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Chronic wasting disease
Wisconsin CWD Counties, Testing and Carcass Rules
CWD has been found in wild deer and captive deer/elk in Wisconsin since 2002 (first positives from Dane County, 2001 hunt). As of April 2026, almost 353,000 deer tested with over 16,400 positives. CWD year 2025 (Apr. 1, 2025-Mar. 31, 2026): 18,361 sampled, 2,040 positive (Southern Farmland 1,759; Central Farmland 274; Central Forest 2; Northern Forest 5). First wild positives in Clark and La Crosse counties in the 2025 season. First wild positive in Marinette County (3-year-old buck near Peshtigo) confirmed Oct. 22, 2026; the Marinette baiting and feeding ban is extended three more years (DNR release https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/131431, checked 2026-10-28).
Photo: NPS Photo (Public domain)
Wisconsin no longer prints a separate CWD-affected county list in its regulations; what follows a detection is the deer baiting and feeding ban, which state law sets at 36 months for a county with a CWD or TB positive and 24 months for counties within 10 miles of one. The DNR CWD summary shows 51 counties with at least one CWD-positive wild deer since 1999, 41 of them in CWD year 2025 (April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026). Testing is voluntary and free, and the DNR especially wants samples from its 2026 fall priority areas. Captive deer and elk positives are tracked by DATCP and are not in these figures.
CWD year 2025 by deer zone
| Zone | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| Central Farmland | 8,432 | 274 |
| Central Forest | 201 | 2 |
| Northern Forest | 1,693 | 5 |
| Southern Farmland | 8,002 | 1,759 |
| Unknown | 33 | 0 |
All years by deer zone
| Zone | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| Central Farmland Zone | 84,886 | 718 |
| Central Forest Zone | 9,077 | 105 |
| Northern Forest Zone | 37,897 | 20 |
| Southern Farmland Zone | 219,153 | 15,681 |
| Unknown Zone | 3,068 | 9 |
DNR CWD summary (data released through Oct. 18, 2026), CWD in Wisconsin 2025, checked October 19, 2026.
CWD sampling and positives by year
Year totals are the sum of the DNR county rows; CWD year 2026 is in progress.
| CWD year | Sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (in progress) | 1,278 | 131 |
| 2025 | 18,370 | 2,041 |
| 2024 | 17,414 | 1,788 |
| 2023 | 17,345 | 1,587 |
| 2022 | 17,207 | 1,492 |
| 2021 | 17,149 | 1,327 |
| 2020 | 18,922 | 1,578 |
| 2019 | 19,369 | 1,338 |
| 2018 | 17,219 | 1,064 |
| 2017 | 9,895 | 603 |
| 2016 | 6,137 | 448 |
| 2015 | 3,144 | 300 |
CWD summary by county and year, summed here across counties, checked October 19, 2026.
CWD sampling by county
Every county with a sample on record; "Yes" marks the 41 counties with a positive wild deer in CWD year 2025. First wild positives in Clark and La Crosse came in the 2025 season.
| County | Wild positive | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 (partial) | Sampled since 1999 | Positive since 1999 | Baiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | Yes | 306 / 20 | 343 / 23 | 424 / 41 | 408 / 53 | 26 / 4 | 5,658 | 200 | Banned |
| Ashland | None | 18 / 0 | 18 / 0 | 18 / 0 | 20 / 0 | 2 / 0 | 835 | 0 | Allowed |
| Barron | None | 106 / 0 | 136 / 0 | 119 / 0 | 155 / 0 | 37 / 0 | 2,338 | 0 | Banned |
