Counties include Allen, Hardin and parts of Hancock / Photo provided

FROM ODNR__Hunters in Ohio’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance area have additional dates this season to pursue white-tailed deer. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife announced that archery hunting season begins Saturday, Sept. 12, and early gun hunting season is open from Saturday, Oct. 10 to Monday, Oct. 12 in this specific area. 

For the 2026-27 hunting season, the disease surveillance area includes all of Allen, Hardin, Marion, and Wyandot counties; Bucyrus, Dallas, Holmes, and Tod townships in Crawford County; Marlboro, Oxford, and Troy townships in Delaware County; Delaware, Madison, and Van Buren townships in Hancock County; Westfield Township in Morrow County; and Claibourne and Jackson townships in Union County. The Division of Wildlife established earlier hunting seasons within the disease surveillance area to slow the spread of CWD by reducing deer numbers before the breeding season.

CWD is a fatal brain disease that impacts members of the deer family including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose and caribou. Since the fall of 2020, 118 wild deer in Ohio have tested positive for CWD, all in Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Marion, Seneca, and Wyandot counties. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no strong evidence that CWD is transmissible to humans.

Hunters are required to have a valid hunting license and deer permit to hunt, unless exempted. In the disease surveillance area, deer management permits and either-sex deer permits are valid starting Saturday, Sept. 12. Deer management permits may be used to hunt antlerless deer only and are valid on both public hunting areas and on private land throughout the deer season. Check the 2026-27 Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information.

CWD sampling is required for all deer harvested in the disease surveillance area Oct. 10-11 and Nov. 30-Dec. 1. Staffed locations will be available during the mandatory sampling days at the addresses below:

• Hardin County Fairgrounds: 14134 County Rd 140, Kenton, OH 43326 
• Hog Creek Game Club: 11851 Stemple Rd, Ada, OH 45810 
• Allen County Sportsmen and Farmers Association: 1001 S. Kemp Rd, Lima, OH 45806

Participation in testing is voluntary outside of the four mandatory days noted above. Hunters both inside and outside a surveillance area may drop their deer off at self-serve kiosks for testing throughout the deer season. A complete list of kiosk locations is available at ohiodnr.gov/cwd. Instructions for sample submission will be provided at the kiosk. Successful hunters are not required to surrender their deer.

Outside the disease surveillance area, any hunter who wishes to have a deer tested may submit their deer for testing at a kiosk or contact the Division of Wildlife’s CWD Hotline at 419-429-8322. Hunters may also test a harvested deer at the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for a fee. Call (614) 728-6220 for more information. 

In addition to mandatory testing, the following regulations apply within the disease surveillance area: 

• The placement of or use of bait (salt, minerals, or any food) to attract or feed deer, as well as the hunting of deer by the aid of bait, is prohibited. Normal agricultural activities, including feeding of domestic animals, as well as hunting deer over food plots, naturally occurring or cultivated plants, and agriculture crops, are not prohibited. 

• The removal of a complete carcass or high-risk parts from the disease surveillance area is prohibited unless the carcass complies with deer carcass regulations, or the carcass is delivered to a certified taxidermist or processor within 24 hours of leaving the area. 

 
The proper handling of carcasses, trims, and parts dramatically decreases the risk of spreading disease. Hunters should properly dispose of deer carcasses by double-bagging all high-risk parts (brain, spinal cord, eyes, and lymphoid tissue) and setting them out with their household garbage for trash pickup, when permitted by waste disposal facilities. Those without trash pickup may double-bag the carcass and take it to a municipal solid waste landfill or bury the carcass at least 3 feet deep on the property of harvest. The Division of Wildlife provides dumpsters in the disease surveillance area for proper carcass disposal. Additional information on carcass regulations, carcass disposal locations, and a complete list of certified processors and taxidermists may be found at ohiodnr.gov/cwd. 

The Division of Wildlife has conducted routine surveillance for CWD since 2002, with more than 58,000 deer tested. The Division of Wildlife is responsible for protecting and managing Ohio’s fish and wildlife resources for the benefit of all Ohioans. We greatly appreciate the cooperation of hunters in monitoring Ohio’s deer herd. For more information about CWD, visit wildohio.gov, contact your county wildlife officer, or call (419) 429-8322.