General information
Ongoing detections of chronic wasting disease in wild deer in southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa prompted the DNR to conduct voluntary surveillance in southeast Minnesota in 2016. That year, after detecting CWD in three wild deer in Fillmore County, the DNR implemented its response plan and established a CWD management zone (deer permit area 603). Surveillance continued in this area through 2018, and following additional detections and spread to new areas outside of DPA 603, including CWD-positive wild deer in Houston and Winona Counties, the management zone was expanded for the 2019 hunting season. It now includes additional deer permit areas, which have been renamed under the 600-series to signify CWD management in the area.
The southeast CWD management zone is all of DPAs 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649 and 655.
Minnesota’s CWD management zones are created when CWD is detected in wild deer. Regulations used in these zones (including increasing hunting opportunities with liberalized bag limits) reduce the risk of the disease spreading and help remove positive deer from the landscape.
2020 hunting information
CWD sampling and testing
As part of the DNR’s COVID-19 response, CWD sampling is voluntary for all deer harvested in this CWD management zone. CWD sampling stations are available during all seasons (archery, firearms and muzzleloader).
- The DNR highly encourages hunters to help by providing the head of any harvested adult deer (1 year or older) at a self-service sampling station during all hunting seasons.
- 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.
- Due to uncertainty of COVID-19, station locations could change in each area. Visit this page to see current sampling station locations.
- You will need to provide the township, range and section of your harvest location. Maps are provided at each station, but hunters are encouraged to have this information for their location of harvest prior to arriving.
The time it takes to receive CWD test results 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 permits for $2.50 to take antlerless deer. These permits may be used instead of bonus permits to take antlerless deer in this area.
- Antler point restrictions (APR) are canceled in these zones.
- Cross-tagging for antlered bucks is allowed in these zones.
- Hunters may use either 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.
2020 sampling location information
Sampling stations in the southeast CWD management zone
All locations have self-service sampling stations available 24/7, unless otherwise noted in the table. Look for an orange "CWD Sampling Station" sign and black barrel (examples: image 1; image 2).
CITY | STATION LOCATION | STATION ADDRESS |
---|---|---|
Caledonia | Houston County Fairgrounds | 1316 E. Washington St. Caledonia, MN 55921 |
Chatfield | Magnum Sports | 20 Main St. S. Chatfield, MN 55923 |
Dexter | Hamilton Auction Company | 130 State Highway 16 Dexter, MN 55926 |
Houston | BP Gas Station | 801 MN-16 Houston, MN 55943 |
Kasson | Hardware Hank | 11 Fourth St. SE Kasson, MN 55944 |
La Crescent | La Crescent Joint Public Works Facility | 450 S. Chestnut St. La Crescent, MN 55947 |
LeRoy | Lake Louise State Park | 12385 766th Ave. Le Roy, MN 55951 |
Mabel | Steam Engine Days Park | 90 E. Alpine Ave. Mabel, MN 55944 |
Preston | DNR Forestry Office | 912 Houston St. NW Preston, MN 55965 |
Rochester | DNR shop at Gordy Yeager WMA – Southwest Unit | 280 Energy Parkway NE |
Rushford | Pam's Corner Convenience | 107 MN-16 Rushford, MN 55971 |
St. Charles | Winona County Fairgrounds (behind A&W All American Foods) | 518 W. 6th St. St. Charles, MN 55972 |
Spring Valley | City Lot across from Spring Valley Public Utilities | 104 S. Section St. Spring Valley, MN 55975 |
Stewartville | Bear Cave Park | 800 10th St. NW Stewartville, MN 55976 |
Winona | Mills Fleet Farm | 920 E. Highway 61 Winona, MN 55987 |
Winona | Wilson Truck and Trailer Repair | 29622 County Road 12 Winona, MN 55987 |
What do I do with my carcass after sampling?
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.
Dumpsters for carcass disposal
The following shows current disposal locations. Locations may change. Please check regularly for up-to-date information.
