WDFW WILDLIFE PROGRAM
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
wildthing@dfw.wa.gov
Dear Hunting Enthusiast,
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has filed an emergency rule that adds Montana to the list of states and provinces with importation restrictions due to the presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in free-ranging deer in that state. Hunters who harvest a deer, elk, or moose in any state or province with CWD may only import the following items to Washington to reduce the risk of transmitting CWD:
Meat that has been deboned in the state or province where it was harvested and is imported as boned-out meat.
Skulls and antlers, antlers attached to the skull plate, or upper canine teeth (bugler, whistlers, ivories) from which all soft tissue has been removed.
Hides or capes without heads attached.
Tissue imported for use by a diagnostic or research laboratory.
Finished taxidermy mounts.
For a complete list of states and provinces with importation restrictions, see page 65 of Washington's 2017 Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations pamphlet.
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal illness of deer, elk, and moose. It is caused by prions (mutated proteins), which can be transmitted between animals through their saliva, urine, and potentially feces and bodily fluids. CWD has been detected in animals in 23 different states and provinces in North America.
WDFW has been testing for CWD since 1995. To date, CWD has not been detected in Washington. We urge hunters to help us maintain our healthy deer, elk, and moose populations by complying with the restrictions outlined above. For more information regarding CWD, see the WDFW website at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/cwd/Sincerely,
Wildlife Program
WDFW