| Bayfield | None | 108 / 0 | 80 / 0 | 70 / 0 | 84 / 0 | 4 / 0 | 2,155 | 0 | Allowed |
| Brown | None | 126 / 0 | 82 / 0 | 54 / 0 | 70 / 0 | 6 / 0 | 968 | 0 | Allowed |
| Buffalo | Yes | 238 / 4 | 420 / 4 | 360 / 9 | 397 / 17 | 39 / 2 | 4,034 | 36 | Banned |
| Burnett | None | 187 / 0 | 152 / 0 | 144 / 0 | 130 / 0 | 9 / 0 | 3,047 | 0 | Allowed |
| Calumet | None | 20 / 0 | 26 / 0 | 21 / 0 | 22 / 0 | 2 / 0 | 373 | 0 | Banned |
| Chippewa | Earlier | 133 / 0 | 115 / 0 | 105 / 1 | 162 / 0 | 3 / 0 | 2,024 | 1 | Banned |
| Clark | Yes | 189 / 0 | 166 / 0 | 165 / 0 | 127 / 2 | 9 / 0 | 2,695 | 2 | Banned |
| Columbia | Yes | 477 / 93 | 534 / 112 | 595 / 129 | 616 / 169 | 44 / 14 | 9,739 | 824 | Banned |
| Crawford | Yes | 438 / 28 | 498 / 37 | 539 / 60 | 623 / 82 | 21 / 4 | 5,216 | 267 | Banned |
| Dane | Yes | 1,016 / 198 | 941 / 171 | 964 / 166 | 1,002 / 193 | 64 / 13 | 36,578 | 2,116 | Banned |
| Dodge | Yes | 113 / 3 | 136 / 4 | 169 / 4 | 215 / 8 | 20 / 1 | 3,380 | 25 | Banned |
| Door | None | 40 / 0 | 48 / 0 | 36 / 0 | 32 / 0 | 4 / 0 | 1,120 | 0 | Allowed |
| Douglas | None | 71 / 0 | 60 / 0 | 56 / 0 | 63 / 0 | 1 / 0 | 1,608 | 0 | Allowed |
| Dunn | Yes | 345 / 1 | 274 / 1 | 318 / 2 | 357 / 7 | 24 / 0 | 3,643 | 15 | Banned |
| Eau Claire | Yes | 310 / 2 | 263 / 9 | 224 / 6 | 219 / 10 | 13 / 0 | 3,366 | 41 | Banned |
| Florence | None | 37 / 0 | 43 / 0 | 38 / 0 | 34 / 0 | 2 / 0 | 1,255 | 0 | Banned |
| Fond du Lac | Yes | 103 / 0 | 141 / 0 | 125 / 3 | 110 / 2 | 13 / 1 | 1,246 | 7 | Banned |
| Forest | None | 36 / 0 | 39 / 0 | 43 / 0 | 37 / 0 | 5 / 0 | 827 | 0 | Banned |
| Grant | Yes | 479 / 78 | 489 / 89 | 389 / 84 | 396 / 82 | 10 / 1 | 9,043 | 621 | Banned |
| Green | Yes | 196 / 37 | 191 / 37 | 173 / 53 | 188 / 50 | 6 / 1 | 4,582 | 310 | Banned |
| Green Lake | Yes | 304 / 0 | 322 / 3 | 263 / 11 | 216 / 5 | 16 / 1 | 2,470 | 22 | Banned |
| Iowa | Yes | 934 / 264 | 885 / 243 | 694 / 175 | 724 / 170 | 34 / 12 | 54,695 | 4,732 | Banned |
| Iron | None | 55 / 0 | 25 / 0 | 23 / 0 | 26 / 0 | 2 / 0 | 832 | 0 | Allowed |
| Jackson | Yes | 204 / 0 | 225 / 2 | 213 / 1 | 198 / 1 | 19 / 0 | 3,127 | 4 | Banned |
| Jefferson | Yes | 167 / 4 | 175 / 10 | 170 / 12 | 191 / 16 | 20 / 0 | 8,499 | 69 | Banned |
| Juneau | Yes | 299 / 24 | 322 / 35 | 360 / 56 | 370 / 61 | 39 / 3 | 4,925 | 224 | Banned |
| Kenosha | Yes | 29 / 1 | 24 / 0 | 24 / 3 | 35 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1,320 | 7 | Banned |
| Kewaunee | None | 12 / 0 | 12 / 0 | 19 / 0 | 21 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 631 | 0 | Allowed |
| La Crosse | Yes | 139 / 0 | 159 / 0 | 140 / 0 | 154 / 1 | 19 / 2 | 2,083 | 3 | Banned |
| Lafayette | Yes | 188 / 40 | 173 / 44 | 141 / 37 | 158 / 49 | 2 / 0 | 4,067 | 319 | Banned |
| Langlade | Earlier | 144 / 1 | 169 / 0 | 159 / 0 | 145 / 0 | 6 / 0 | 2,176 | 1 | Banned |
| Lincoln | Earlier | 166 / 0 | 164 / 0 | 148 / 0 | 152 / 0 | 9 / 0 | 2,880 | 1 | Banned |
| Manitowoc | Earlier | 57 / 0 | 63 / 0 | 58 / 1 | 191 / 0 | 10 / 0 | 1,554 | 1 | Banned |
| Marathon | Yes | 513 / 2 | 431 / 1 | 535 / 1 | 554 / 2 | 53 / 1 | 5,677 | 8 | Banned |
| Marinette | Earlier | 302 / 0 | 180 / 0 | 185 / 0 | 183 / 0 | 13 / 1 | 3,162 | 1 | Banned |
| Marquette | Yes | 515 / 5 | 578 / 6 | 568 / 26 | 559 / 45 | 26 / 6 | 5,015 | 99 | Banned |
