SALEM, Ore.— Hunters are the first line of defense against Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). By getting their animals tested, hunters can help wildlife managers detect the disease early and slow its spread in the state’s deer and elk herds.
OHA and ODFW are again teaming up to encourage hunters who harvest a deer or elk during the 2025 hunting season to get it tested for CWD. Hunters who submit a CWD test will automatically be entered to win a Weatherby Vanguard 7mm Rem in First Lite Specter (Value $1,150), to be provided by OHA. Hunters receive one automatic entry in the drawing for every test submitted for a deer or elk harvested between Aug. 1, 2025 – April 1, 2026 (one test per animal).
CWD is a fatal disease impacting cervids (deer, elk, moose, and caribou) across North America. These species can be infected with CWD and spread the disease to other cervids for years before showing symptoms. Early detection is critical to reduce the spread of this always fatal disease, which can have population-level impacts on herds if left to spread unchecked.
ODFW and OHA are invested in keeping Oregon a CWD-free state for as long as possible. ODFW has yet to detect a case of CWD in the state, though it has been testing since the late 1990s when the disease first began to spread in North America. Within the past few years, CWD has been detected in deer or elk in the neighboring states of Washington, California and Idaho.
“Testing healthy-looking animals will help wildlife managers find this disease early, which is how we can slow the spread of CWD,” said Ashley Reeder, ODFW CWD coordinator. “Hunters are a critical part of this effort, and we are grateful to OHA for offering another incentive for hunters to get their animals tested.”
There are several easy ways to submit CWD samples:
- Visit an ODFW office by making an appointment or leaving a head in a designated collection barrel.
- Submit a sample at participating meat processors and taxidermists.
- Visit a CWD check station during certain weekends of any legal weapon seasons for deer and elk; check stations are planned in Baker City, Celilo Park, Elgin and Prineville. See dates and locations of check stations. Additional locations may be announced.
Recently, OHA sent prizes to two winners who submitted CWD samples in 2024. Thomas Dailey of Stayton submitted a sample from a mule deer and won a Howa .223 and scope package while Kaylyn Hansen of Junction City submitted a sample from her first black-tailed deer buck and won a Sig Sauer Whiskey3 rifle scope.
