Deer Hunters in Nebraska’s CWD Testing Zone Can Request Free Testing Kits

Nebraska will provide 2,000 CWD testing kits to hunters who take deer in the state’s CWD testing zone. Photo by John Hafner.

During this year’s firearms deer season, hunters in Nebraska’s chronic wasting disease testing zone can test their deer for CWD at in-person check stations or via a free mail-in sampling kit.

According to ruralradio.com, testing and access to results are free for hunters who check their deer in person or submit a sample using a kit in the Platte, Frenchman, Buffalo or Republican units.

Nebraska Game and Parks will provide kits only to hunters intending to Telecheck their harvested deer in one of the four test units.

Hunters can request a kit at OutdoorNebraska.gov by searching for “CWD” and filling out the “Request a CWD Sampling Kit” form. To receive a kit, hunters need to select the deer management unit they intend to hunt and provide their permit number to complete the form.

The hunter will receive the kit with supplies, instructions and a free return shipping label through the U.S. Postal Service three to seven business days after the form is filled out.

Samples of the deer should be taken within three days of harvest and kept frozen until mailed back using the free FedEx shipping label. Hunters should not ship samples on Fridays or Saturdays to ensure quality samples for testing.

About 2,000 kits will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis as part of a study comparing CWD testing methods as Telecheck becomes more common.

A list of participating check stations will be provided closer to the firearms season at OutdoorNebraska.gov on the Deer Hunting page for hunters who prefer to check their deer in person.

Hunters who take a deer outside of the testing zone can pay to have their deer tested through the Nebraska, Kansas or Wyoming veterinary diagnostic centers. For details, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov on the Chronic Wasting Disease page.

Since 1997, Game and Parks has tested more than 58,000 deer, with 1,347 deer testing positive for CWD in 68 counties.