Hunters again encouraged to submit samples for CWD testing from deer taken in 213, 273

ALEXANDRIA — The archery deer hunting season opened Sept. 17 in Minnesota, and hunters who get a deer in permit areas 273 and 213 near Alexandria are again encouraged to submit samples from the animal to test for Chronic Wasting Disease.

Both DPA 213 and 273 are part of a CWD surveillance zone. Chronic Wasting Disease, an always-fatal prion disease in deer, has not been found in the wild deer herd in either 213 or 273, but it was confirmed in a captive deer within Douglas County in 2019.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is conducting voluntary chronic wasting disease sampling on deer one year of age or older harvested in the CWD surveillance zone. Sampling will occur throughout the deer hunting seasons or until the sampling goal is reached.

Deer hunters are encouraged to get their deer tested using one of the hunter self-service sampling stations at select locations within the surveillance zone or by visiting one of the local partnering taxidermists or meat processors.

A full list of the self-service sampling stations and participating taxidermists for DPAs 213 and 273 can be found at the Minnesota DNR’s CWD surveillance zones webpage .

If local self-service sampling stations are unavailable, hunters can make an appointment to have their deer tested by calling the DNR Glenwood Area Wildlife Office (320-634-7342) or the DNR Fergus Falls Area Wildlife Office (218-671-7931).

A limited number of free, mail-in kits are available for hunters to collect and mail in a lymph node sample on their own. Learn more on the DNR website ( mndnr.gov/CWD/CWD-Testing.html ).

A deer feeding ban is also in place for Douglas, and Pope Counties. Todd County is a part of a deer feeding and attractants ban. For a full list of counties affected, visit the DNR website ( mndnr.gov/CWD/Feedban.html ).

In addition to checking DNR website ( mndnr.gov/DeerHunt ) for the regulations specific to their DPA and the most current list of sampling locations, hunters should also refer to the 2022 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations, available on the DNR hunting page ( mndnr.gov/Hunting ) and wherever licenses are sold.