The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) has collected more than 3,000 samples for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing during the 2020–2021 hunting season.

All samples were from hunter-harvested, road-killed, or reported diseased white-tailed deer.  Since July 1, 2020, 17 CWD-positive white-tailed deer have been detected. Since February 2018, the statewide total is 71.

Continued surveillance is critical, and hunters are the key source for sample collection.

Per Administrative Rule 2.2 (white-tailed deer seasons and bag limits), as passed by the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks in May 2020, three mandatory sampling weekends were set to aid in statewide testing efforts. During two weekends in January 2021, all deer harvested in the respective counties and dates listed below must be submitted for CWD sampling by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest.

January 2 and 3:  Adams, Amite, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Walthall, and Wilkinson. 

January 16 and 17: Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Marion, Lamar, Pearl River, Perry, Stone, and Wayne. 

Click here to locate the permanent or temporary freezer sites and physical check stations near you.

For more information about Chronic Wasting Disease visit www.mdwfp.com/cwd.