Hunters in 4 units can request a free CWD testing kit

Hunters in the chronic wasting disease testing zone for this year’s firearm deer season will have two options to test their deer: in-person check stations or a free mail-in sampling kit.

Testing in the Platte, Frenchman, Buffalo or Republican units is part of the continued surveillance of chronic wasting disease and its occurrence across Nebraska. Testing and access to results are free of charge to hunters who check their deer in person or submit a sample using a kit.

Nebraska Game and Parks will provide kits only to those intending to Telecheck their harvested deer in one of the four test units.

Hunters may request one at OutdoorNebraska.gov by searching for “CWD” and filling out the “Request a CWD Sampling Kit” form. Hunters will need to select the deer management unit they intend to hunt and provide their permit number to complete the form and receive a kit.

Once processed, the kit with supplies, instructions and a free return shipping label will be mailed to the hunter through the U.S. Postal Service; shipping should take three to seven business days.

Hunters should sample their deer within three days of harvest, and samples kept frozen until mailed back using the free FedEx shipping label. Hunters should not ship samples on Fridays or Saturdays to ensure quality samples for testing.

About 2,000 kits will be available and issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

The kits are being provided as part of a study comparing CWD testing methods as Telecheck becomes more common.

For hunters wishing to check their deer in person, a list of participating check stations will be provided closer to the firearm season at OutdoorNebraska.gov on the Deer Hunting page.

Those outside of the testing zone may pay to have their deer tested through the Nebraska, Kansas or Wyoming veterinary diagnostic centers. Find details at OutdoorNebraska.gov on the Chronic Wasting Disease page.

Since 1997, Game and Parks has tested more than 58,000 deer, with 1,347 deer testing positive for CWD in 68 counties.