Don't forget to have your deer tested for bovine tuberculosis

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A group of deer is shown standing in a wintry field in Mackinac County.

Have your deer tested for bovine tuberculosis

Don’t forget to bring your deer head to a DNR deer check station or drop box to be tested for bovine tuberculosis, especially if you hunt in Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Otsego, Oscoda, Presque Isle or Roscommon counties. We need samples from these counties to meet surveillance goals, which will help biologists understand the scale of infection in the local deer herd.

Sixty percent of deer that test positive for bovine tuberculosis show no signs of the disease, so testing is important.

DNR deer check stations are accepting heads for testing. For added convenience, several self-service drop boxes throughout the region are available 24 hours a day for deer head drop-off. The use of a smartphone is required to use the drop boxes. See check station and drop box locations at Michigan.gov/DeerCheck. 

Contact DNR Wildlife Health Specialist Emily Sewell at SewellE@michigan.gov or 231-340-1821 with any questions.

Deer check locations ►

Find a DNR deer check station or 24-hour drop box near you.

Michigan.gov/BovineTB ►

Learn more about bovine tuberculosis in Michigan.