The Department of Natural Resources is asking successful deer hunters in Schoolcraft County to bring their harvested deer to a special one-day deer check station Nov. 19 in Manistique. The deer check station will be open from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Shell Gas Station, located at 1038 West US-2, just west of the Burger King.

"We encourage successful hunters to bring their deer to the check station this hunting season so we can gather important biological information and collect enough specimens for adequate disease testing," said Dave Jenthoft, DNR wildlife biologist. "With the discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a privately owned facility in Kent County, we are expanding our testing for this disease statewide. Cooperation from hunters is essential as we continue our efforts to determine if the disease is present in wild, free-ranging deer."

At check stations, DNR staff will examine teeth wear of the deer to determine its age. Staff will record age, sex, total antler points and antler beam diameter, and harvest location. Hunters will have the option of donating the deer head for CWD testing. The goal for Schoolcraft County is to collect 50 heads for testing. The hunter may keep the antlers from any donated head. For their effort and cooperation in helping with the data collection, hunters will be given a Deer Management Cooperator/Successful Hunter collector's patch.

"Hunters who are successful early in the season should save the head in a freezer after processing their deer," Jenthoft said. "Just the head, with antlers attached, is needed to have the deer checked and receive a patch."

More information about CWD is available on the state of Michigan's Emerging Diseases Web site at www.michigan.gov/chronicwastingdisease. For a list of DNR check stations across the state, please go to www.michigan.gov/dnrhunting.