In the nine-township chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance zone in Kent County, where deer check is mandatory, there will be several locations open for deer check throughout the 2009 deer hunting seasons. See the Kent County check stations map for more details.

Biologists use the information gathered at DNR deer check stations to monitor the overall health of the deer herd and to make recommendations for future deer seasons.

Checking deer is completely voluntary except in the CWD surveillance zone. As a gesture of appreciation, the DNR gives a Deer Management Cooperator patch to hunters willing to help in this endeavor.