Wisconsin DNR outlines deer testing options, carcass disposal limits for 2026 season
State wildlife officials track CWD and EHD ahead of fall hunting season
MADISON, Wis. (WSAW) - State wildlife officials are urging hunters to participate in ongoing chronic wasting disease surveillance as Wisconsin prepares for the 2026 fall deer hunting season.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday that testing harvested deer remains one of the most effective tools for tracking CWD. The department is seeking increased sampling from designated 2026 Fall Priority Areas near recent detection locations to track disease distribution.
Testing options
Hunters have four testing options statewide: 24/7 self-service kiosks for drop-offs with at least five inches of neck attached, participating meat processors and taxidermists, at-home lymph node extraction kits and limited in-person appointments with local DNR staff. Test results are generally returned within two weeks.
Hunters who register a CWD-positive deer will receive a replacement harvest authorization in their Go Wild account within two to four days. Replacement tags are not weapon-specific and remain valid through the remainder of the current season and the 2027 season.
Carcass disposal changes
Rising operational costs and declining revenue have forced budget reductions that will limit the number of DNR carcass waste dumpsters available this fall. The agency is encouraging hunters to check municipal curbside pickup rules, use landfills and transfer stations, or bury carcasses on the harvest property where allowed.
State health officials, the CDC and the World Health Organization continue to advise against eating venison from CWD-positive animals. There have been no reported CWD infections in humans to date.
EHD outbreak
The DNR is also tracking an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in southeastern Wisconsin. Agency officials stated the outbreak will not affect 2026 harvest regulations or antlerless harvest opportunities, noting deer populations typically rebound quickly from localized EHD mortality.
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