The Shadow
RICHMOND, Va. (VR) – The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) will conduct mandatory chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing on Saturday, Nov. 14, in seven Virginia counties.
Hunters who harvest deer in Bland, Grayson, Patrick, Shenandoah, Smyth, Tazewell and Wythe counties on Saturday will be required to submit their deer for testing at designated sampling stations.
Hunters can visit either a staffed sampling station or a self-service freezer location. Staffed stations will operate Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., while self-service freezers are available 24 hours a day.
Those visiting staffed stations must bring the entire deer carcass or the head with approximately three to four inches of neck attached. Hunters using self-service freezers must place the deer head in a provided bag and complete a data card.
Hunters planning to have their deer mounted by a taxidermist are encouraged to visit a staffed station before taking the animal to the taxidermist.
Mandatory sampling locations include:
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Bland County: Bland County Fairgrounds, 127 Fairground St., Bland (staffed); Bland Rescue Fire Station, 67 Orchard View Lane, Bland (self-service).
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Grayson County: Elk Creek Rescue Squad, 9109 Elk Creek Parkway, Elk Creek (staffed); Grayson Highlands State Park Shop, 67 Camille Lane, Mouth of Wilson (self-service).
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Patrick County: Howell’s Grocery, 139 Woolwine Highway, Stuart (staffed); Dominion Valley Park, Fairystone Farms Wildlife Management Area and Meadows of Dan Community Building (self-service).
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Shenandoah County: Larkin’s Grocery, 19004 Senedo Road, Edinburg (staffed); Virginia Department of Forestry, 265 Lakeview Drive, Woodstock (self-service).
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Smyth County: Atkins Volunteer Fire Department, 5758 Lee Highway, Atkins (staffed and self-service); Buller Fish Hatchery, 1724 Buller Hatchery Road, Marion (self-service).
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Tazewell County: Tazewell County Fairgrounds, 135 Fieldcrest Circle, Tazewell (staffed and self-service); Richlands Farmers Market, 1851 Cranwell Drive, Richlands (staffed).
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Wythe County: Wytheville Community College, Parking Lot F, 1000 East Main St., Wytheville (staffed); Rural Retreat Town Hall and Wytheville Fish Hatchery (self-service).
No other Virginia counties will require mandatory CWD testing during 2026, although voluntary testing remains available statewide.
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. The disease is caused by abnormal proteins known as prions, which can spread through saliva, urine, feces and contaminated soil.
According to DWR, CWD has not been shown to pose a health risk to humans or domestic animals, but the disease remains a serious concern for Virginia’s white-tailed deer population.
The disease was first detected in Virginia in 2009 and has since been confirmed in multiple counties across the Commonwealth.
During the 2025-2026 deer hunting season, DWR tested more than 7,800 deer and identified 126 positive cases. All positive detections occurred within established disease management areas.
State wildlife officials continue working with hunters, taxidermists and meat processors to monitor the disease and limit its spread.
Feeding deer is prohibited year-round in Virginia counties located within 25 miles of a confirmed CWD-positive deer.
Hunters can find additional information about testing requirements and voluntary sampling locations through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website at dwr.virginia.gov.
