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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 our convenient 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 you submit, you'll receive an entry into our giveaway—each entry counts as one chance to win! There are no limits on the number of entries you can submit.

3. Win Prizes

Prizes are being offered in five regions across Kentucky—Bluegrass, Northeast, Southeast, Green River, and Purchase. Each region has its own sponsor providing a unique prize tied to its specific drop-off sites or the county of submission for harvest for mail-in kits. Check with the region-specific sponsor to learn more about the prizes. One winner will be drawn for each region and announced at the end of deer season.

Purchase Region
Green River Region
Bluegrass Region
Southeast Region
Northeast Region

Click the map to download printable version.

Giveaway Rules

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 they like 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 the CWD Surveillance Zone (Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken counties) must use CWD Sample Drop-off sites within the zone.
Deer from the 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. 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 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.
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 during entry. 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.

Shoot for Samples Giveaway

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

How to Participate

Giveaway Rules

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Calling All Deer Hunters!