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Shoot for Samples Giveaway

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Calling All Deer Hunters!

Get ready for the Shoot for Samples Giveaway!

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is excited to launch the regional Shoot for Samples Giveaway, running until January 20, 2025. We're rallying deer hunters to help us monitor Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). By submitting samples for CWD testing, you're playing a vital role in safeguarding Kentucky's deer and elk herds. Join us in making a difference while you hunt!

How to Participate

1. Submit Samples

Hunters can submit samples through the following methods until January 20, 2025:

CWD Sample Drop-off Sites: Bring the head of your legally harvested and telechecked buck or doe to one of our designated CWD Sample Drop-off sites. Follow the instructions for proper drop-off procedures. Click here for a list of drop-off locations.

CWD Sample Mail-in Kits: Simply collect lymph node samples from your legally harvested and telechecked deer and send them to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife using a CWD Sample Mail-in Kits. Click here to sign up for a kit and find a pick-up location near you.

2. Enter to Win

For each deer head dropped off or lymph nodes submitted, you'll receive an entry into the giveaway—each entry counts as one chance to win! Hunters must abide by all bag limits.

3. Win Prizes

Prizes include $500 and $1000 gift cards, an Elite Carbon Era bow, and a TenPoint Crossbow.

Prizes are being offered in five regions across Kentucky—Bluegrass, Northeast, Southeast, Green River, and Purchase. One prize winner for each region will be randomly drawn and contacted at the end of deer season by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff.

THANK YOU to these prize sponsors: Copperhead Guns & Range, Double T Electric LLC, First Choice Firearms, Glauber’s Sports, and Uncle Lee’s

Purchase Region
Green River Region
Bluegrass Region
Southeast Region
Northeast Region

Click the map to download printable version.

Giveaway Rules & Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility: The giveaway is open to both Kentucky residents and non-residents. Please note that CWD Sample Mail-in Kits are only available to Kentucky residents. The giveaway is open to hunters of all ages. To be eligible for the giveaway, all samples must be submitted between September 7, 2024 - January 20, 2025.

Hunters Using CWD Sample Drop-off Sites

Hunters can enter the giveaway as many times as bag limits allow by dropping off deer heads at any CWD Sample Drop-off site until January 20, 2025.
All deer must be legally harvested and telechecked prior to drop-off.
Each deer head dropped off will count as one entry for the specific region based on the drop-off site location.
Participants must follow all on-site instructions for proper drop-off procedures, and submissions must include a completed biological sample tag (available at drop-off sites) to be eligible.
No cost for CWD testing: There will be no cost to hunters for CWD testing of the heads submitted.

Hunters Using Mail-in Kits

All mail-in kits must be received by Kentucky Fish and Wildlifeby January 20, 2025, to qualify for the giveaway.
All deer must be legally harvested and telechecked.
The county of harvest will be used to determine the participant's entry region.
No Cost for CWD Testing: There will be no cost for CWD testing of the samples submitted through the mail-in kits.
No Cost for Return Shipping: The cost of return shipping is free for hunters. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will cover the return shipping costs for mail-in kits.

CWD Surveillance Zone Restrictions

Hunters who harvest deer in a CWD Surveillance Zone (Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken counties, in addition to Breckinrdige, Hardin, and Meade counties) must use CWD Sample Drop-off sites within the established Surveillance Zone.
Deer from a CWD Surveillance Zone cannot be transported out of the zone due to carcass transportation restrictions.
CWD Sample Mail-in Kits cannot be used to fulfill mandatory check requirements on Nov. 9-11, Nov. 16-17 and Nov 23-24, 2024 in Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken counties. During these dates, hunters must use CWD Sample Drop-off sites to both meet the mandatory check requirements and be entered into the giveaway. However, outside of these dates, hunters in these counties can use CWD Sample Mail-in Kits and still qualify for the giveaway.

Harvested Deer Restrictions

All deer heads and lymph node samples must be harvested in Kentucky.
Hunters must abide by all bag limits.
Whole carcasses or high-risk parts (head, skull cap, skull with any brain material, or spine) of any deer, elk, moose, or caribou harvested outside of Kentucky cannot be brought into the state.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded by region (Bluegrass, Northeast, Southeast, Green River, and Purchase), with one winner per region.
Hunters may enter in multiple regions but can only win once.
Each region of the giveaway is sponsored by a designated orgization or business. The sponsor for each region is responsible for the total value of the prize awarded to the winner of that region.
Hunters have the right to decline any prizes awarded through the giveaway. If a prize is declined, an alternative winner will be selected.

Additional Provisions

Notification of Winners: Winners will be notified via the contact information provided on the biological sample tag completed during the sample submission process. If a winner does not respond within 14 days, an alternate winner will be selected.
Publicity Release: By participating, winners agree to allow Kentucky Fish and Wildlife to use their name and likeness for promotional purposes without additional compensation.
Changes to Rules: Kentucky Fish and Wildlife reserves the right to modify these rules at any time, including extending the entry period or changing eligibility criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions

I want to get my buck mounted. Can I get my deer tested for CWD and entered into the giveaway: If a hunter is mounting their buck, they will need to have their taxidermist save the caped out head to submit at a Drop-off site.

Shoot for Samples Giveaway

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Calling All Deer Hunters!​

How to Participate

Giveaway Rules & Frequently Asked Questions

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Calling All Deer Hunters!