Bield:Hunt
CWD & EHD by county

New Mexico disease risk map.

CWD PositiveEHD: RareFirst CWD: 2002

New Mexico confirmed its first wild CWD detection in 2002. NMDGF runs ongoing surveillance focused on mule deer in affected units. Verify current testing requirements per hunt unit.

Verify with agency

Disease detections, management zones, and transport rules change. Cross-reference this page with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 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 New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

20052010201520202025First detection 2002Most recent 2024

New Mexico county detections

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

New MexicoCWD-positive county · click for record5 counties
Seeded detection counties
CountyFIPSFirst / RecentSourceQuality
Otero County350352002 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Eddy County350152009 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Lincoln County350272007 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Chaves County350052014 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Union County350592017 / 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 New Mexico

New Mexico has historically experienced rare 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 — New Mexico

Is it safe to eat deer harvested in New Mexico?
New Mexico 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 New Mexico?
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 New Mexico?
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 New Mexico get hit by EHD?
New Mexico historically has rare 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 New Mexico's CWD/EHD data come from?
Disease status on this page is summarized from publicly-reported information from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, 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 New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 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.