CWD Surveillance Zone

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CWD Frequently Asked Questions

CWD Sample Drop-off Sites

CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONES

Two Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Zones are in effect:

CWD Surveillance Zone With Mandatory Check Stations: Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken counties

CWD Surveillance Zone Without Mandatory Check Stations: Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties

Special regulations apply in these zones. Inclusion in a CWD Surveillance Zone does not change deer seasons or bag limits in the county.

SPECIAL REGULATIONS IN CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONES

Mandatory Check Stations for Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken Counties

All deer harvested within Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken counties by any method on Nov. 9-11, Nov. 16-17 and Nov 23-24 (weekends during modern gun, plus the Monday after opening weekend) must be brought to a CWD Check Station or CWD Sample Drop-off site. See section below for more information. Mandatory check stations are not in effect for the CWD Surveillance Zone in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties.

No Baiting or Wildlife Feeding

Grain, feed, mineral blocks, salt blocks and other baits used to attract deer cannot be used in any CWD Surveillance Zone. This helps prevent deer from concentrating, which increases spread of disease. Bird feeders in yards, planted food plots and normal agricultural practices such as mineral blocks or feed for cattle are allowed. Hunters can use products that are not ingested by deer, such as scent attractors and deer urine products.

Carcass Importation Prohibited

Whole carcasses or high-risk parts (head, skull cap or skull with any brain material, or spine) of any deer, elk, moose or caribou harvested in another state cannot be brought back into Kentucky. For further information please review KAR 2:095 Importation of Cervid Carcasses and Parts.

Carcass Transportation Restrictions

Carcasses or high-risk parts of deer harvested within a CWD Surveillance Zone may not be taken outside of the zone. Only de-boned meat, antlers, antlers attached to a clean skull cap, a clean skull, clean teeth, hides and finished taxidermy products may be taken out of a CWD Surveillance Zone.

Prohibition of the Rehabilitation of Cervids

The rehabilitation of deer or any other cervid in a CWD Surveillance Zone is prohibited.
Any cervid currently being rehabilitated must be released (per 301 KAR 2:075 release requirements) within the county in which rehabilitation took place.

CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONE WITH MANDATORY CHECK STATIONS

All deer harvested within Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken counties on Nov. 9-11, Nov. 16-17, and Nov. 23-24 (weekends during modern gun season, plus the Monday after opening weekend) must be brought to a staffed CWD check station or a CWD Sample Drop-off site. Only sample drop-off sites within this CWD Surveillance Zone may be used for deer taken within the zone. CWD testing is free of charge. Mandatory check stations are not in effect for the CWD Surveillance Zone in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties.

Mandatory check requirements apply to all hunters, including license-exempt hunters, such as youths under 12 or landowners hunting on their own property, and those who take deer during these dates by other methods, such as muzzleloader or archery equipment. Deer given to others by a hunter during mandatory check dates must also be taken to a staffed CWD check station or a CWD Sample Drop-off site. All deer must be telechecked before coming to a check station.

Choose Your Preferred Mandatory Check Station

Hunters can either visit a staffed CWD Check Station or one of the self-service CWD Sample Drop-off sites to fulfill mandatory check requirements.

Staffed CWD Check Stations

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff will be operating CWD Check Stations from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Central) on Nov. 9-11, Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 23-24.

What do you bring? The head of a deer, and intact deer carcass or a field-dressed deer. Note: Tissue sampling will not harm heads or capes/hides intended for taxidermy mounts—please advise staff at the check station if you intend to have your deer head mounted.
What do you need to provide? Telecheck and licensing information, an approximate harvest location and the name of the taxidermist or processor (if applicable).

Hunters will receive a card verifying their visit to the check station. Cards will contain information about how to view test results for their deer. Test results are generally available within 4-6 weeks.

Staffed CWD Check Station Locations
COUNTY	LOCATION NAME/ADDRESS	CITY
Ballard	Ballard Co. Extension Office, 110 Broadway	LaCenter
Calloway	First Choice Firearms, 1205 Stadium View Dr.	Murray
Carlisle	Carlisle Co. Extension Office, 65 John Roberts Dr.	Bardwell
Fulton	Fulton Co. Extension Office, 2114 7th St.	Hickman
Graves	Burnett's Deer Processing, 1580 Penny Corner Rd.	Melber
Graves	Patriot Ag LLC, 400 Crittendon Ln.	Mayfield
Graves	Southern Reds BBQ, 5085 KY 94 West	Water Valley
Graves	Dowdy's Taxidermy, 1461 Baltimore Church Rd.	Mayfield
Hickman	Hickman Co. Extension Office, 329 James H. Phillips Dr.	Clinton
Marshall	Clarks River NWR, 91 U.S. 641 N	Benton
McCracken	McCracken Co. Extension Office, 2025 Holt Rd.	Paducah

CWD Sample Drop-off Sites

Hunters can fulfill mandatory check requirements by dropping off the heads of their legally harvested and telechecked deer at CWD Sample Drop-off sites located throughout the CWD Surveillance Zone. These sites are self-service only. See the list below for specific locations.

