Nebraska Offers Free Mail-In CWD Test Kits for Deer in Eight Units

Nebraska Game and Parks is offering free mail-in chronic wasting disease sampling kits to deer hunters in eight units for the 2026 seasons, Hunting Life reports. The testing is part of the agency's ongoing monitoring of the disease.

Key points

• Units: The testing zone covers the archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons in the Upper Platte, Plains, Pine Ridge, Sandhills, Platte, Frenchman, Buffalo and Republican units.
• Deadlines: Hunters who plan to Telecheck their deer can order a kit through Dec. 25, and samples are accepted through Jan. 31.
• Ordering: Hunters search "CWD" at OutdoorNebraska.gov and fill out the request form with their deer management unit and permit number, or pick up a kit at agency offices in Alliance, Kearney or North Platte.
• Handling: Kits arrive by mail in three to seven business days with a free return label. Deer should be sampled within three days of harvest, kept frozen until mailing, and not shipped on a Friday or Saturday.
• In person: Firearm hunters in the Upper Platte, Plains, Pine Ridge and Sandhills units can have deer sampled at participating check stations Nov. 14 to 22.

Quick take

According to the report, testing and results cost nothing for hunters who use a kit or bring a deer to a check station. Hunters outside the zone can pay to have a deer tested at veterinary diagnostic centers in Nebraska, Kansas or Wyoming, with details on the agency's Chronic Wasting Disease page.

Read the full story at Hunting Life.