The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has added six new Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) drop-off locations in Catahoula, Concordia, Morehouse and Union parishes for deer hunters to submit CWD samples for testing.
These new locations are in addition to the seven established last season within Franklin, Madison and Tensas parishes in response to the detection of CWD within Tensas Parish.
Hunters wishing to submit deer heads for CWD testing may visit these locations, submit samples and view results using the sample number obtained at the drop-off location. The locations are self-service and hunters will be able to place deer heads in chest type refrigerators provided. Instructions as well as sampling bags and hunter information cards are provided at the locations.
Important Reminder: Deer heads from deer harvested within the CWD Control Area, which consists of Tensas Parish and portions of Concordia, Franklin and Madison parishes, may not be transported outside of the control area. Hunters harvesting deer from outside the control area may utilize the newly added drop-off locations as well as the drop-off locations within the control area.
CWD Control Area Sample Drop-off locations available for the 2023-24 season include:
- Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge – 0.3 miles south of I-20 at the Waverly exit on Hwy 577
- Tallulah U-Pak-It - 120 HWY 65 South, Tallulah, LA 71282
- Big Lake WMA - North of Louisiana Hwy 4, 12 miles east of Gilbert, LA 71336
- Buckhorn WMA - 3217 HWY 128, St Joseph, LA 71366
- Buck Fever Taxidermy - 3083 Hwy 65, Newellton, LA 71357
- Wisner Location - 387 Kansas St., Wisner, LA 71378
- Tensas Parish Sheriff's Resource Center - 8554 Hwy 65, Waterproof, LA 71375
Additional CWD Sample Drop-off Locations available for the 2023-24 season include:
- Town of Farmerville – 308 Thomas St., Farmerville, LA 71241
- Northeast Union Fire District – 2252 LA-143, Marion, LA 71260
- Crossett RD. U-Pakit – 10400 Crossett Rd. Bastrop, LA 71220
- 25 Feed and Seed – 203 Fairbanks St., Jonesville, LA 71343
- LA DOTD Maintenance Facility – 2201 E. E. Wallace Blvd., Ferriday, LA 71334
- Richard K. Yancey WMA – 21 mile South of Vidalia on Hwy. 15
- A map of these locations is also available on the LDWF website at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Hunting/Deer/Files/11x17-State-Cooler-Location-Map.jpg
CWD is a neurodegenerative disease of white-tailed deer and other members of the family Cervidae. It is caused by a prion, an infectious, misfolded protein particle, and is 100% fatal in affected deer after an indeterminate incubation period. There is no treatment or preventative vaccine for CWD.
CWD-infected deer may exhibit signs of weight loss and emaciation, excessive salivation, frequent drinking and urination, incoordination, circling and lack of fear of people and always results in death of the animal.
Although CWD has not been shown to be contagious to humans, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend against the human consumption of deer known to be infected with CWD. Also, it is recommended that people hunting in areas known to harbor CWD-infected deer have their deer tested for the disease prior to consuming the animals.
In addition to self-service drop-off locations, hunters statewide desiring to have their harvested deer tested for CWD can contact local LDWF Field Offices to have their deer tested. Testing is performed on the brainstem and lymph nodes of the head. The head and five inches or more of the neck can be removed and refrigerated for submission to LDWF. The skull plate and antlers can be removed prior to testing if desired. The LDWF Field Office contact information and locations are as follows:
- Hammond Office 985-543-4777 42371 Phyllis Ann Drive Hammond;
- Lafayette Office 337-262-2080 200 Dulles Drive Lafayette;
- Lake Charles Office 337-491-2575 1025 Tom Watson Road, Lake Charles;
- Minden Office 318-371-3050 9961 Hwy 80, Minden;
- Monroe Office 318-343-4044 368 Century Link Dr, Monroe;
- Pineville Office 318-487-5885 765 Maryhill Rd., Pineville.
Detailed instructions and more information can be found at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/cwd-testing.
For more information on CWD, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/cwd.
For questions or more information, contact the nearest LDWF Field Office.