Chronic Wasting Disease - Surveillance and Collection Sites
Select Drop-Off Time Period
I am dropping my elk, moose or deer head off:
Test Results
Test results can be expected within 4 weeks. When your results are available, you will receive a message in your Game and Fish account inbox.
Prior to Deer Gun Season
During the elk, moose and deer bow seasons, heads may be dropped off at one of the locations listed below.
If you wish to keep the head, you may also bring it to one of the district offices to be sampled during business hours.
A list of collection locations will be posted here prior to the 2025-26 season start.
Freezer Drop-Off Instructions
For sites with collection freezers, follow the general drop-off instructions in addition to the freezer specific instructions below.
(Note: Drop-off instructions can be found above and on each freezer as well.)
- Place tagged/labeled head in plastic bag (inside freezer) and knot.
- Place bag in freezer.
- Text or call 701-204-2161 to notify us that you have dropped off a head.
- Be sure to include the drop off location.
During Deer Gun Season
During and after the deer gun season, deer and elk heads may be dropped off at any of the deer gun season collection sites.
If you wish to keep the head, you may also bring it to one of the district offices to be sampled during business hours.
Drop-Off Instructions
Follow the general drop-off instructions below.
After the Deer Gun Season
After the deer gun season, heads may be dropped off at any Department district office or brought to the Wildlife Health Lab in Bismarck. If you are unable to drop off your head in one of those places, please call 701-204-2161 and we will arrange for your head to be sampled.
If you wish to keep the head, you may also bring it to one of the district offices to be sampled during business hours.
Drop-Off Instructions
Follow the general drop-off instructions below.
CWD Sampling Kit
If you would like to have your elk, moose or deer tested for CWD but want to keep the head or are unable to drop the head off at a collection site, you can use a CWD sampling kit to mail lymph nodes from your animal to the Department for testing.
Sampling kits are free.
General Drop-Off Instructions
Fawns and head-shot animals cannot be tested. If you are unsure of the age or condition of your animal, submit it and we will assess it.
- Remove head from carcass, leaving 4-6 inches of neck attached to the head.
- Remove antlers if you wish to keep them.
- The North Dakota Game and Fish carcass tag must stay with the meat.
- Ensure that North Dakota Game and Fish Department license tag is still attached to head or affix new, filled-out ID tag (available at site). UNLABELED HEADS CANNOT BE SAMPLED.
- Place tagged/labeled head in barrel.
Taxidermy Heads: After the cape and antlers are removed, affix new ID tag to the remainder of the skull and place in barrel.
European Mount Heads: Take the head to a North Dakota Game and Fish district office to be sampled.