Hunters Reminded of Rules on Importing Deer, Elk

Waterbury, VT - Hunters traveling outside Vermont to hunt deer or elk need to keep in mind the regulation designed to protect Vermont's wild deer from chronic wasting disease, according to a reminder from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a disease of the brain and nervous system in deer and elk. It produces lesions that cause death in deer and elk. For the latest information on CWD, check these websites: www.vtfishandwildlife.com and www.cwd-info.org.

There is no way to test an animal to see if it has CWD while the animal is alive. Brain tissue must be examined microscopically to determine presence of the disease. CWD has not appeared in Vermont based on testing several hundred deer taken by hunters each year.

Vermont Rules on Importing and Possession of Deer or Elk from Areas with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Captive Hunt Areas or Farms:

It is illegal to import or possess deer or elk, or parts of deer or elk, from states and Canadian provinces that have had chronic wasting disease, or from captive hunt or farm facilities with the following exceptions:

- Meat that is cut up, packaged and labeled with hunting license information and not mixed with other deer or elk during processing;

- Meat that is boneless;

- Hides or capes with no part of the head attached;

- Clean skull-cap with antlers attached;

- Antlers with no other meat or tissue attached;

- Finished taxidermy heads;

- Upper canine teeth with no tissue attached.

Vermont's CWD importation regulations apply to hunters bringing in deer or elk carcasses from the following states and provinces: Alberta, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

A fine of up to $1,000 and loss of hunting and fishing licenses for one year are applicable for each deer or elk imported illegally.