What can you drop off? The head with at least 5 inches of neck attached. Remove antlers from bucks. Heads that have been caped and skull capped may be submitted. Instructions, bags and tags are located at each site. Deer parts dropped at freezers are not returned; visit a staffed check station instead if you wish to keep them.
What do you need to provide? Telecheck and licensing information, approximate harvest location and hunter contact information.
What should you keep? Retain the tear-off portion of your sample tag for proof that you checked the deer.

CWD Sample Drop-off Sites
COUNTY	LOCATION NAME/ADDRESS	CITY
Ballard	Ballard Co. Extension Office, 110 Broadway	LaCenter
Ballard	Ballard Co. Sheriff's Office, 1718 Barlow Rd.	Wickcliffe
Calloway	KDFWR Murray Office, 30 Scenic Acres Dr.	Murray
Calloway	First Choice Firearmes, 1205 Stadium View Dr.	Murray
Calloway	Hazel Fire Department, 215 Main St.	Hazel
Carlisle	Carlisle Co. Extension Office, 65 John Robers Dr.	Bardwell
Fulton	Fulton Co. Extension Office, 2114 S 7th St.	Hickman
Graves	Graves Co. Extension Office, 4200 U.S. 45	Mayfield
Graves	Patriot Ag LLC, 400 Crittenden Ln.	Mayfield
Graves	Sedalia Fire Department, 5414 KY 97	Sedalia
Graves	Walking Humbly Outdoor Adventures, 15030 U.S. 45	Water Valley
Hickman	Hickman Co. Extension Office, 329 James H. Phillips Dr.	Clinton
McCracken	Paducah Shooter Supply, 3919 Cairo Rd.	Paducah
McCracken	McCracken Co. Extension Office, 2025 New Holt Rd.	Paducah
McCracken	West Kentucky WMA, 10535 Ogden Landing Rd.	Kevil

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Before you hit the woods, check this map to determine the location of your potential harvest. This location number can be used when you visit a check station or a CWD Sample Drop-off site.

ABOUT KENTUCKY'S CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONES

Kentucky's CWD Surveillance Zones are a designated area established by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to monitor and manage detected cases of CWD within the state, or detected cases within proximity to Kentucky's borders. Surveillance Zones aim to detect and prevent the spread of CWD through surveillance and monitoring activities, and implementing specific regulations to manage the spread of the disease. The establishment of a CWD Surveillance Zone is a proactive measure to safeguard Kentucky's deer and elk herds from CWD.

CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONE FAQS

Please contact our Information Center at 1-800-858-1549 or Info.Center@ky.gov if you have any questions not answered below.

Mandatory Check

FAQs in this section only apply to a CWD Surveillance Zone With Mandatory Check Stations.

Can a deer be checked at any of the CWD check stations in a CWD Surveillance Zone, or must it be in the county of harvest?

A deer harvested within the Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken County CWD Surveillance Zone may be checked at any of the staffed CWD check stations or CWD Sample Drop-off sites within that CWD Surveillance Zone.

When will the staffed CWD Check Stations be open?

Staffed CWD check stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Central) on Nov. 9-11, Nov. 16-17, and Nov. 23-24.

What do hunters need to bring to CWD check stations

An intact or gutted carcass, or the entire head with the proof of sex, and a completed harvest log.

Can I provide just a deer's head as a sample?

Yes. Sever the head with 5 inches of the neck included. This ensures that the lymph nodes needed to test for CWD are included. Heads can be dropped off at CWD Sample Drop-off sites in the CWD Surveillance Zone. Please note that deer parts dropped off at Drop-off sites are not returned. Visit a staffed CWD Check Station if you wish to keep any deer parts.

What do you do if you harvest a deer after shooting light?

Hunters have two options: they can either bring their deer to a staffed CWD Check Station the next day, or drop off the deer's head at a CWD Sample Drop-off site within the CWD Surveillance Zone where the deer was harvested. If you want to have your deer taxidermied or mounted and the check stations are closed, contact a local biologist for help by calling 1-800-858-1549. Please note that if you wish to keep any deer parts, do not drop of the head at a CWD Sample Drop-off site, as parts left there will not be returned.

