The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers testing options statewide for hunters to test their deer for chronic wasting disease. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources photo)

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters one of the most effective tools for monitoring chronic wasting disease is testing harvested deer.

Testing is available statewide but the DNR is especially interested in receiving more samples from the 2025 Fall Priority Areas near recent CWD detection locations. Much of northeastern Wisconsin is a priority area.

CWD is a contagious, fatal neurological disease that affects the nervous system of deer, elk, moose and caribou. It belongs to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or prion diseases. Prions are misshaped proteins that can spread the disease through direct animal-to-animal contact or in the environment through bodily substances or the carcass of infected deer.

Prions are extremely resilient and capable of remaining in the soil for years, potentially infecting several deer from a single source. Common signs of infected deer in the later stages of the disease are drastic weight loss, drooped head and ears, loss of coordination, excessive salivation and reduced fear of humans.

Any hunter in the state may choose from the following testing options:

— Self-service kiosks, open 24/7: Kiosks contain supplies for hunters to drop off a deer head with 5 inches of neck attached.

A helpful video tutorial is available to show you how to submit your sample information using the online form at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LPMyqG9Emo.

— At-home lymph node extraction: Hunters may pick up a kit from a kiosk ahead of time, extract the retropharyngeal lymph nodes using the provided instructions and return the lymph nodes to the DNR or a kiosk for testing.

Follow the printable step-by-step instructions to extract lymph nodes and prepare them for testing at https://widnr.widen.net/s/x9gd5plzpf/cwd-self-service-instructions.

— By appointment with local DNR staff: Hunters can contact their local wildlife management staff to schedule an in-person appointment. Please note, the availability for these appointments is limited.

CWD results will typically be available within 1-2 weeks. Hunters can find the nearest location using the DNR’s CWD Sample and Disposal Locations map.

Proper disposal of deer carcasses can reduce the chance of CWD being introduced to a new area. Several disposal resources are available for hunters, including deer carcass waste disposal dumpsters, landfills or transfer stations. These options can be found online and the DNR encourages hunters to check the map again throughout the season.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization all recommend against consuming meat from deer that test positive for CWD. Infected deer typically appear healthy for many months after contracting the disease, so DHS encourages testing for the disease regardless of the physical condition of the harvested deer, especially in areas prevalent with CWD. To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans.