Bield:Hunt
CWD & EHD by county

Michigan disease risk map.

CWD PositiveEHD: FrequentFirst CWD: 2008

Michigan confirmed its first captive-cervid CWD detection in 2008 and its first free-ranging detection in 2015. MI DNR runs a CWD Surveillance Area in the Lower Peninsula. Michigan has frequent EHD outbreak years, particularly in southern counties.

Verify with agency

Disease detections, management zones, and transport rules change. Cross-reference this page with Michigan DNR and the USDA APHIS distribution map before relying on it for hunting decisions.

CWD detection timeline

From first publicly-reported detection to the most recent year on record. Verify current detection counts with Michigan DNR.

2010201520202025First detection 2008Most recent 2024

Michigan county detections

11 counties with seeded CWD records. The agency may have additional positive counties — verify before each hunt.

Seeded detection counties
CountyFIPSFirst / RecentSourceQuality
Montcalm County261172008 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Ingham County260652015 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Kent County260812017 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Mecosta County261072017 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Eaton County260452018 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Jackson County260752017 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Hillsdale County260592018 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Dickinson County260432018 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Clinton County260372019 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Gratiot County260572018 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Ionia County260672018 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify

Carcass transport rules

If hunting in a CWD-positive area, follow your state agency's carcass transport rules — most agencies prohibit moving whole carcasses with brain or spinal tissue across designated zone boundaries. Verify the current rules with your state wildlife agency before transporting any harvest.

CWD testing

Most state wildlife agencies offer free or low-cost CWD testing of harvested deer at check stations or sample-drop locations during season. Contact the state agency for current testing locations and turnaround times.

EHD activity in Michigan

Michigan has historically experienced frequent EHD activity. EHD is a viral disease transmitted by Culicoides midges and is not transmissible to humans — meat from EHD-affected deer is safe to consume per state agency guidance. Outbreak years correlate with hot, dry conditions; localized die-offs can reduce hunting opportunity for a season but do not persist year to year the way CWD does.

Hunter FAQ — Michigan

Is it safe to eat deer harvested in Michigan?
Michigan has confirmed CWD. CDC and state wildlife agencies recommend NOT consuming meat from any deer that tests positive for CWD, and recommend testing harvested deer in CWD-positive areas before consumption. There is no documented case of CWD transmitting to humans, but the recommendation is precautionary. EHD is a separate concern — meat from deer that survived EHD or were harvested in an EHD year is safe; EHD does not affect humans.
Are there carcass transport restrictions in Michigan?
If hunting in a CWD-positive area, follow your state agency's carcass transport rules — most agencies prohibit moving whole carcasses with brain or spinal tissue across designated zone boundaries. Verify the current rules with your state wildlife agency before transporting any harvest.
How do I get a deer tested for CWD in Michigan?
Most state wildlife agencies offer free or low-cost CWD testing of harvested deer at check stations or sample-drop locations during season. Contact the state agency for current testing locations and turnaround times.
How often does Michigan get hit by EHD?
Michigan historically has frequent EHD activity. EHD outbreaks are weather-driven (hot, dry, midge-heavy late summers) and are not predictable year over year. Refer to your state agency's most recent annual report for current outbreak status.
Where does Michigan's CWD/EHD data come from?
Disease status on this page is summarized from publicly-reported information from Michigan DNR, the USDA APHIS CWD distribution map, and the National Deer Association EHD tracker. Bield does not generate disease records — we surface what state agencies report. Always verify directly with Michigan DNR before making hunting decisions.
Primary sources

Disease information is summarized for hunter awareness only. Always cross-reference with the state agency for legal, regulatory, and current-detection data.

Track herd health on your land.

Statewide disease maps tell you what to expect in general. Bield: Hunt logs every sick or recovered deer you find on your specific property — and surfaces patterns across seasons that would otherwise live in your camera roll and your memory.