TOPIC:

Dear Indiana Hunter,

Indiana DNR is conducting targeted chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance in seven northwestern Indiana counties during the 2019-2020 deer hunting season. As a resident or hunter of these counties, we would like to inform you about CWD surveillance efforts taking place during opening weekend of firearms season and to ask for your voluntary assistance.


CWD surveillance efforts will be focused in both northeast and northwest Indiana. In the northwest, we will be intensively sampling deer in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, Pulaski, Jasper, and Newton counties during opening weekend of firearms season.


On Nov. 16 and 17, 2019, DNR biologists will be stationed at the locations listed below to collect samples from hunter-harvested deer for CWD testing. Hunters may submit deer for testing during the hours listed:


The following business partners will work with DNR on opening weekend to ensure that CWD samples are collected from any harvested deer that a customer brings in for processing or taxidermy and wishes to have sampled. A DNR biologist will collect the samples.


An interactive map of sampling locations can be found online at on.IN.gov/CWD.

Tissue samples will be collected from adult bucks and does. The lymph nodes located on either side of the esophagus at the base of the head are needed for CWD testing. For hunters who wish to mount their deer, samples can be collected after the taxidermist skins the head. Indiana DNR will work with hunters and taxidermists to collect deer heads from taxidermists after the heads have been processed.

Sample submission for CWD testing is voluntary, but strongly encouraged. If you have questions about where to take your deer for CWD sampling, please call 844-803-0002.

Additional CWD Testing Opportunities and After-business-hours Drop-off

Hunters may also have their harvested deer sampled for CWD throughout the entire 2019-20 season at fish & wildlife areas (FWAs) statewide. DNR staff will collect samples by appointment during normal business hours. Hunters who wish to have their deer sampled at a FWA should contact that FWA to make an appointment. Select FWAs will offer an after-business-hours option through which hunters can place the head of their harvested deer in a designated freezer like the one shown below for CWD sampling. Contact information for participating FWAs and freezer locations can be found at on.IN.gov/CWD.


Deer Management Partner Magnets and Metal Tags

Any hunter who voluntarily submits a deer for CWD surveillance will receive a Deer Management Partner magnet and a metal tag reminiscent of historical confirmation tags.


DNR appreciates your participation in this effort as every sample is crucial to determining the possible presence of CWD in Indiana deer. Should you have any questions about CWD surveillance, you may visit our website at on.IN.gov/CWD or contact DNR at 844-803-0002.

Sincerely,


Amanda Wuestefeld
Director, Division of Fish & Wildlife

Good luck trying to call the Kankakee dnr, no answer and no call back, I had a question earlier this year