| Menominee | Earlier | 16 / 0 | – | 8 / 1 | 64 / 0 | 2 / 2 | 155 | 3 | Banned |
| Milwaukee | Earlier | 20 / 0 | 21 / 0 | 15 / 0 | 7 / 0 | 3 / 0 | 536 | 1 | Banned |
| Monroe | Yes | 560 / 4 | 676 / 7 | 711 / 19 | 736 / 37 | 39 / 3 | 6,038 | 73 | Banned |
| Oconto | Yes | 194 / 0 | 157 / 0 | 179 / 1 | 168 / 2 | 3 / 1 | 2,426 | 5 | Banned |
| Oneida | Yes | 443 / 1 | 421 / 0 | 361 / 3 | 437 / 5 | 36 / 1 | 5,365 | 14 | Banned |
| Outagamie | None | 66 / 0 | 81 / 0 | 65 / 0 | 87 / 0 | 2 / 0 | 1,184 | 0 | Banned |
| Ozaukee | None | 56 / 0 | 56 / 0 | 52 / 0 | 65 / 0 | 4 / 0 | 650 | 0 | Banned |
| Pepin | None | 41 / 0 | 52 / 0 | 54 / 0 | 61 / 0 | 4 / 0 | 809 | 0 | Banned |
| Pierce | Yes | 59 / 0 | 57 / 0 | 140 / 2 | 123 / 2 | 9 / 0 | 1,247 | 4 | Banned |
| Polk | Yes | 174 / 0 | 252 / 1 | 265 / 2 | 340 / 2 | 32 / 0 | 3,006 | 5 | Banned |
| Portage | Yes | 388 / 2 | 401 / 2 | 434 / 2 | 465 / 3 | 40 / 0 | 5,979 | 18 | Banned |
| Price | None | 61 / 0 | 47 / 0 | 39 / 0 | 42 / 0 | 5 / 0 | 1,757 | 0 | Allowed |
| Racine | Yes | 46 / 2 | 34 / 2 | 46 / 1 | 39 / 6 | 1 / 0 | 1,565 | 12 | Banned |
| Richland | Yes | 1,394 / 375 | 1,257 / 382 | 1,347 / 448 | 1,198 / 428 | 57 / 22 | 22,195 | 2,927 | Banned |
| Rock | Yes | 118 / 15 | 153 / 31 | 161 / 32 | 195 / 45 | 28 / 4 | 9,347 | 312 | Banned |
| Rusk | None | 70 / 0 | 88 / 0 | 55 / 0 | 53 / 0 | 1 / 0 | 1,690 | 0 | Allowed |
| Sauk | Yes | 866 / 228 | 858 / 247 | 848 / 278 | 872 / 288 | 66 / 17 | 23,859 | 2,530 | Banned |
| Sawyer | None | 81 / 0 | 95 / 0 | 57 / 0 | 60 / 0 | 4 / 0 | 1,917 | 0 | Allowed |
| Shawano | Yes | 350 / 1 | 336 / 2 | 351 / 3 | 457 / 6 | 53 / 0 | 4,475 | 13 | Banned |
| Sheboygan | Yes | 170 / 1 | 170 / 0 | 177 / 0 | 154 / 2 | 7 / 0 | 2,417 | 4 | Banned |
| St. Croix | None | 94 / 0 | 78 / 0 | 119 / 0 | 132 / 0 | 7 / 0 | 1,431 | 0 | Banned |
| Taylor | None | 174 / 0 | 83 / 0 | 54 / 0 | 45 / 0 | 5 / 0 | 1,770 | 0 | Allowed |
| Trempealeau | Yes | 183 / 0 | 288 / 4 | 239 / 6 | 289 / 12 | 24 / 0 | 2,875 | 22 | Banned |
| Vernon | Yes | 637 / 31 | 712 / 47 | 807 / 79 | 850 / 120 | 61 / 13 | 8,319 | 347 | Banned |
| Vilas | Earlier | 292 / 0 | 234 / 0 | 272 / 1 | 221 / 0 | 31 / 0 | 3,270 | 2 | Banned |
| Walworth | Yes | 96 / 12 | 120 / 18 | 141 / 18 | 135 / 27 | 15 / 0 | 7,764 | 182 | Banned |
| Washburn | Earlier | 206 / 0 | 180 / 0 | 196 / 0 | 209 / 0 | 26 / 0 | 4,434 | 1 | Banned |
| Washington | Earlier | 146 / 0 | 118 / 1 | 142 / 0 | 172 / 0 | 2 / 0 | 1,827 | 2 | Banned |
| Waukesha | Yes | 319 / 11 | 348 / 8 | 268 / 5 | 317 / 26 | 17 / 1 | 5,973 | 78 | Banned |
| Waupaca | Yes | 270 / 2 | 356 / 0 | 288 / 1 | 331 / 1 | 13 / 0 | 3,482 | 4 | Banned |
| Waushara | Yes | 201 / 0 | 223 / 1 | 318 / 3 | 312 / 2 | 38 / 0 | 3,288 | 6 | Banned |
| Winnebago | Earlier | 60 / 1 | 76 / 0 | 86 / 0 | 66 / 0 | 3 / 0 | 786 | 1 | Banned |
| Wood | Yes | 201 / 1 | 184 / 0 | 241 / 0 | 292 / 1 | 9 / 0 | 2,733 | 3 | Banned |
CWD summary by county, baiting and feeding counties, checked October 19, 2026. Cells are sampled / positive for each CWD year; a dash means no samples that year.
Wisconsin CWD rules for hunters
Testing is free and voluntary everywhere; the Deer Donation Program sets its own testing tiers by county of harvest.
How to test a deer
