CWD Surveillance Areas and Special Regulations
Please note: Major regulation changes appear in RED
For the most up-to-date CWD testing locations, interactive maps, and current regulations, visit the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s CWD information page.
Two Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Areas are defined for the 2025–2026 hunting season. Each surveillance area contains a Primary Surveillance Area of counties in which CWD has been confirmed, and a Secondary Surveillance Area of other nearby counties.
Surveillance Area 1 |
Surveillance Area 2 |
Carcass Transport Restrictions |
|
Primary Surveillance Areas |
Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin No Mandatory Testing |
Cumberland No Mandatory Testing |
Carcasses and carcass parts may not be transported out of the county of harvest, except to a contiguous Primary Surveillance Area county and except for the deboned, caped, cleaned, or taxidermy parts described below. |
Secondary Surveillance Areas |
Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Rockingham No Mandatory Testing |
Bladen, Harnett, Hoke, Robeson, Sampson No Mandatory Testing |
Carcasses and carcass parts may not be transported out of the county of harvest, except to a contiguous Primary or Secondary Surveillance Area county and except for the deboned, caped, cleaned, or taxidermy parts described below. |
Non-surveillance Area |
All counties not listed above No Mandatory Testing |
Carcass and carcass parts may be transported statewide, including into or through Surveillance Areas. |
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Carcass Transport Restrictions
The transportation of a deer carcass or carcass parts out of a primary or secondary surveillance area is prohibited except for the following, or as otherwise permitted by the Wildlife Commission:
- Meat that has been boned out such that no pieces or fragments of bone remain
- Caped hides with no part of the skull or spinal column attached
- Antlers, antlers attached to cleaned skull plates, or skulls free from meat or brain tissue
- Cleaned lower jawbones with teeth or cleaned teeth
- Finished taxidermy products and tanned hides
Voluntary Testing
Voluntary testing is available across the state in CWD surveillance areas and non-surveillance areas. Samples may be submitted to a Commission-staffed facility, to a Cervid Health Cooperator, or deposited in a Commission CWD Testing Drop-off Station. Updated details on CWD sample submission locations will be available by September 1, 2025, on the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s CWD page.
Please be aware that the NCWRC cooperates with numerous taxidermists and deer processors across North Carolina for routine surveillance for Chronic Wasting Disease. If you use these services your deer may be tested for CWD without your knowledge, but the NCWRC will inform you of the test results.
Fawn Rehabilitation
Fawn rehabilitation within CWD Surveillance Areas is prohibited. Fawns may not be transported out of these Surveillance Areas and cannot be accepted by fawn rehabilitators.
Wildlife Feeding and Baiting
The placement of minerals or salt to purposely congregate wildlife is prohibited in CWD Surveillance Areas. The placement of bait, food, or food products to purposefully congregate wildlife is prohibited from January 2 – August 31 in CWD Surveillance Areas, except for:
- Bird feeders
- Hunting in urban archery seasons in participating municipalities
- Other activities specifically permitted by the Wildlife Commission
Attractants and Scents
In addition to the statewide regulations defining legal use of attractants and scents, found on the Hunting Regulations page, the possession or use of products containing natural substances collected by a hunter from a legally harvested cervid in North Carolina is prohibited in CWD Surveillance Areas.
