Testing Information: Chronic Wasting Disease

Hunt. Test. Educate. Win!

Hunters, if you submit a deer harvested from the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Area, or adjacent counties, for testing between Dec. 23, 2025-Jan. 11, 2026, you could win a new deer rifle!

  • Legally harvest a deer from an eligible county between December 23, 2025 and January 11, 2026.
  • Eligible counties include Atkinson, Berrien, Brooks, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift and Ware.
  • Game Check your deer making sure to answer "Yes" to the CWD questions and use the map to provide the harvest location.
  • Submit the deer head at any authorized CWD Sample Drop-off Site listed at GeorgiaWildlife.com/cwd/testing. Instructions for head/antler removal found on the CWD webpage and at each site.
  • Hunter must submit all required information on CWD Sample Drop-off Site tags, including county of harvest, name, phone number and Game Check confirmation number.
  • Each deer submitted is a separate entry.
  • A winner will be randomly drawn from the list of eligible entries at the end of the harvest period above.
  • Winner will be announced Jan. 25, 2026.
  • Prize is one Weatherby Vanguard Black Hills in 7mm-08 (VBS7M8RR4B), scope not included.

Questions? Email CWD@dnr.ga.gov. 

Testing Result Status Dashboard 

DNR is working with taxidermists and processors around the state to sample deer at no cost to hunters. Additionally, DNR is setting up self-serve freezers at multiple locations (freezer drop-off instructions). Find participating taxidermist and processor locations, and freezer locations through the map below. Map of the CWD management area

Who Should Get Their Deer Tested?

  • Inside CMA Guidance:
    • If you hunt inside the CMA (Atkinson, Berrien, Lanier and Lowndes counties), testing is strongly encouraged. Hunters can help by using participating deer processors or taxidermists or by submitting the deer’s head, with at least four inches of neck, at any self-serve CWD sampling site. Sampling locations can be found on the map below. Test results may take 2-6 weeks to be available. DNR will directly contact the hunter if a deer tests positive.
  • Outside CMA Guidance:
    • If you hunt outside of the CMA, it is not necessary to have your deer tested. However, DNR has established relationships with taxidermists and processors around the state to collect samples for hunters that would like their deer tested. Testing is free of charge and sampling locations can be found on the map below. Results of tests for deer outside the CMA may take months to be available. DNR will directly contact the hunter if a deer tests positive.