Chronic wasting disease rules and federal wildlife law can change what you are allowed to bring home from a hunt. This guide gives you the framework, and your state agency has the final word.
Rules about moving harvested animals vary widely by state, and they change. Some states restrict what parts of a deer, elk or moose may be brought in, some require testing or check-in, and some regulate how you dispose of the leftovers. Both the state where you hunt and the state you are returning to may have rules, and so may the states you pass through.
This guide is general education and not legal advice. Before you leave home, read the current regulations for the hunting state, the home state and any states on your route, and call the wildlife agency if anything is unclear. Write down who you spoke with and when.
Chronic wasting disease is a disease of the deer family that affects the nervous system of animals such as deer, elk and moose. Wildlife agencies are concerned about its spread, and one way it can be carried to new places is by moving infected carcass parts. That is why many states restrict the movement of certain parts, especially the brain, spinal column and other tissues where the disease agent concentrates.
Because the rules depend on local conditions, they differ. A state with known disease in its herds may handle things differently from one that is trying to keep it out. A zone inside a state may have stricter requirements than the rest of the state.
Many states that restrict imports generally allow low-risk items such as boned-out meat, cut and wrapped meat, hides without brain tissue, teeth, antlers or skull plates cleaned of tissue and finished taxidermy mounts. They are often stricter about whole carcasses, heads with brain tissue and spinal columns. Some states also require a head to go to a licensed taxidermist within a certain time after entering. One state agency's page describes that kind of requirement as an example of how specific the rules can be.
The details differ by state, species and zone, so treat any list as a prompt for questions rather than an answer. If you plan a European mount or a shoulder mount, ask which parts of the head may enter your home state and in what condition. See shoulder mount versus European mount for what each involves.
A common approach for travelers is to reduce the animal before the trip home by boning out the meat and leaving unneeded parts behind in the way the state requires. Where you leave those parts is regulated too. Some states require disposal in a landfill or by a licensed processor in disease zones, and dumping carcasses on public land or in water is prohibited in some places.
Ask the hunting state's agency what to do with the remains, and ask a local processor or taxidermist who works with out-of-state hunters. They deal with the rules every season and can tell you how things are done. They will also tell you what they can accept.
A violation of state wildlife law can become a federal matter once the animal or parts cross a state line. Under the Lacey Act, transporting wildlife taken or moved in violation of state law can create federal liability. Penalties can include fines, loss of hunting privileges and seizure of property used in the offense.
The rule reaches several situations. Hunting with an unlicensed outfitter where a license is required can be a problem, as can using a tag that is not yours or accepting game without checking its legality. Keep tags attached, keep copies of licenses and receipts and verify that anyone you hire is operating legally. Our guide on how to choose a hunting outfitter explains how.
Shipping can be convenient, but it adds steps. Confirm that the receiving state allows the parts you intend to send, that the shipper accepts them and that required tags, permits or labels are attached. In a documented case, a hunter who had a deer shipped home found that his home state restricted the import.
Many hunters send a trophy straight to a taxidermist in the home state, who can advise on what is acceptable. Ask them before the hunt. For help with the full process, from field care to delivery, see our taxidermy and trophy care service and our guide on trophy field care.
Turn the rules into a checklist. Read the hunting state's current regulations for moving animal parts. Read your home state's rules for importing them. Check any states you will drive through. Ask the agency about testing, check-in and disposal of leftover parts. Find out what the taxidermist or processor you plan to use can accept, and what paperwork they need.
Pack accordingly: a cooler, clean bags, a way to keep tags with the animal and copies of your license and receipts. Keep records of your calls with agencies. If a rule seems to conflict with another, ask for clarification before you act, not after.
Rules in this area change as agencies respond to new information, so advice from a friend or an old article may be out of date. Penalties can be serious, and a trophy that is seized or refused is a loss no hunter wants. The few minutes it takes to call an agency are worth far more than the risk of a wrong guess.
We are not a legal authority, and nothing here replaces the agency's own guidance. What we can do is help you ask the right questions. If you are planning a trip, our hunt planning and gear prep service can help you turn this framework into a checklist for your own hunt.
Many states that restrict imports do not allow whole carcasses from certain areas or at all. Rules vary, so check the home state, the hunting state and any state on your route before you go.
It is commonly allowed where restrictions exist, but not everywhere, and some states have extra requirements. Confirm with the wildlife agency.
It can reach people who transport or receive wildlife that was taken illegally, so verify licensing, tags and legality, especially with outfitters and when accepting game from others.
Call the wildlife agency of the state where you hunt and of the state you are returning to. A local processor or taxidermist who works with out-of-state hunters can also explain how it is done.
Tell us what you want to hunt or what needs mounting and we will reply with what is possible.