Southeast Minnesota CWD management zone

• General information
• Hunting information
• Sampling location information
• Carcass information
  • Dumpsters for carcass disposal
  • Meat processor options
  • Taxidermist information for sampling trophy deer

Hunting information

CWD sampling and testing

CWD sampling is mandatory for all deer harvested in this CWD management zone. CWD sampling stations are available during all seasons.

• During the firearms seasons, hunters must present all deer in person at a CWD sampling station for mandatory sampling; fawns must be presented to confirm age and will only be tested upon voluntary submission. A special carcass tag will be attached to the deer to verify sampling and/or age.
• During archery and muzzleloader seasons, hunters must submit the heads of all adult deer (1 year of age or older) at one of the self-service sampling locations.
• Hunters may bring any deer harvested within the CWD management zone to get tested to any sampling station inside the management zone, but cannot bring their deer to a sampling station that is in the CWD control zone. 
• You will need to provide the township, section and range of your harvest location.

The time it takes to receive test results for deer sampled for CWD will vary depending on the number of samples collected. Process your deer as you normally would. Keep processed deer separate and identifiable until test results are received.

Test results for all deer that are sampled will be available online at mndnr.gov/cwdcheck.

What can I harvest?

• Either sex with a regular license.
• In the southeast CWD management zone, hunters may harvest up to three legal bucks per year. Hunters can take one buck under an archery license, one buck under a firearms license, and one buck under a muzzleloader license.
• Bucks taken in the Southeast CWD management zone deer permit areas do not count toward the one buck limit elsewhere in the state, but do count toward the license limit. For example, a hunter can take one buck with a firearms license in DPA 643 and another buck with a muzzleloader license in DPA 171.
• Hunters may harvest an unlimited number of antlerless deer by purchasing an unlimited number of disease management tags for $2.50 to take antlerless deer. These tags may be used instead of bonus permits to take antlerless deer in this area.
• Antler point restrictions are canceled in these zones.
• Cross-tagging for antlered bucks is allowed in these zones.
• Hunters may use a Statewide (A) or a Late Southeast (B) license during any firearms season.

Is this area affected by carcass movement restrictions?

Yes. Deer carcass movement restrictions apply during all seasons and for all deer, including fawns.

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Sampling location information

Sampling stations in the southeast CWD management zone

• Archery and muzzleloader seasons: All locations have self-service sampling stations available 24/7 during archery, muzzleloader and unstaffed portions of the firearms seasons, unless otherwise noted in the table. Look for an orange "CWD Sampling Station" sign and black barrel (examples: image 1; image 2).
• Firearms seasons: All locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during Nov. 9-17 and Nov. 23-Dec. 1, unless otherwise noted in the table.

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What do I do with my carcass after sampling?

After providing a deer sample, deer carcasses must be disposed of properly to meet deer carcass movement restrictions. 

To help hunters comply with these legal carcass movement restrictions, the DNR will set up dumpsters where hunters can dispose of carcasses (head and spinal column) after quartering or butchering so they can leave the CWD areas immediately. Please check this page for updates on dumpster locations.

Alternately, hunters may work with meat processors within the zone; some options are listed below.

Dumpsters for carcass disposal

Slide text left for complete information

CITY	LOCATION	ADDRESS	SPONSOR
Caledonia	Houston County Fairgrounds *quartering station on site, starting Nov. 9	1316 Washington St.
Chatfield	Pope and Young Club *available Nov. 8	271 Mille Creek Road NW
Granger/Harmony	West of Harmony *quartering station on site, starting Nov. 9	Near intersection of 120th Street and Kingbird Road (319)
Houston	Stinson Country Meats	402 W. Cedar
La Crescent	LaCrescent Joint Public Works Facility *available Nov. 8; quartering station on site, starting Nov. 9	450 S. Chestnut St.
Preston	DNR Forestry Office *quartering station on site, starting Nov. 9	912 Houston St. NW
Rochester	DNR Office at Gordy Yeager WMA *quartering station on site, starting Nov. 9	2300 Silver Creek Road NE
Rushford	DNR leased building *quartering station on site, starting Nov. 9	305 Industrial Drive
St. Charles	Winona County Fairgrounds *quartering station on site, starting Nov. 9	518 W 6th St.
Stewartville	Bear Cave Park *quartering station on site, starting Nov. 9	800 10th St. NW
Winona	Winona Mills Fleet Farm *available Nov. 8	920 E. Highway 61
Witoka	Witoka Tavern *available Nov. 8; quartering station on site, starting Nov. 9	27999 County Road 9
Not all CWD carcass disposal stations are fully equipped as shown. You can help by sponsoring a station. Thank you to Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Bluffland Whitetails Association, the Bluff Country chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, and Crow Wing County for supporting disposal locations.

Meat processor options

The following is a list of some meat processors in the area. Use at your own discretion and call for availability first.

Taxidermist information for sampling trophy deer

Hunters who wish to mount their deer may work with a participating taxidermist to have their deer sampled. The taxidermists listed below are trained in sample collection. If you bring your trophy deer to one of these taxidermists to have it caped or mounted, the taxidermist will collect the lymph node samples and deliver them to the DNR for testing. If you use one of these taxidermists, you will satisfy the mandatory sampling requirements. Once your deer is caped and the skull plate removed, you can bring the cape and cleaned skull plate with attached antlers to your taxidermist of choice for final mounting.

Using a taxidermist for sampling will result in a longer turnaround time for your CWD test results.

Other taxidermists in this area can be used if the caped out head is brought to a sampling station.

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