Are you planning to hunt deer, elk or moose in another state? Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife want to remind you of import restrictions meant to keep Oregon free of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
It is illegal to bring any deer, elk or moose part containing central nervous system tissue (such as whole heads or spinal columns) into Oregon from states or Canadian provinces with a documented case of CWD. OSP has already seen several cases this year from Oregonians hunting out of state who are not following these regulations and bringing in parts with central nervous system tissue.
CWD is untreatable, damaging the brain of infected deer, elk and moose and typically causing progressive loss of body condition. The disease is always fatal to these animals, and no state or province with documented cases of CWD has been able to eradicate it. The prions that cause CWD can last a long time in the environment. If the head and spinal column of an infected animal is disposed of in areas where Oregon’s deer, elk or moose could encounter the prions, the state’s native wildlife could contract the disease.
The following states or provinces have reported documented case(s) of Chronic Wasting Disease: Alberta, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Saskatchewan. Hunters who harvested an animal in these states or provinces need to follow the import restrictions and not bring in certain parts of their animal. Hunters bringing parts containing central nervous system tissues from these areas into Oregon may be subject to a citation, and illegal parts will be confiscated.
The following parts can be brought into Oregon from states and provinces with CWD:
• Meat that is cut and wrapped commercially or privately;
• Meat that has been boned out;
• Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached;
• Hides and/or capes with no head attached;
• Skull plates with antlers attached that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue;
• Antlers with no tissue attached (Velvet antlers are allowed);
• Upper canine teeth (buglers, whistlers, ivories)
• Finished taxidermy heads.
Chronic Wasting Disease has never been detected in Oregon, but wildlife managers are on the lookout for the disease. ODFW will also host two sampling stations to test deer and elk for the disease this weekend (Oct. 29, 30, 31) during first Rocky Mountain elk season. One station is at the Biggs exit off I-84 and the other is at the ODOT weigh station on Hwy 26 one mile east of Prineville. Successful hunters travelling in these areas are asked to visit the check stations. ODFW staff will take a small sample of tissue to test for CWD and a tooth to age the animal. This sampling will not harm any taxidermy plans.
For more information on CWD, check the ODFW website.
