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CWD Regulations for Hunters

Due to the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease within the United States and Canada, special restrictions have been placed on the importation of carcasses and parts of big game animals hunted outside of New York State. The following is a general summary of the regulation and is intended to give a hunter a brief overview of what the regulation entails if harvested members of the deer and elk family are brought into New York State.

Note: Due to the discovery of BSE in a beef cow in Canada, federal restrictions apply to the importation of all ruminants, including big game animals from Canada. Please refer to the United States Department of Agriculture website (link on right margin) for more information on importation from Canada.

IMPORTATION of PARTS

  1. Members of the genus Cervus (elk), the genus Odocoileus (deer) or the genus alces (moose) taken during the hunting season in one of the following states or Canadian provinces and territories MAY be brought into New York as a whole dressed carcass or portions of a carcass:

    United States:

    Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia

    Canada:

    New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec

  2. Members of the genus Cervus (elk), the genus Odocoileus (deer) or the genus alces (moose) taken during the hunting season in those states and Canadian provinces and territories NOT listed in 1 (above) MAY NOT be imported into New York as whole dressed carcasses. Importation of allowed parts and those that are prohibited from importation are shown in the table below.

    PROHIBITED:

    • Head:
      • Brain
      • Tonsils
      • Eyes
      • Retropharyngeal Lymph nodes
    • Spinal Cord/Backbone
    • Spleen

    ALLOWED:

    • Meat (without backbone)
    • Cleaned:
      • Hide and Cape
      • Antlers
      • Skull Plate with attached antlers
      • Upper Canine Teeth
      • Tanned Hide
    • Finished Taxidermy Mounts

Note: Any person who imports or possesses a carcass or part of an animal that was tested for CWD in another state and is notified that such animal has tested positive for CWD must report such test results to the Department within 24 hours of receiving such notification by mail at:

Director, Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources,
NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4750
or by telephone at:(518) 402-8924

MARKING and TAGGING REQUIREMENTS

All carcasses and parts of deer, elk and moose brought into NY must have a tag identifying the species of animal, the state, province or territory where the animal was taken and the name and address of the person who took the animal. Usually the tagging requirements of the state/province/territory of origin will contain this information.

TRANSPORTATION through NEW YORK STATE

Travelers are permitted to PASS THROUGH New York to transport carcasses, provided no parts are disposed of or remain in New York.