Deer check stations for chronic wasting disease
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources needs your cooperation
Hunters will play an important role in chronic wasting disease surveillance happening this year at DWR check stations. During the first few days of the rifle hunt, we will be collecting deer tissue samples at a number of check stations across the state. Successful hunters who have harvested deer from this season's CWD sampling areas may bring tissue samples to be tested for CWD free of charge. Hunters who wish to test deer harvested from other units may send the deer's head to the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Logan or Spanish Fork and pay a $25 lab fee.
When you stop at a check station, agency staff will:
- Take lymph nodes from your deer (you will need to leave about 6 inches of the animal's neck and windpipe attached below the jaw so that we can remove the lymph nodes for the sample)
- Ask you a few questions, including the location where the deer was harvested
The entire process will take a few minutes, and your cooperation will help us monitor the disease and study its impact on the state's deer herds. Testing results will be available for you to view online within six weeks of sampling.
Chronic wasting disease — a degenerative neurological disease that affects deer, elk and moose — was first detected in Utah in 2002. As of Feb. 23, 2026, 435 mule deer and 11 elk have tested positive for CWD in Utah. Learn more about the disease and where it has been found in Utah.
Although there isn't proof that CWD poses a risk for human health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend the consumption of animals that test positive for CWD.
Check station locations (Fall 2026)
You can get your deer checked at the following locations during the hunting season:
Northern Utah
| Location | Dates and times |
|---|---|
| Highway 101 at the mouth of Blacksmith Fork Canyon in Hyrum | Oct. 17-18, from roughly 9 a.m. to dusk |
| Highway 39 at the mouth of Ogden Canyon in Ogden | Oct. 17-18, from roughly 9 a.m. to dusk |
| Westbound I-84 at the Mountain Green Rest Area | Oct. 17-18, from roughly 9 a.m. to dusk |
| DWR Ogden office 515 E. 5300 South Ogden, UT 84405 |
Oct. 19-23 and Oct. 26 (By appointment only. Call 801-476-2740 to make an appointment.) |
CWD tests are free for deer harvested from the Ogden, Morgan-South Rich, East Canyon and Kamas units. Call the DWR Ogden office at 801-476-2740 for more information.
Additional options for sample drop-offs in the Northern Region
The following locations are places you can drop off CWD sampling kits if you are participating in the Ogden any-legal-weapon hunt:
- Brigham Face WMA on the northwest side parking lot off Highway 89/91: 41.49534, -111.99385.
- Brigham Face WMA on the east side parking lot south of Mantua: 41.47003, -111.94303.
- North Ogden Divide Trailhead at the summit of the North Ogden Canyon Road: 411.32023, -111.89917.
- Juniper Meat Company at 8195 US-89 unit A in Willard.
- Champion Meats at 704 W. 4400 South in Riverdale.
- Southfork Chevron at 550 S. 7800 East in Huntsville.
- Henefer-Echo WMA Cemetery Access: 41.05911, -111.51446.
- Henefer-Echo WMA Fire Canyon Access: 41.00324, -111.47038.
- East Canyon State Park/WMA Golden Hills Entrance: 40.9265, -111.58714.
- The "B" Parking lot in Bountiful: 40.89567, -111.84509.
- The UDOT Parley Springs maintenance shed on westbound I-80 in Summit County at Mountain Dell.
- DWR Kamas Fish Hatchery at 2722 Highway 150 in Kamas.
- The Hardware WMA at Highway 101 and Ant Flat Road Intersection on Oct. 19-26.
- Highway 101 at the mouth of Blacksmith Fork Canyon in Hyrum on Oct. 19-26.
- The DWR Northern Region Office at 515 E. 5300 South in Ogden on Oct. 24-25.
Northeastern Utah
| Location | Dates and times |
|---|---|
| DWR Vernal office 318 N. Vernal Ave. Vernal, UT 84078 |
Oct. 19-23, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (By appointment only. Call 435-781-9453 to schedule an appointment.) |
| Just north of Vernal on U.S. Highway 191 at the Steinaker Reservoir rest stop (near mile marker 358) | Oct. 17-18, from roughly 9 a.m. to dark |
| For hunters in the Book Cliffs: At the intersection of Highway 88 and 5500 South in Randlett | Oct. 18-19, from roughly 9 a.m. to dark |
CWD tests are free for deer harvested from the Book Cliffs, Vernal/Bonanza and Diamond Mountain units. Call the DWR Vernal office at 435-781-9453 for more information.
Hunters can also call the DWR Vernal office for a list of taxidermists and meat processors in the area that will also take CWD samples, along with processing the meat or doing taxidermy work.
Central Utah
| Location | Dates and times |
|---|---|
| Spanish Fork Canyon (near the Covered Bridge community) | Oct. 17-19, from roughly 9 a.m. to dark |
| Santaquin (exit 242 toward Summit Ridge Parkway, east side of I-15) | Oct. 17-19, from roughly 9 a.m. to dark |
| DWR Springville office 1115 N. Main St. Springville, UT 84663 |
Oct. 20-23 (By appointment only. Call 801-491-5678 to make an appointment.) |
| DWR Salt Lake office 1594 W. North Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84116 |
Oct. 20-23 (By appointment only. Call 385-835-2729 to make an appointment.) |
CWD tests are free for deer harvested from the Manti, Nebo and Oquirrh/Tintic units. Call the DWR Springville office at 801-491-5678 for more information.
Hunters can also call the DWR Springville office for a list of taxidermists and meat processors in the area that will also take CWD samples, along with processing the meat or doing taxidermy work.
Southeastern Utah
| Location | Dates and times |
|---|---|
| Spanish Fork Canyon (near the Covered Bridge community) | Oct. 18-19 and 24-25, from roughly 10 a.m. to dark |
| Monticello Utah Welcome Center 216 S. Main St. Monticello, UT 84535 |
Oct. 18-19 and 24-25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Monson's Quality Meat Processing 885 E. Pinion Ridge Road Blanding, UT 84511 |
Oct. 18-19 and 24-25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| DWR Price office 319 N. Carbonville Road Suite A Price, UT 84501 |
By appointment only. Call 435-613-3700 to make an appointment. |
CWD tests are free for deer harvested from the Manti; San Juan, Abajo Mtns; and San Juan, Elk Ridge units. Call the DWR Price office at 435-613-3700 for more information.
Southern Utah
| Location | Dates and times |
|---|---|
| DWR Cedar City office 1470 N. Airport Road Cedar City, UT 84721 |
By appointment only. Call 435-865-6100 to make an appointment. |
CWD tests are free for deer harvested from the Beaver (East and West), Fillmore, Panguitch Lake, Paunsaugunt and Zion units. Call the DWR Cedar City office at 435-865-6100 for more information.
Hunters can also call the DWR Cedar City office for a list of taxidermists and meat processors in the area that will also take CWD samples, along with processing the meat or doing taxidermy work.
Note: Permit holders for the Beaver, Fillmore, Panguitch Lake, Paunsaugunt and Zion units will receive an email with information about locations and phone numbers to call for an appointment.
If you have questions, please contact a division office.