CWD Surveillance Zone

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CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONE


A Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD ​​) Surveillance Zone is in ​effect for Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken counties. Special regulations regarding check stations, a ban on deer baiting, and carcass transportation restrictions apply in this zone. Inclusion in a CWD Surveillance Zone does not change deer seasons or bag limits in the county.

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​SPECIAL REGULATIONS IN THE CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONE


  • Mandatory Deer CWD Check Stations
  • All deer harvested within the CWD Surveillance Zone 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.

  • No Baiting or Wildlife Feeding
  • Grain, feed, mineral blocks, salt blocks and other baits used to attract deer cannot be used in 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 the 8-county 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 the CWD Surveillance Zone.

  • Prohibition of the Rehabilitation of Cervids
    • The rehabilitation of deer or any other cervid in the 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.



​MANDATORY CHECK STATIONS

​All deer harvested within the CWD Surveillance Zone 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 in the CWD Surveillance Zone may be used for deer taken within the zone. CWD testing is free of charge.

Mandatory check-in 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.​​

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CWD Sample Drop-off Sites​​
COUNTY LOCATION NAME/ADDRESS CITY
​Ballard
Ballard Co. Extension Office, 110 Broadway LaCenter​
​Ballard
Ballard Co. Sheriff's Office, 1718 Barlow Rd. Wickcliffe
Calloway
KDFWR Murray Office, 30 Scenic Acres Dr. Murray
Calloway
First Choice Firearmes, 1205 Stadium View Dr. Murray
Calloway Hazel Fire Department, 215 Main St. ​Hazel
​Carlisle
​​Carlisle Co. Extension Office, 65 John Robers Dr.
Bardwell​
Fulton
Fulton Co. Extension Office, 2114 S 7th St. Hickman
Graves
Graves Co. Extension Office, 4200 U.S. 45 Mayfield
Graves
Patriot Ag LLC, 400 Crittenden Ln. Mayfield
Graves
Sedalia Fire Department, 5414 KY 97 Sedalia
Graves
Sedalia Fire Dept., 5414 KY 97 Sedalia
Graves
Walking Humbly Outdoor Adventures, 15030 U.S. 45 Water Valley
Hickman
Hickman Co. Extension Office, 329 James H. Phillips Dr. Clinton
McCracken
Paducah Shooter Supply, 3919 Cairo Rd. Paducah
​​​McCracken ​McCracken Co. Extension Office, 2025 New Holt Rd. Paducah​
​McCracken ​West Kentucky WMA, 10535 Ogden Landing Rd. Kevil


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 ZONE

​On Sept. 8, 2021, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources activated its Chronic Wasting ​Disease (CWD) Response Plan and established a CWD Surveillance Zone in Hickman, Fulton, Graves, Calloway, and Marshall counties. This action was prompted by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's detection of CWD in a 3 and a half year old female deer from Henry County, Tennessee. The detection was located approximately 7.8 miles south of the Tennessee state line, southwest of Murray, Kentucky. Following Kentucky's first in-state detection of CWD in Ballard County in December 2023, the CWD Surveillance Zone expanded to include Ballard, Carlisle, and McCracken counties, and remains in effect for Hickman, Fulton, Graves, Calloway, and Marshall counties.

Recorded meetings of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission provide comprehensive details of the CWD Response Plan and the department's response. These are available in the "Commission Meetings" playlist on the department's YouTube channel at youtube.com/FishandWildlifeKY.​

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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.


Can a deer be checked at any of the CWD check ​stations, or must it be in the county of harvest?

A deer harvested within the CWD Surveillance Zone may be checked at any of the staffed CWD Check Stations or CWD Sample Drop-off sites within the CWD Surveillance Zone.

When will the staffed CWD check stations be open?  

CWD check stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Central) on Nov. 9-11, Nov. 16-17, and Nov. 23-24. 

​​What do hunters need to bring to CWD check stations? 

An intact or gutted carcass, or the entire head with the proof of sex, and a completed harvest log.

Can I provide just a deer's head as a sample?​  ​

If a hunter would like to provide only the head as a sample, the department asks that you sever the head with 5 inches of the neck included. This ensures that the lymph nodes needed to test for CWD are included. Heads can be dropped of at CWD Sample Drop-off sites in the CWD Surveillance Zone. Please note that deer parts dropped off at Drop-off sites are not returned. Visit a staffed CWD Check Station if you wish to keep any deer parts.

Do I need to share the exact location where I harvested a deer in the surveillance zone?​  

No, just the proximity. Hunters are welcome to share the exact location, but that information is not required. This information is only used to identify areas of adequate or insufficient surveillance of CWD.​

I want to get a trophy deer processed. Should I take it to a staffed CWD Check Station or a CWD Sample Drop-off site?​  

Hunters should visit a staffed CWD check station. Department staff will work with hunters to ensure your deer can still be processed by a taxidermist. Do not visit a CWD Sample Drop-off site if you intend to get your deer taxidermied. Deer heads and parts and cannot be returned after being dropped off. If you want to have your deer taxidermied or mounted and the check stations are closed and not open the next day, contact a local biologist for help by calling 1-800-858-1549.

