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.
To encourage those efforts, state fish and wildlife agencies in California and Oregon are helping promote incentive drawings for those who submit samples. In Oregon, hunters will automatically be entered to win a rifle for every CWD test submitted between Aug. 1, 2025, and April 1, 2026 (one test per animal).
“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, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) CWD coordinator. “Hunters are a critical part of this effort, and we are grateful to the Oregon Hunters Association for offering another incentive for hunters to get their animals tested.”
Oregon hunters can submit a test by visiting an ODFW office, doing so at participating meat processors and taxidermists or visiting a CWD check station.
California hunters are also eligible to win prizes and hunting gear. Click here for CWD how-to details and here to register.
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 the disease, which can have population-level impacts on herds if left to spread unchecked.
Wildlife officials previously verified CWD’s presence in California but not in Oregon.
(Photo credit: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)