BOZEMAN – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff in Bozeman will be available to help youth hunters learn how to sample their harvested deer for chronic wasting disease at the conclusion of Montana’s two-day youth deer hunt.  

The CWD sampling station at FWP’s Bozeman office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, and the station will have extended hours on Friday, Oct. 21, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sampling stations provide FWP staff to help hunters collect and submit samples for CWD testing, which is paid for by FWP.  

Montana’s special two-day youth deer hunt is Oct. 20 and 21 and is open to youth hunters ages 10 to 15 who have taken hunter education or who are enrolled in the apprentice hunter program.  

Hunters who would like help collecting samples are asked to bring their harvested animal unfrozen with at least 3 inches of neck attached, as well as a knife. Hunters will also be asked to provide the location coordinates of their harvest to help with CWD monitoring.   



CWD is a contagious neurological disease that infects deer, elk and moose. It is always fatal, and there is no known cure. It was first detected in Montana’s wild herds in 2017.  

CWD sample submission is voluntary throughout Montana. If hunters want their harvested animal sampled, they can submit samples themselves by following steps listed at fwp.mt.gov/CWD or by visiting a CWD sampling station.  

CWD sampling stations will be operated in various locations in Montana. For more information about sampling station hours and locations, and other information about CWD in Montana, visit fwp.mt.gov/CWD.