I harvested a deer in the CWD Surveillance Zone during a season in which staffed CWD check stations are not open. How can I have it tested for CWD?​  

Hunters can use the CWD Sample Drop-off sites or participate in the DIY CWD Sample Mail-in Kit program.​

What is the difference between a staffed CWD Check Station and a CWD Sample Drop-off site​?  ​​​
​CWD Check Stations are run by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff. On the other hand, CWD Sample Drop-off sites are self-service and only accept deer heads for sampling. If you're looking to get your deer mounted or need assistance, you'll want to visit a CWD Check Station. ​ 

Why are the CWD Check Stations and CWD Sample Drop-off sites important?  ​​​

Early detection can help prevent CWD from spreading​​​​​​​​​​​​​. In order to detect the disease as early as possible, the department needs many samples from the area. The more samples received, the more reliable the testing results are.

How long will it take to get test results back? ​​​

Hunters should expect results to be online within 4-6 weeks. If any sample results are positive, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will contact the hunter as soon as possible. Look up CWD test results.​​​

Why stop baiting and feeding in the 8-county CWD Surveillance Zone? ​​​​

Concentrating deer at particular sites can speed up the spread and intensity of disease. Deer cannot be vaccinated against CWD, so adding a vaccine to bait is not an option or solution.

Infected deer can spread the prions that cause CWD throughout the landscape. CWD prions trigger abnormal reactions in brain cells of deer, elk, and other cervids. Prions are highly resistant to destruction and normal means of disinfection do not destroy prions. Prions can survive on the landscape for years, therefore it is important not to congregate animals and increase the concentration of prions because the risk of transmission to other animals increases.

The best way to stop the spread of prions is keeping infected deer contained and minimizing concentrations of animals. Prohibited baiting includes putting out grains, minerals, and salt. Scents and deer urine-based products used in hunting will still be allowed.

Did other states that have detected CWD in the last 20 years band baiting?​  

Yes, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies​ lists bans on baiting and feeding as a "best management practice." Congregating animals raises the chance of the disease spreading. Studies on mineral licks in Minnesota demonstrated that prions were present and acting as a source of infection in these locations. Anything that increases the concentration of prions can increase the spread. The department wants to have deer hunting opportunities for future generations and "chronic" diseases like CWD are a long-term concern. It takes a long time for the disease to become noticeable, so the department is trying to preserve and conserve the resource before it gets to that point. Deer are social and congregate; they interact and communicate with each other - so for the department, it's all about diluting those opportunities. The department can't control how often deer groom each other or where they travel, but it can control how much we encourage deer to congregate in one spot. Deer behavior and biology won't change, but doing what we can to restrict congregation is the goal. At a corn pile, hundreds of deer can come to that one spot. In nature, you don't see that kind of behavior or congregation of deer happening in any other situation.​

Should bait or any ingestible attractant for deer that was already in place in the surveillance zone before the ban be removed?​  

Yes, all bait must be removed from the landscape.​​​

Can I feed deer for non-hunting purposes?​  

No, homeowners may have birdfeeders that hang above ground, kept within the curtilage of their homes. Please refer to the special regulations for the 8-county CWD 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 is the CWD Surveillance Zone located within?​  

Currently, all counties in the CWD Surveillance Zone are in Zone 1.

Should I continue to hunt?​  

Hunters are encouraged to continue hunting with a few modifications if harvesting animals in the CWD Surveillance Zone. These modifications include following CWD regulations aimed to reduce transmission and the spread of disease. The department asks that you make the adjustments previously outlined regarding baiting and visiting CWD check stations when mandatory check is required. Reducing any potential spread of the disease is our primary concern and hunters should follow routine health and safety precautions, including not moving carcasses out of the CWD Surveillance Zone, and not harvesting or consuming any game animal found sick or dead. The CDC recommends not eating meat from an animal that tests positive for CWD.​

Can I visit a CWD Sample Drop-off site to fulfill mandatory check requirements?​  

Yes, hunters can visit CWD Sample Drop-off sites to fulfill mandatory check requirements. Note that drop-off sites only accept deer heads, including caped out or skull capped. Deer parts that are dropped off are not returned. If you wish to retain any parts or to have your deer taxider​mied, visited a staffed CWD Check station. ​​​​​​

Do you have instructions on how to debone a deer in the field?  
With special carcass transportation restrictions in place due to chronic wasting disease (CWD), it's important that hunters know how to debone their deer harvest in the field. In the video, How to Process or Debone a Deer in the Field, Kentucky Afield Host Chad Miles walks hunters through a step-by-step process of deboning a whitetail deer in the field. The method used here ultimately yields the same cuts of meat that a typical processing method would, with each muscle or muscle group individually removed. ​
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Can I use a DIY CWD Sample Mail-in Kit to fulfill mandatory check requirements?​  

No, mail-in kits do not fulfill mandatory check requirements. Hunters must visit a staffed CWD Check Station or a CWD Sample Drop-off site if they harvest a deer on the following dates: Nov. 9-11, Nov. 16-17, and Nov. 23-24.​




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​CWD RESOURCES

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

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