I want to get a trophy deer processed. Should I take it to a staffed CWD Check Station or a CWD Sample Drop-off site?

Visit a staffed CWD Check Station. Department staff will work with hunters to ensure their deer can still be processed by a taxidermist. Do not visit a CWD Sample Drop-off site if you intend to get your deer taxidermied. Deer heads and parts cannot be returned after being dropped off. If you want to have your deer taxidermied or mounted and the staffed check stations are closed and not open the next day, contact a local biologist for help by calling 1-800-858-1549.

I harvested a deer during a season in which staffed CWD check stations are not open. How can I have it tested for CWD?

Hunters can use the CWD Sample Drop-off sites or sign up for a CWD Sample Mail-in Kit.

What is the difference between a staffed CWD Check Station and a CWD Sample Drop-off site?

CWD Check Stations are run by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff. On the other hand, CWD Sample Drop-off sites are self-service and only accept deer heads for sampling. If you're looking to get your deer mounted or taxidermied, or need assistance, visit a staffed CWD Check Station.

Why are the CWD Check Stations and CWD Sample Drop-off sites important?

Early detection can help prevent CWD from spreading. In order to detect the disease as early as possible, the department needs many samples from the area.

Can I visit a CWD Sample Drop-off site to fulfill mandatory check requirements?

Yes, hunters can visit CWD Sample Drop-off sites to fulfill mandatory check requirements. Please note that drop-off sites only accept deer heads, including caped out or skull-capped. Deer parts that are dropped off are not returned. If you wish to retain any parts or to have your deer taxidermied, visited a staffed CWD Check Station.

Why are mandatory check stations not required for the CWD Surveillance Zone in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties?

There are a lot of deer in these counties, there are a lot of deer hunters, and there’s a high harvest. This means that Kentucky Fish and Wildlife can really rely on hunters to help us collect samples using alternative methods.

General

How long will it take to get CWD test results back?

Hunters should expect results to be online with 4-6 weeks. If any sample results are positive, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will contact the hunter as soon as possible.

Why stop baiting and feeding in a CWD Surveillance Zone?

Concentrating deer at particular sites can speed up the spread of disease. Deer cannot be vaccinated against CWD, so adding vaccine to a bait is not an option or solution.

Infected deer can spread the prions that cause CWD throughout the landscape. CWD prions trigger abnormal reactions in brain cells of deer, elk, and other cervids. Prions are highly resistant to destruction and normal means of disinfection do not destroy prions. Prions can survive on the landscape for years, therefore it is important not to congregate animals and increase the concentration of prions because the risk of transmission to other animals increases.

The best way to stop the spread of prions is keeping infected deer contained and minimizing concentrations of animals. Prohibited baiting includes putting out grains, minerals, and salt. Scents and deer urine-based products used in hunting will still be allowed.

Did other states that have detected CWD in the last 20 years ban baiting

Yes, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies lists bans on baiting and feeding as a "best management practice." Congregating animals raises the chance of the disease spreading. Studies on mineral licks in Minnesota demonstrated that prions were present and acting as a source of infection in these locations. Anything that increases the concentration of prions can increase the spread. The department wants to have deer hunting opportunities for future generations and "chronic" diseases like CWD are a long-term concern. It takes a long time for the disease to become noticeable, so the department is trying to preserve and conserve the resource before it gets to that point. Deer are social and congregate; they interact and communicate with each other - so for the department, it's all about diluting those opportunities. The department can't control how often deer groom each other or where they travel, but it can control how much we encourage deer to congregate in one spot. Deer behavior and biology won't change, but doing what we can to restrict congregation is the goal. At a corn pile, hundreds of deer can come to that one spot. In nature, you don't see that kind of behavior or congregation of deer happening in any other situation.

Should bait or any ingestible attractant for deer that was already in place in before the ban took affect be removed?

Bait or feed for wildlife that was on the landscape before the CWD Surveilance Zone was established does not need to be removed. Hunters can hunt over preexisting bait. However, placing new bait or feed for wildlife is prohibited immediately upon establishment of the surveillance zone.

Can I feed deer for non-hunting purposes?

No. All baiting and feeding of deer is banned in a CWD Surveillance Zone. Bait or feed for wildlife that was on the landscape before the CWD Surveillance Zone was established does not need to be removed. However, placing new bait or feed for wildlife is prohibited immediately upon establishment of the surveillance zone.

What are the possible penalties for violating special deer regulations in the CWD Surveillance Zone?

Violations of special regulations will be taken very seriously, and penalties could range anywhere from a warning to losing hunting or firearm rights, or ultimately jail time.

