OutdoorMN News - Changes affect how deer carcasses can enter Minnesota

[Rick]

Starting this fall, hunters can no longer bring whole deer carcasses into Minnesota from anywhere in North America. This restriction includes all members of the deer family (deer, elk, moose and caribou). 

Previously, the restriction only applied to animals harvested in areas of North America where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been known to occur.

“We are making this change to respond to the increasing prevalence and geographic spread of CWD,” said Adam Murkowski, Big Game Program leader with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The disease is always fatal and infected deer can appear healthy. Live animal testing is still in development.

Starting this fall, hunters may bring only the following parts into Minnesota, regardless of where the animal was harvested outside of the state:

• Meat that is boned out or that is cut and wrapped (either commercially or privately).
• Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.
• Hides and teeth.
• Antlers or clean skull plates (no brain tissue attached) with antlers attached.
• Finished taxidermy mounts.
• Nonresidents transporting whole or partial carcasses on a direct route through Minnesota are exempt from this restriction; however, similar restrictions exist in all surrounding states.

The 2016 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook states that this rule is likely to be in place (pages 2 and 62). This rule has been finalized and is in place for the fall of 2016.

More information about CWD testing is available at the managing chronic wasting disease page.

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