CWD testing will be available to deer and elk hunters again this year, but it will not be mandatory in northeastern Colorado. CWD testing for moose will be mandatory statewide.
Deer and elk hunters are reminded that chronic wasting disease testing is no longer mandatory in northeastern Colorado. Hunters who want to submit deer and elk heads for CWD testing may do so on a voluntary basis, with each test costing $15.
“The Colorado Wildlife Commission lifted mandatory chronic wasting disease testing requirements for northeastern Colorado,” said Kathi Green, statewide disease management coordinator for the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW). “Testing is still available on a voluntary basis, not only for northeastern Colorado, but statewide as well.”
Researchers who track the disease indicated last winter to the Colorado Wildlife Commission that voluntary testing should provide enough samples to evaluate the disease in deer and elk herds in northeastern Colorado. They based their recommendations on information gleaned from submission rates in other areas where testing was voluntary during the previous two hunting seasons.
Northeastern Colorado submission sites are open for deer and elk submissions seven days a week at the Denver and Fort Collins DOW service centers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Aug. 28-Nov. 7 and weekdays only 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. after Nov. 7. Cash, checks and major credit cards are accepted for payment. The Denver Service Center and headquarters is located at 6060 Broadway; the Fort Collins Service Center is located at 317 W. Prospect Road.
In addition, the DOW’s Brush Service Center at 122 E. Edison is open 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30-4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and from 2-6 p.m. on the following weekend dates: Oct. 3, 10, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31; Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28; Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 19, 26. Two mobile collection stations will also accept deer and elk submissions from hunters at these sites, dates and times:
- Sedalia:: West Douglas County Fire District, Station #134, 4037 Platte Ave.; Oct. 9-Nov. 10, Saturday through Wednesday only, 8-10 a.m.
- Lyons:: Ted’s True Value Hardware, 4100 Ute Highway; Oct. 9-Nov. 10, Saturday through Wednesday only, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
- Sterling:: Dune Ridge State Wildlife Area, County Road 370, South of Highway 6; Oct. 23-Nov. 2 and Dec. 4-15, Saturdays through Wednesdays only, 2-4 p.m.
- Crook: Tamarack State Wildlife Area, Highway 55, north of Interstate 76; Oct. 23-Nov. 2 and Dec. 4-15, Saturdays through Wednesdays only, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
In select game management units south and west of the Denver metropolitan area, chronic wasting disease testing fees for deer will be waived in an effort to encourage hunters to submit animals for testing. Those units include: GMUs 39, 391, 46, 461, 51, 104.
Testing requirements for moose remain mandatory statewide. All moose harvested by hunters must be submitted within five days for free testing at any DOW chronic wasting disease submission site.
For a statewide list of DOW submission sites and hours, including private veterinarian sites (where samples can be collected for an additional fee), visit http://wildlife.state.co.us/CWD or call (303) 291-7CWD for a recorded message or (303) 297-1192 to talk to a customer service representative.