Fish and Game is committed to making compliance as easy as possible for hunters in the Unit 1 CWD management zone

After chronic wasting disease was detected in three white-tailed deer near Bonners Ferry, a portion of Unit 1 was designated as a CWD management zone effective Oct. 1. During the 2024 hunting season, three additional white-tailed deer also tested positive for CWD within the management zone.

What hunters need to know

Hunters in any Idaho CWD management zone must follow additional rules.

• Mandatory testing: CWD testing is required for all hunter-harvested mule deer and white-tailed deer.
• Carcass transport: It is unlawful to move a whole carcass of a deer, elk or moose outside the boundaries of a CWD management zone.

Full details on mandatory sampling and carcass transport rules are available on the Idaho Fish and Game website or in a recent press release.

Making compliance easier

As in previous years, Fish and Game staff in the Panhandle Region are prepared to help hunters meet the additional rules.

• More drop-off options: Freezers and head barrels for deer, elk or moose samples are more widely distributed than before. Within the Unit 1 CWD management zone alone, hunters will find three freezers and six head barrels. Locations across the Panhandle are posted on the CWD sample drop-off webpage.

These are self-service sites. Please follow the posted instructions carefully and fill out all requested information with a pencil (ink often becomes illegible when wet). Samples with incomplete or unreadable information may not be testable.

• Sampling site in Bonners Ferry: Fish and Game staff will operate a sampling site at the Boundary County Search and Rescue overflow boat launch parking area. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates:
  • October 11, 12, 18 and 25
  • November 1, 8, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30
  • December 1, 2, 6 and 13

Hunters can bring their harvested animals for sampling during these times.

Interested in learning how to collect your own sample? On these same dates, staff will hold short demonstrations at the site. Hunters can bring in deer heads for hands-on training or simply observe and ask questions.

• Check stations: Regular check stations will be staffed as usual, and CWD samples will be collected there as well.
  • Oct. 11–12 (10 a.m. to sunset): Enaville (North Fork Coeur d’Alene River Road pull-off) and St. Joe River (one mile east of St. Maries on St. Joe River Road).
  • Nov. 15–16 and 22–23 (10 a.m. to sunset): Priest River weigh station (State Highway 57) and St. Maries weigh station (south on State Highway 3).

Hunters can also request a free sample kit from any Fish and Game Regional Office or by filling out the online request form: https://idfg.idaho.gov/cwd/sampling-kit-request.

Getting your results

CWD test results are typically available in 4–6 weeks. Hunters who submit samples at a site, check station or regional office will receive a card with a unique barcode. This number can be entered on the Fish and Game sample results webpage for status updates and final results. Hunters will only be contacted if their sample tests positive.

Learn more

The Fish and Game CWD webpage includes additional resources and videos:

• CWD sampling locations
• How to collect a sample for CWD testing
• Sample collection photos
• Fish and Game CWD sampling video

Please contact the Panhandle Regional office at (208) 769-1414 with questions or concerns.

You can also follow the Panhandle Region Facebook page to get regular news and updates.