Read this important notice
CWD information on this page and pages linked to it applies to the 2023 season and may be outdated.
CWD information for the 2024 season will be available on Aug. 1.
Learn about CWD, its history and how it is spread on our background page.
Know the requirements for your deer permit area
Use the numbers of the deer permit areas in which you hunt to determine what disease management measures you must follow.
That's the best way to do your part to help DNR combat CWD and keep Minnesota's wild deer healthy.
Find the requirements for your DPA
Already know your DPA
The easiest way to gather the information you need for your hunt is to find your DPA on our make a plan page.
Another way is use the interactive CWD map. There you'll find DPA and CWD surveillance area boundaries, sampling stations where harvested deer can be tested and deer harvest location lookup.
Disease designations
Management zones: DPAs 604, 605, 643 (was 343), 644 (was 344), 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655, 661, 679, 684 (was 184) have the most restrictive measures in place.
Surveillance zones: DPAs 101, 110, 197, 201, 233, 255, 256, 257, 259, 260, 262, 263, 265, 268, 287, 293, 341, 342 and portions of DPA 169 have the least restrictive disease management measures. Precautionary management actions are place in these DPAs to detect an infection early.
Information & resources
Chronic wasting disease, commonly referred to as CWD, is a fatal neurological disease that affects cervids, including white-tailed deer. It is found globally and in about half of the states in the U.S. CWD remains relatively rare in Minnesota but is a concern as there is no known cure.
The DNR's management actions are in place to help limit its spread.
