Chronic wasting disease

Know the requirements for your deer permit area

2026 surveillance block

Map showing all deer permit areas included in this years rotational surveillance block for chronic wasting disease in Minnesota

Map showing all deer permit areas included in the 2026 rotational surveillance block for chronic wasting disease in Minnesota. The area encompasses southwestern Minnesota.

CWD surveillance schedule

Map showing the rotational surveillance block cycle for chronic wasting disease in Minnesota.

Mandatory testing Nov.7-8

Surveillance block: DPAs 213, 214, 215, 218, 219, 234, 237, 238, 250, 252, 253, 270, 272, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 286, 288, 289, 290, 291, 294, 295, 296, 299, 671 and 685.

Voluntary testing

Management zones: 601, 604, 605, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655, 661, 666, 671, 679 and 684. DPA 685 has been added for 2026.

Use the numbers of the deer permit areas in which you hunt to determine what disease management measures you must follow. That's the best way to do your part to help DNR combat CWD and keep Minnesota's wild deer healthy.

New surveillance plan in place

DNR has transistioned to a four-year rotational surveillance plan starting in southwest Minnesota. The rotation will move clockwise around the state ending in southeast Minnesota in 2029.

With areas of the state not having a targeted surveillance effort in many years, the purpose of this surveillance effort is to help inform the extent of CWD across the entire state. We do not believe that CWD is widespread across the state.

In each of the rotational years, CWD testing is mandatory in the surveillance block for any deer harvested during the opening weekend of firearms season that is one year of age or older. All deer permit areas outside of the surveillance block will have voluntary testing options.

What the designations mean

Surveillance block: This block of DPAs rotates in a four-year cycle regardless of any CWD presence. The strategy is designed to gather more complete information about CWD prevalence, especially in areas of the state where testing has not occurred in recent years.

Management zone: A DPA designated as a management zone has the most restrictive measures in place to help prevent disease spread.

Information & resources

Chronic wasting disease, commonly referred to as CWD, is a fatal neurological disease that affects cervids, including white-tailed deer. It is found globally and in about half of the states in the U.S. CWD remains relatively rare in Minnesota but is a concern as there is no known cure.

The DNR's management actions are in place to help limit its spread.