Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
Attention: Hunters Traveling to Other States and Provinces
If you are going to hunt deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of Washington State this year please be advised that there have been some rule changes passed by the Washington Fish and Wildlife commission that regulate how you can bring your meat and trophies home.
If you hunt deer, elk, moose, or caribou in states or provinces outside of Washington State, the following items only may be imported to Washington to reduce the risk of transmitting chronic wasting disease (CWD):
- Meat that has been de-boned in the state or province where it was harvested and is imported as boned-out meat.
- Skulls and antlers, antlers attached to the skull plate (antlers must have velvet removed), or upper canine teeth (bugler, whistlers, ivories) from which all soft tissue has been removed.
- Hides or capes without heads attached.
- Tissue imported for use by a diagnostic or research laboratory.
- Finished taxidermy mounts.
Violation of this rule is a gross misdemeanor having a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine or one year in jail. (RCW 77.15.290)
In addition, if you are notified by another state fish and wildlife agency that the deer, elk, moose, or caribou you have harvested outside of Washington State has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, you must notify the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife within 24 hours. Violation of this rule is an infraction. (RCW 77.15.160)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has been testing for CWD since 1995. To date, CWD has not been detected in Washington. We urge hunters to help us maintain our healthy deer, elk, moose, and caribou populations. For more information on CWD, check out
Before hunting in other states or provinces, make sure to know each wildlife agency’s carcass import and transportation rules by reading:
If you have any questions, please contact the Wildlife Program (360) 902-2515.
ATTENTION: New CWD Surveillance Program and Free CWD Testing
If you harvest a deer or elk in eastern Washington within Region 1 and would like to have your deer or elk tested for CWD, please visit:
