The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is conducting CWD sampling in the CWD surveillance zone that includes deer permit areas 110, 184, 197 and the portion of DPA 169 west of Minnesota Highway 6.
CWD sampling is mandatory in the surveillance zone on opening weekend of firearms season A (Nov. 5-6) for all hunter-harvested deer one year of age or older.
Sampling stations, either staffed or self-service, will be available Nov. 5-7. Hunters should check the DNR’s CWD page for the most current list of sampling locations. Deer must be registered before sampling.
Hunters who harvest a deer in this surveillance zone outside of the firearms opening weekend, when sampling is mandatory, can make an appointment to have their deer tested by contacting the Park Rapids area wildlife office at 218-732-8452, or the Grand Rapids area wildlife office at 218-328-8860.
A self-service sampling station will be available throughout all deer seasons at the Bemidji area wildlife office, 2114 Bemidji Ave. in Bemidji. Hunters should call the Bemidji office at 218-308-2339 to notify them a sample has been dropped off or if they have questions.
A limited number of free, mail-in kits are available for hunters throughout Minnesota whether they hunt in a CWD zone or not. If interested, hunters are encouraged to request a kit in advance of their hunt so that they can collect and mail lymph node samples on their own. Some taxidermists are participating in the DNR’s partner sampling program to collect CWD samples. Taxidermists may charge a fee for these services. To order a free kit or find a sampling partner, visit the DNR website.
Surrounding area feeding and attractant ban restrictions
Deer feeding is prohibited in Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods and Roseau counties. Bans on both deer feeding and attractants are in place for Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Marshall, Pennington, Polk and Red Lake counties. For a full list of counties affected by feeding and attractant bans, visit the DNR deer feeding and attractant ban page.
More information
More information on CWD, sampling sites, other opportunities for CWD testing and accessing interactive maps that show hunters DPA information and CWD sampling information are available at the DNR’s CWD page. Hunters also should refer to the 2022 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations, available at the DNR deer hunting page and wherever licenses are sold.