Bield:Hunt
CWD & EHD by county

Tennessee disease risk map.

CWD PositiveEHD: OccasionalFirst CWD: 2018

Tennessee confirmed its first wild CWD detection in 2018 in southwestern Tennessee. TWRA has implemented a CWD Unit with mandatory sampling. Tennessee offers free testing of harvested deer in CWD counties.

Verify with agency

Disease detections, management zones, and transport rules change. Cross-reference this page with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 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 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

20202025First detection 2018Most recent 2024

Tennessee county detections

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

Seeded detection counties
CountyFIPSFirst / RecentSourceQuality
Hardeman County470692018 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Fayette County470472018 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Madison County471132019 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Tipton County471672019 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Chester County470232019 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Haywood County470752019 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Shelby County471572019 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Hardin County470712020 / 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 Tennessee

Tennessee has historically experienced occasional 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 — Tennessee

Is it safe to eat deer harvested in Tennessee?
Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
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 Tennessee get hit by EHD?
Tennessee historically has occasional 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 Tennessee's CWD/EHD data come from?
Disease status on this page is summarized from publicly-reported information from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, 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 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 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.