Early this week, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources received confirmation notification that a 2.5 year-old buck in Lanier County tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The landowner, in cooperation with GA DNR, collected the deer for disease monitoring (CWD and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)).
The location of this new positive deer sample is approximately five miles south of the initial detection of CWD. In accordance with the DNR’s CWD Management Plan, a five-mile radius has been set around this new positive sample and counties that are within the five-mile radius will be part of the CWD Management Area (CMA) for enhanced surveillance. The updated CMA (as of October 1, 2025) will include Lanier, Berrien and now Lowndes counties.
- HUNT: Yes! Please continue to hunt in Lanier, Berrien and Lowndes counties.
- TEST: The DNR encourages hunters to have all harvested deer from Lanier, Berrien and Lowndes counties tested for CWD. Testing is free and helps WRD monitor the deer herd in these counties. Hunters can take harvested deer to a pre-approved processer or taxidermist location or drop the head of the harvested deer off at an established freezer location. Find more info and a map of sampling locations at GeorgiaWildlife.com/cwd/testing.
- EDUCATE: Tell others to keep hunting in the area and that testing is free and provides assistance in monitoring CWD.
For More Info About CWD, Visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/cwd
