CWD Surveillance Zone

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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.

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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.


​​​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.​​



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.


 



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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. ​​​


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​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​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.


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


​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​General

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.

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​CWD RESOURCES

Chronic Wasting Disease Response Plan      ​​​​​ ​​

Commissioner's Authorization of CWD Restrictions​      ​​​​​ ​​

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