The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is reminding hunters that, under state law, anyone traveling to or from a hunting area this fall must stop at a department check station, even if no animal has been harvested. The purpose of these checkpoints is to gather critical information that helps wildlife officials monitor and control disease in the state’s deer populations.
Why check stations matter
According to department officials, the agency has identified several target areas across the state for disease surveillance. In these zones, game wardens will ask hunters who pass through a check station to provide a small, voluntary sample – typically a few lymph nodes taken from the neck of a harvested deer. The samples are then sent to a state laboratory for testing.
“We have around the state different target areas for disease surveillance where we make a big push in certain herd units to try to get as many samples as possible to give us a good prevalence level for that disease,” a spokesperson explained. “In the Sheridan area, a lot of hunt areas this year for deer are going to be target areas.”
Voluntary, not mandatory
The department emphasizes that sampling is voluntary. While some locations in Wyoming require mandatory sampling for specific diseases, the current effort in the Sheridan region is described as “targeted,” meaning officials are working with hunters to collect as many samples as possible without imposing a legal requirement to submit tissue.
“It is voluntary. There are some places in the state that have mandatory sampling. We don’t have mandatory. We have what we say is targeted, meaning we’re going to work with hunters to get as many samples as possible,” the spokesperson said.
How the process works
When a hunter arrives at a check station, a Game and Fish employee will ask a few quick questions about the hunt, such as the exact location where the animal was harvested. Providing precise location data helps the agency map disease prevalence more accurately.
If the hunter is within a target area, the employee may request a small tissue sample. The collection takes only a couple of minutes and involves removing a few lymph nodes from the neck of the harvested deer. The sample is then sealed and sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Protecting wildlife and hunters
Early detection of diseases like chronic wasting disease (CWD) is essential for protecting both wildlife populations and the hunting tradition that many Wyoming families cherish. By gathering a robust data set, the department can make informed decisions about management actions, such as adjusting harvest limits or implementing additional safety measures.
“One thing that’s really important is as specific as possible where you harvested the animal. And we will get all of that sent to the lab,” the spokesperson added, underscoring the collaborative nature of the effort.
What hunters should do
Hunters heading to or from any Wyoming hunting area this fall should plan for a brief stop at the nearest check station. The department encourages hunters to be prepared with a small sample kit if they are in a target area, though the request remains voluntary. By cooperating with Game and Fish personnel, hunters help ensure the long‑term health of Wyoming’s wildlife and preserve the hunting heritage that many families rely on.
For more information on check station locations, target areas, and sample collection guidelines, hunters can visit the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s website or call the department’s wildlife health hotline.
Original reporting: Sheridan Media (Sheridan WY) — read the source article.