Is there a way to report suspected violations anonymously?

Anyone can use the KFWLaw app or text the keyword "KFWLAW" along with the rest of their message or tip to 847411 (tip411). Tips can also be reported by calling 1-800-25-ALERT (1-800-252-5378).

What deer hunting zone are the CWD Surveillance Zones located within?

Zone 1.

Should I continue to hunt?

Hunters are encouraged to continue hunting with a few modifications if harvesting animals in a CWD Surveillance Zone. These modifications include following CWD regulations aimed to reduce transmission and the spread of disease. The department asks that you make the adjustments previously outlined regarding baiting and visiting CWD check stations when mandatory check is required. Reducing any potential spread of the disease is our primary concern and hunters should follow routine health and safety precautions, including not moving carcasses out of a CWD Surveillance Zone, and not harvesting or consuming any game animal found sick or dead. The CDC recommends not eating meat from an animal that tests positive for CWD.

Do you have instructions on how to debone a deer in the field?

With special carcass transportation restrictions in place due to chronic wasting disease (CWD), it's important that hunters know how to debone their deer harvest in the field. In the video, How to Process or Debone a Deer in the Field, Kentucky Afield Host Chad Miles walks hunters through a step-by-step process of deboning a whitetail deer in the field. The method used here ultimately yields the same cuts of meat that a typical processing method would, with each muscle or muscle group individually removed.

CWD RESOURCES

Chronic Wasting Disease Response Plan

Commissioner's Authorization of CWD Restrictions

CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONES

​​

SPECIAL REGULATIONS IN CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONES

​CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONE WITH MANDATORY CHECK STATIONS

Staffed CWD Check Stations

​​​CWD Sample Drop-off Sites

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO​

​

ABOUT KENTUCKY'S CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONES

​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Mandatory Check

Can a deer be checked at any of the CWD check stations in a CWD Surveillance Zone, or must it be in the county of harvest?

When will the staffed CWD Check Stations be open?

What do hunters need to bring to CWD check stations ​​

Can I provide just a deer's head as a sample? ​​

What do you do if you harvest a deer after shooting light? ​​

I want to get a trophy deer processed. Should I take it to a staffed CWD Check Station or a CWD Sample Drop-off site? ​​

I harvested a deer during a season in which staffed CWD check stations are not open. How can I have it tested for CWD? ​​

What is the difference between a staffed CWD Check Station and a CWD Sample Drop-off site? ​​

Why are the CWD Check Stations and CWD Sample Drop-off sites important? ​​

Can I visit a CWD Sample Drop-off site to fulfill mandatory check requirements? ​​

Why are mandatory check stations not required for the CWD Surveillance Zone in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties? ​​

​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​General

How long will it take to get CWD test results back?

Why stop baiting and feeding in a CWD Surveillance Zone?

Did other states that have detected CWD in the last 20 years ban baiting ​​

Should bait or any ingestible attractant for deer that was already in place in before the ban took affect be removed? ​​

Can I feed deer for non-hunting purposes? ​​

What are the possible penalties for violating special deer regulations in the CWD Surveillance Zone? ​​

Is there a way to report suspected violations​ anonymously? ​​

What deer hunting zone are the CWD Surveillance Zones located within? ​​

Should I continue to hunt? ​​

Do you have instructions on how to debone a deer in the field? ​​

​CWD RESOURCES​

Translate Page

CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONE WITH MANDATORY CHECK STATIONS

CWD Sample Drop-off Sites

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Mandatory Check

What do hunters need to bring to CWD check stations

Can I provide just a deer's head as a sample?

What do you do if you harvest a deer after shooting light?

I want to get a trophy deer processed. Should I take it to a staffed CWD Check Station or a CWD Sample Drop-off site?

I harvested a deer during a season in which staffed CWD check stations are not open. How can I have it tested for CWD?

What is the difference between a staffed CWD Check Station and a CWD Sample Drop-off site?

Why are the CWD Check Stations and CWD Sample Drop-off sites important?

Can I visit a CWD Sample Drop-off site to fulfill mandatory check requirements?

Why are mandatory check stations not required for the CWD Surveillance Zone in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties?

General

Did other states that have detected CWD in the last 20 years ban baiting

Should bait or any ingestible attractant for deer that was already in place in before the ban took affect be removed?

Can I feed deer for non-hunting purposes?

What are the possible penalties for violating special deer regulations in the CWD Surveillance Zone?

Is there a way to report suspected violations anonymously?

What deer hunting zone are the CWD Surveillance Zones located within?

Should I continue to hunt?

Do you have instructions on how to debone a deer in the field?

CWD RESOURCES