Due to the regular amending of regulations in Florida, it is recommended that before hunting you check these CWD regulations, as well as those of any other states or provinces in which you will be hunting or traveling through while transporting cervid carcasses. The contact information for Florida can be seen below:
Last update was October 2021
Click a section to expand:
Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regulates possession of captive cervids, Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) oversees importation and health requirements. Contact:
Cory Morea, (850) 488-3831
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Standard Regulations
Effective September 6, 2013, no cervid imports by executive order. Effective November 11, 2013, no cervid imports by rule. Exceptions allowed for zoos and temporary possession of Reindeer.
CWD Regulations for Captive Cervids and Wildlife
No person shall receive, possess, transport, or carry into the state by any means live deer, elk or other species of the family Cervidae originating from out-of-state unless permitted pursuant to Chapter 68A-6 and as provided herein. (1) Zoos that meet or exceed all applicable Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation standards which are adopted and incorporated herein by reference, are authorized to receive cervids from out-of-state (except for white-tailed deer) from another facility that meets or exceeds all applicable AZA accreditation standards. (2) Any person is authorized to receive Reindeer (Rangifer tarandas) temporarily, for no longer than 90 days, provided that the reindeer being received have not originated from or been possessed at a premises or facility located in a county or a county adjoining a county where CWD has been documented, and are not located at a premises or facility in Florida with other species of the family Cervidae.
Cervids being moved shall not be commingled with cervids from other sources during transfer. No person shall violate Chapter 5C-26, F.A.C.
New CWD Regulations in Development
N/A
CWD Testing Program For Captive Cervids
Testing of captive cervids is voluntary.
CWD Testing Program For Wildlife
Implemented active surveillance of hunter-killed and road-killed deer and passive surveillance of symptomatic wild deer in summer 2002. As of June 2019, 12,759 deer have been tested, 821 from passive surveillance and 11,938 from active surveillance. No positives have been detected. FWC is currently testing approximately 2,500 free-ranging deer per year. Additional information is available at www.MyFWC.com/CWD
Baiting Banned?
No ban.
Feeding Banned?
No ban.
Ban On Movement of Animal Parts?
The FWC adopted in 2005 a rule that prohibits the importation or possession of the carcass of any cervid from any state or province where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been documented except boned-out meat or processed meat cuts, a hide with no head attached, antlers with a clean skull plate, finished taxidermy products, and upper canines. Additionally, any cervid carcass, regardless of origin, testing positive for CWD must be surrendered to FWC personnel.
CWD Found in Captive Cervids?
No
CWD Found In Free Ranging Cervids?
No