Guidance to NJ Residents Who Hunt Deer, Elk or Moose in States Where CWD is Present

Hunters May Not Bring Whole Deer Into New York How to Debone a Deer in the Field (Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Video) Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found in free-ranging and captive white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania since 2012, and has been confirmed in New York and numerous other states and Canadian provinces. The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is therefore advising New Jersey residents who hunt out-of-state to know where CWD is present and what steps should be taken prevent introducing it into New Jersey. To date, the following states have reported CWD in captive or wild deer, elk or moose: Arkansas Michigan New Mexico South Dakota Wisconsin Colorado Minnesota New York Tennessee Wyoming Illinois Mississippi North Dakota Texas   Iowa Missouri Ohio Utah   Kansas Montana Oklahoma Virginia   Maryland Nebraska Pennsylvania West Virginia   Additionally, CWD has been reported in the following Canadian provinces: Alberta Ontario Quebec Saskatchewan

Distribution of CWD in North America Click to enlarge

Many of the states and provinces listed above restrict the movement of deer parts out of areas where CWD is present. In such cases, it is also illegal to bring those deer, elk or moose parts into New Jersey. It is safe and legal to bring the following deer parts to New Jersey from areas where CWD is present:

• Meat that is cut and wrapped (either commercially or privately).
• Quarters or other portions of meat to which no part of the spinal column is attached.
• Meat that has been deboned.
• Hides with no heads attached.
• Finished taxidermy heads.
• Antlers with no tissue attached.
• Clean skull plates with no lymphoid or brain tissue attached.
• Clean skulls with no lymphoid or brain tissue attached.
• Upper canine teeth (also known as buglers, whistlers or ivories).

For more information on CWD, see the Chronic Wasting Disease Information page.