As Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) continues to be an evolving issue that many have voiced concerns about, Louisiana deer hunters are reminded to take advantage of the opportunity to have their harvested deer CWD tested during the 2025-26 deer hunting season. As Louisiana continues to develop an effective management plan to slow the spread of the disease, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), in partnership with LSU, is now offering Louisiana hunters free statewide CWD testing.
CWD is a neurodegenerative disease found in most deer species, including Louisiana’s native white-tailed deer. It is infectious, always fatal, and there is no treatment. It’s part of a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and is similar to BSE (mad cow disease) in cattle and scrapie in sheep. These diseases cause irreversible damage to brain tissue, which leads to excessive salivation, neurological symptoms, emaciation, and death of the animal.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no evidence that CWD has infected humans. However, the CDC recommends caution in handling venison in infected regions and recommends that deer be tested for CWD before consuming. They advise that CWD positive deer should not be consumed by people.
In an effort to provide the public with the best possible resources, LDWF is providing the public free CWD testing throughout the state. For hunters harvesting deer in portions of Northeast Louisiana, LDWF currently has established convenient collection sites to allow hunters to drop off their samples. Hunters can read more about drop-off location procedures HERE.
For those hunters outside of a designated CWD sampling drop-off location, LDWF offers the following four step process:
STEP 1
Record the GPS location of where the deer was harvested.
Remove the deer head 5 inches below the ear. (See CWD testing brochure for illustration.)
Deer heads may be caped, with antlers and skull cap removed.
DO NOT FREEZE THE SAMPLE. Sample deer heads should be refrigerated or put on ice.
STEP 2
Complete the form at the link. HERE
STEP 3
Print the email that you received after completing the form in step 2. Provide that printout to the LDWF staff member who handles your sample.
STEP 4
Contact the nearest field office from the list below to coordinate delivery or pickup of the sample.
You will be given a sample ID number by a staff member. Search the CWD testing results database using your sample ID number to view the testing status and results.
Hunters can contact the following LDWF regional offices between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday to coordinate delivery or pickup of your sample.
Regional Office Phone Address
Baton Rouge 225.765.5030 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Hammond 985.543.4777 42371 Phyllis Ann Drive, Hammond, LA 70403
Lafayette 337.262.2080 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506
Lake Charles 337.491.2575 1025 Tom Watson Road, Lake Charles, LA 70615
Minden 318.371.3050 9961 Hwy 80, Minden, LA 71055
Monroe 318.343.4044 368 CenturyLink Dr, Monroe, LA 71203
Pineville 318.487.5885 1995 Shreveport Hwy Pineville, LA 71360
More information from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on CWD can be found HERE.
Questions? Contact Rick Owens, LWF’s Advocacy Manager, at rick@lawildlifefed.org for more information.