Not required but recommended; free via self-service kiosks (head with 5 in. of neck), cooperating processors/taxidermists, at-home lymph node kits, or DNR appointments; results ~2 weeks; register first, then sample (online CWD form in Go Wild). Priority areas for 2026 on the DNR map.
Replacement tags
CWD-positive deer earn a replacement authorization (statewide buck for antlered; same-unit either-sex for antlerless), valid rest of season and next season.
Carcass disposal
Landfill is safest; deer carcass waste dumpsters statewide but fewer in 2026 due to budget; alternatives include municipal curbside pickup where allowed, transfer stations, or returning the carcass to the harvest location and burying.
Moving a carcass
See DNR Carcass Movement, Processing and Disposal page for current restrictions; check other states' cervid import rules.
Eating venison
DHS recommends not eating venison from CWD-affected areas until test results show CWD not detected; cooking does not deactivate prions.
Elk
Baiting and feeding elk prohibited; all harvested elk sampled for CWD.
Deer Donation testing tiers
Test all deer: Adams, Buffalo, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lafayette, Marquette, Monroe, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth and Waukesha. Test adult deer: Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Fond du Lac, Jackson, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Shawano, Sheboygan, Vilas, Washington, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood. No test required: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Calumet, Door, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Kewaunee, Marinette, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Price, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn.
CWD regulations, Deer Donation Program, checked October 19, 2026.
Wisconsin CWD questions
Is CWD testing mandatory in Wisconsin?
No. It is voluntary and free statewide, through kiosks, cooperating processors and taxidermists, at-home lymph node kits or DNR appointments.
How many Wisconsin counties have CWD?
51 counties have had at least one CWD-positive wild deer since 1999; 41 had one in CWD year 2025.
How many deer tested positive in 2025?
2,040 of 18,361 wild deer sampled in CWD year 2025, 1,759 of them in the Southern Farmland Zone.
Do I get a new tag if my deer has CWD?
CWD-positive deer earn a replacement authorization (statewide buck for antlered; same-unit either-sex for antlerless), valid rest of season and next season.
How long do CWD test results take?
Typically about two weeks, posted in Go Wild or on the DNR CWD results page.
Where do I put a deer carcass in Wisconsin?
Landfill is safest; deer carcass waste dumpsters statewide but fewer in 2026 due to budget; alternatives include municipal curbside pickup where allowed, transfer stations, or returning the carcass to the harvest location and burying.
Should I eat venison from a CWD county?
DHS recommends not eating venison from CWD-affected areas until test results show CWD not detected; cooking does not deactivate prions.
Does CWD change baiting rules?
Yes. A CWD or TB positive puts a county under a 36-month baiting and feeding ban, and counties within 10 miles under a 24-month ban.
After the CWD rules
See which counties ban deer baiting and feeding, and check your deer unit page for CWD sampling in its counties.