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In 2006, the NCWRC implemented the first carcass rule, which prohibited importation of whole carcasses and high-risk carcass parts from CWD-positive states. In 2018, the NCWRC implemented an importation ban from all states and later amended that rule to provide an exemption for South Carolina until Aug. 1, 2020. 

Importation of whole carcasses from any member of the family Cervidae (e.g., deer, elk, moose, or reindeer/ caribou) from any state, Canadian province, or foreign country outside of North Carolina is prohibited. Anyone transporting cervid carcass parts into North Carolina must follow processing and packaging regulations, which only allow the importation of:

• 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 cleaned skulls free from meat, or brain tissue;
• Cleaned lower jawbone(s) with teeth or cleaned teeth; or
• Finished taxidermy products and tanned hides.

All carcass part(s) or container of cervid meat or carcass parts must be labeled or identified with the:

• Name and address of individual importing carcass parts;
• State, Canadian province, or foreign country of origin;
• Date the cervid was killed; and
• Hunter’s license number, permit number, or equivalent identification from the state, Canadian province, or foreign country of origin.

What is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)?

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in cervids (including white-tailed and mule deer, as well as elk, moose, and reindeer/caribou). CWD is characterized by the accumulation of prions in brain cells that eventually burst, leaving microscopic empty spaces in the brain and giving it a "spongy" appearance. Related diseases include: scrapie in sheep and goats; bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or “mad cow disease” in cattle; transmissible mink encephalopathy; and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans (see CWD Fact Sheet). CWD can be transmitted directly through animal-to-animal contact as well as indirectly through contaminated soil, plants, and other materials. It can take over 18 months after exposure for an infected animal to develop clinical signs of disease and can appear completely healthy during that time. Once an animal starts showing signs of the disease, it will steadily lose body weight and eventually die. There is currently no vaccine, treatment, or cure for CWD.

To date, CWD has been primarily found in white-tailed deer, elk, mule deer, moose, and reindeer/caribou in North America. The susceptibility of exotic cervids and other wildlife species is currently unknown.

The precautions below should be followed when handling any wild game and help to minimize the risk of exposure and transmission of diseases or foodborne illness.

• Do not eat any parts from a deer that appears sick.
• Do not eat the eyes, brain, tongue, spinal cord, spleen, tonsils or lymph nodes of any deer.
• If hunting in an area where CWD has been confirmed, have your harvested animal tested for CWD and avoid consuming meat from any animal testing positive. View your test results for deer harvested in North Carolina.

• Wear rubber or latex gloves at all times. 
• Use only knives or utensils selected for the purpose of field dressing and processing. Do not use these utensils for eating.
• Minimize contact with the brain, spinal cord, spleen and lymph nodes as you work.
• Whenever possible, field dress deer in the same location they were harvested. If field dressing in a location other than where the deer was harvested, bury the organs or dispose of them at a landfill to prevent deer or scavengers from coming into contact with potentially infected parts.
• Do not cut through the spinal column except to remove the head. Use a knife designated only for this purpose and ensure that it is thoroughly disinfected after each use. 
• Bone out the meat and remove all fat and connective tissue. This will also remove any lymph nodes. 
• All damaged meat near and around the wound channel should be removed and discarded. If using lead ammo, fragments can travel up to 18 inches depending on bullet type. These fragments can be a potential health problem for pregnant women and children.
• Dispose of any unused deer parts, especially if they were transported away from the site of harvest, either by burial or at a landfill. This will prevent deer or scavengers from coming into contact with potentially infected parts. Never transport deer parts and then dispose of them on the ground, roadside, or in a waterway. Refer to Disposal of Deer Harvested in North Carolina for more information.
• Process each deer separately, then store each deer’s meat in its own labeled containers. 
• Thoroughly clean and sanitize equipment and work areas with a 50/50 solution of bleach and water after processing, allowing equipment to soak for 5 minutes.

Never eat meat from a deer that looks sick. Never eat a deer’s: 

• Brain. 
• Tongue.
• Tonsils.
• Eyes.
• Spinal cord.
• Spleen.
• Lymph nodes. 

To be sure you’ve removed all of the parts listed above: 

• Gut the deer. 
• Remove the head. 
• Cut meat from the bone with a knife; don’t cut through bones.
• Remove all fat, membranes and tendons from the meat.

CWD spreads between animals through saliva, urine and feces, either through direct contact or indirectly through environmental contamination, especially in the soil. CWD prions can remain active in the soil for a very long time, even through harsh weather and fire. Soil that has come into contact with contaminated deer parts or fluids can cause CWD in deer for many years – even decades.

Taking precautions that reduce the movement of potentially infected deer parts or fluids around the landscape is crucial to managing the spread of CWD. 

Learn more on the NC Wildlife Commission Website