CITY | LOCATION | ADDRESS | DATES AVAILABLE | QUARTERING STATION ON-SITE? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Caledonia | Houston County Fairgrounds | 1316 E. Washington St. Caledonia, MN 55921 | 9/19/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
Chatfield | Pope and Young Club | 273 Mille Creek Road NW Chatfield MN 55923 | 11/7/2020 - 1/6/2021 | No |
Harmony | West of Harmony | Near intersection of 120th St and Kingbird Rd (319) | 11/7/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
Houston | Stinson Country Style Meats | 402 W. Cedar St. Houston, MN 55943 | 11/7/2020 - 1/6/2021 | No |
La Crescent | La Crescent Joint Public Works Facility | 450 S. Chestnut St. La Crescent, MN 55947 | 11/7/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
LeRoy | Lake Louise State Park | 12385 766th Ave. LeRoy, MN 55951 | 11/7/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
Mabel | Steam Engine Days Park | 90 East Alpine Ave. Mabel, MN 55954 | 11/7/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
Preston | DNR Forestry Office | 912 Houston St. NW Preston, MN 55965 | 9/19/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
Rochester | DNR shop at Gordon Yeager WMA - Southwest Unit | 280 Energy Parkway NE Rochester, MN 55906 | 9/19/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
Rushford | Rushford DNR Shop | 305 Industrial Drive Rushford, MN 55971 | 9/19/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
Spring Valley | City Lot across from Spring Valley Public Utilities | 104 S. Section St. Spring Valley, MN 55975 | 9/19/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
St. Charles | Winona County Fairgrounds (behind A&W All American Foods) | 518 West Sixth St. St. Charles, MN 55972 | 9/19/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
Stewartville | Bear Cave Park | 800 10th St. NW Stewartville MN 55976 | 9/19/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
Wilson | Wilson Truck and Trailer Repair | 29622 County Road 12 Winona, MN 55987 | 11/7/2020 - 1/6/2021 | Yes |
Winona | Mills Fleet Farm | 920 East Highway 61 Winona, MN 55987 | 9/19/2020 - 1/6/2021 | No |
Not all CWD carcass disposal stations are fully equipped as shown.
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.
CITY | BUSINESS | ADDRESS | ZIP | PHONE NUMBER | PROCESS WHOLE CARCASSES/TRIM? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chatfield | R Four Meats | 24 SW Second St. | 55923 | 507-867-4180 | Boneless trim only |
Dover | Dover Processing, Inc. | 481 South Main St. | 55929 | 507-932-8660 | Boneless trim only |
Grand Meadow | Grand Meadow Locker | 124 Main St. S. | 55936 | 507-421-2862 | Boneless trim only |
Harmony | Oak Meadow Meats | 50 Ninth St. NE | 55939 | 507-886-6328 | Boneless trim only |
Houston | Stinsons Country Style Meats | 402 W. Cedar St. | 55943 | 507-896-2111 | Boneless trim only |
Lewiston | Pete's Meat & Processing | 110 Main St. | 55952 | 507-523-2524 | Whole carcasses and trim |
Rochester | Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe | 902 7th St. NW | 55901 | 507-282-5908 | Boneless trim only |
Rushford | Doerrs Processing | 106 West Park St. | 55971 | 507-864-7906 | Whole carcasses and trim |
Spring Valley | Ody's Country Meats & Catering | 17643 121st Ave. | 55975 | 507-346-2579 | Boneless trim only |
Winona | Wilson Smoke | 24580 Stonepoint Road | 55987 | 507-454-6226 | Whole carcasses and trim |
Taxidermist information for sampling trophy deer
If you want to have your trophy deer caped or mounted, the following taxidermists can collect the lymph node samples and deliver them to the DNR for voluntary testing. Taxidermists may charge a fee to cape out your deer prior to extracting the samples. Please contact them ahead of time to schedule an appointment or make sure they are available.
Using a taxidermist for sampling will result in a longer turnaround time for your CWD test results.
CITY | BUSINESS | ADDRESS | ZIP | PHONE |
---|---|---|---|---|
Altura | Scenic Taxidermy | 21559 Only Ave. | 55910 | 507-523-3307 |
Caledonia | Ranney Whitetail Taxidermy | 6635 Gonia Drive | 55921 | 608-387-2922 |
Caledonia | Crooked Creek Taxidermy | 12417 Knollwood Road | 55921 | 507-459-8165 |
Chatfield | Bones of Asgard | 1918 Highway 52 S. | 55923 | 507-993-4226 |
Chatfield | M & M Taxidermy | 110 Ave. B NE | 55923 | 507-696-8588 |
Houston | Nick's Skull Cleaning | 3251 Highway 76 | 55943 | 507-896-2056 |
Houston | Peterson Taxidermy | 817 E. Cedar St. | 55943 | 507-896-3129 |
La Crescent | Spent Arrow Taxidermy | 1497 Claudia Ave. | 55947 | 608-498-9243 |
Lewiston | Breezy Ridge Taxidermy | 12 Williams St. | 55952 | 507-272-5411 |
Racine | Four Seasons Taxidermy | 32283 750th Ave. | 55967 | 507-421-7025 |
Rochester | Vold's Taxidermy | 1807 Woodcrest Lane SW | 55902 | 507-202-0616 |
Rochester | Gulden Taxidermy | 2411 50th Ave. SE | 55904 | 507-288-7082 |
Rochester | Coyote Creek Outdoors | 3600 Broadway Ave. S. | 55904 | 507-289-8308 |
Rushford | Bruce Norton Taxidermy | 22994 Big Buck Drive | 55971 | 507-864-7508 |
Rushford | Doerr Meats | 106 Park St. W. | 55971 | 507-864-7906 |
Spring Grove | Wiste Taxidermy | 105 Third Ave. SE | 55974 | 507-498-5820 |
Stewartville | Larry's Taxidermy & Deer Processing | 12309 County Road 8 SE | 55976 | 507-533-8710 |
Winona | Pleasant Valley Taxidermy | 25403 County Road 17 | 55987 | 507-454-5195 |