been detected in wild deer:
Reducing deer densities. This reduces the risk of the disease spreading because there will be fewer deer for transmission to occur. This also helps to prevent deer from carrying the disease to nearby or new surrounding areas. This can have short-term implications for numbers in local deer herds, but deer populations can rebound quickly to traditional numbers.
Using feeding and attractant bans to reduce contact between deer. This keeps deer from concentrating where they otherwise wouldn’t and reduces close contact that can spread this disease. In areas where CWD has been found in wild deer, the DNR bans recreational deer feeding, use of salt and mineral blocks, and the use of attractants.
Disposing of deer carcasses properly. This limits the spread of CWD to new areas in Minnesota as the disease can be spread by hunters moving infected deer carcasses. It is illegal to import whole, harvested deer, elk, moose or caribou carcasses into Minnesota from other states. Deer harvested in CWD management zone are subject to carcass disposal rules that facilitate proper disposal. Whole carcasses may leave a CWD management zone, however they are required to be disposed of properly. See the deer carcass import and movement restrictions page for more information and proper disposal methods.
How does killing deer help control CWD?
Reducing the population helps minimize the spread of disease. Fewer deer means less deer-to-deer contact, reducing the risk of sick deer transmitting CWD to healthy deer. When an infected deer is killed, it is removed from the population and can no longer spread the disease.
Will any hunting or shooting of deer occur on private land as part of the DNR's CWD response?
Landowners must grant permission for any hunting or shooting of deer to occur on their land. All hunters need landowner permission to hunt on any private land. Neither the DNR nor its agents can enter private land for deer removal efforts without landowner permission.