Archery deer seasons open throughout most of California on Saturday, Aug. 17, including in four hunt zones – D7, X9a, X9b and X9c – where successful hunters are required to test their animals for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) within 10 days of take.

In response to the recent CWD detections in Madera and Inyo counties, the California Fish and Game Commission recently adopted regulations requiring mandatory CWD testing in the affected hunt zones to better understand the extent of the current outbreak, to inform decision-makers and to help protect California’s deer and elk herds by limiting the spread of CWD.

“Hunters in California have always played a vital role in the conservation and health of our deer herds, and we need their help today more than ever to help manage CWD,” said Dr. Brandon Munk, senior wildlife veterinarian at CDFW. “We’re not only looking for hunters to comply with these sampling requirements in the four affected hunt zones, but we’re also asking all hunters to get their deer tested so we can better understand the magnitude of the outbreak we’re dealing with.”

Mandatory sampling applies to all deer tag holders hunting in the newly designated Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zones, including those with A16, A17, A18, D7, G3, G39, J12, X9a, X9b or X9c deer tags.

Permissible CWD sampling methods include:

• Bringing the deer, or just the head, to a California CWD sampling station or CDFW office (wildlife.ca.gov/CWD/Sampling-Station)
• Bringing the deer head to a participating meat processor or taxidermist (wildlife.ca.gov/CWD/Meat-Processors-Taxidermists); or

• Hunters may self-sample their deer and bring the retropharyngeal lymph nodes directly to a California CWD sampling station or CDFW office (wildlife.ca.gov/CWD/Sampling-Station)

CDFW offers a how-to-video, printable guide and data card for CWD sampling, data collection and self-sample submissions on its website (wildlife.ca.gov/CWD/Collect-Submit-Samples).

Hunters in the mandatory sampling zones also are required to provide their name, GO ID, deer tag or document number and harvest location along with their samples.

Carcass Handling and Movement Guidance:

CDFW asks that California hunters follow best practices for safe carcass handling and movement within these hunt zones. Field dress and leave the internal organs and spinal column at the site the deer was taken. If self-sampling your harvest, remove the skullcap with antlers attached and leave the brain at the site of harvest. Otherwise, bring the intact head to a CDFW office or sampling station for CWD testing.

Checking Test Results for CWD:

To check test results for your deer, enter your document/tag number in the “Find Your CWD Testing Results” section of CDFW’s Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance web pages. Please understand it will take three to five weeks for testing to be completed and results posted.

Wildfires and Forest Restrictions:

Archery deer seasons in California often coincide with peak wildfire threats. Hunters are reminded to research the areas they intend to hunt ahead of time, including checking with the U.S. Forest Service for any restrictions and closures within California’s national forests. CDFW’s Emergency Closures web page provides information on CDFW lands and facilities that may be closed due to fire, construction or public health concerns.

Sierra Pacific Industries Closes Public Access to Private Forestlands:

Due to the increasing risk of wildfires, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) closed its California forestlands to public access as of June 28. SPI considers several wildfire risk factors when closing its lands, including increasing temperatures, dry vegetation, low moisture levels in fuels and long-range weather forecasts for the region. The closure will remain in effect until moisture levels and long-range weather forecasts improve. Use of SPI’s roads and walk-in access to the company’s privately owned lands for recreational purposes is prohibited. Public roads crossing SPI lands are not affected by the closure.