Bield:Hunt
CWD & EHD by county

Texas disease risk map.

CWD PositiveEHD: OccasionalFirst CWD: 2012

Texas confirmed its first wild CWD detection in 2012 in West Texas. TPWD has implemented Containment Zones in affected areas with mandatory testing. Verify current zone boundaries and rules with TPWD.

Verify with agency

Disease detections, management zones, and transport rules change. Cross-reference this page with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 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 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

201520202025First detection 2012Most recent 2024

Texas county detections

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

Seeded detection counties
CountyFIPSFirst / RecentSourceQuality
Hudspeth County482292012 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Culberson County481092013 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
El Paso County481412012 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Medina County483252015 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Uvalde County484632016 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Val Verde County484652017 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Lubbock County483032022 / 2024Agency →Estimated — verify
Kimble County482672021 / 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 Texas

Texas 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 — Texas

Is it safe to eat deer harvested in Texas?
Texas 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 Texas?
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 Texas?
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 Texas get hit by EHD?
Texas 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 Texas's CWD/EHD data come from?
Disease status on this page is summarized from publicly-reported information from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 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 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 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.