The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has partnered with taxidermists throughout the state to have deer tested for chronic wasting disease.
While testing is voluntary other than during the three-day early archery season, the department urges hunters to have their deer tested as the data helps in the fight to slow the spread of the disease.
The disease is always fatal in deer and although there has been no known case of it spreading to humans, the CDC warns against consuming infected deer. So, hunters should know if their deer is infected as well.
Since the disease was first detected in Mississippi in 2018, 318 cases have been found in the state as of September 2024 .
Here are the participating taxidermists who, at hunter’s request, will collect tissue samples from deer to be mounted and have them tested. There is no cost to the hunter for tissue sample collection and testing.
More: Mississippi deer season 2024-25: Where to take tissue samples for CWD testing