Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

The movement of infected carcass parts has likely contributed to the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) across North America. Certain parts of deer carcasses, most notably the brain and spinal cord, may be heavily contaminated with the infectious agent that causes CWD.  Deer may shed prions in their urine, feces, and saliva years before any external symptoms become visible. As such, the Department restricts the movement of whole deer carcasses and certain carcass parts from deer harvested anywhere outside Virginia.  Effective August 1, 2019, importation or possession of whole deer carcasses or any parts not included in the list below originating from anywhere outside of Virginia is now prohibited.

Carcass parts that can legally be transported into Virginia from anywhere* include:

• Finished taxidermy products
• Boned-out cut and wrapped meat
• Quarters of meat with no spinal column or head
• Hides or capes with no skull attached
• Cleaned (no brain tissue attached) skull or skull plates with or without antlers attached
• Clean antlers with no meat or other tissues attached
• Upper canine teeth with no root tissue attached

All of the above must be labeled with species, state/province of origin, and name and contact information for the person who killed the animal or possesses the allowed parts in Virginia.