Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) is partnering with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to encourage hunters to get their deer and elk tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) this season.
Hunters who submit a CWD test from a harvested deer or elk between Aug. 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025 will automatically be entered to win either a Howa 1500 .223 with mounted Nikko Sterling Gamepro 4-12x40mm Scope combo or a Sig Sauer Whiskey3 4-12x40mm Quadplex scope.
OHA is providing these prizes and a winner will be drawn on April 30, 2025. Hunters will receive one entry for every legally harvested deer or elk they get tested.
Hunters can get their deer or elk tested in a number of ways:
- At CWD check stations in Baker City, Celilo Park, Elgin or Prineville during certain weekends of any legal weapon seasons for deer and elk. See dates and locations of check stations; more locations may be added.
- At participating meat processors and taxidermists.
- At an ODFW office by making an appointment or leaving head at collection barrel.
CWD has now been detected in California, Idaho, and Washington. “With CWD detected in three bordering states, it is more imperative than ever for hunters to provide our unique contribution toward CWD detection by voluntarily getting our animals tested,” said OHA Policy Director Amy Patrick.
ODFW has yet to detect a case of CWD in Oregon, though it has been testing since the late 1990s when the disease first began to spread in North America. Deer and elk can be infected with CWD, and can spread it to other deer and elk, for years before showing symptoms.
“Testing apparently healthy animals will help wildlife managers find this disease early, which is how we can slow or prevent the spread of CWD,” said Ashley Reeder, ODFW CWD coordinator. “Hunters are a critical part of this effort, so we are grateful to OHA for offering this incentive for hunters to get their animal tested.”
Visit https://myodfw.com/CWD for more information.
