Due to the regular amending of regulations in Iowa, 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 Iowa can be seen below:
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Contact: Jeff Kaisand, DVM - State Veterinarian
Jeff.Kaisand@iowaagriculture.gov 515-281-0866 or Dee Clausen - 515-281-8236
Standard Regulations
Permanent official identification number. Captive cervids native to or originating from any county or region under quarantine for TB not eligible for import. All Cervidae 6 months and older must test negative for Brucellosis within 90 days of importation or originate from a certified brucellosis-free herd. Cervidae less than 6 months must originate from a herd which has tested negative for brucellosis within the past 12 months or from a certified brucellosis-free herd. All Cervidae 6 months and older must test negative for TB utilizing the single cervical test within 90 days of importation, or originate from a TB accredited herd or from a TB qualified herd which has been tested within 90 days of import. Test dates must be included on the certificate of veterinary inspection. Herd status and testing protocols are according to the USDA TB Eradication in Cervidae Uniform Methods and Rules. Cervidae less than 6 months imported into the state must originate from a herd which has been whole-herd tested TB negative within the past 12 months or originate from a TB accredited herd.
CWD Regulations for Captive Cervids and Wildlife
Administrative Rules Modifying Importation Requirements of Cervidae, 1/26/05: No cervid originating from or having been located in area endemic for CWD allowed, no cervid from herd having animal introductions from area considered endemic to CWD during last 5 years, all require entry permit issued by the state veterninarian, CVI must state no diagnosis, signs, or epidemiological evidence of CWD in originating herd for year previous to import. All cervids in originating herd must have been there for at least 1 year or have been natural addition, herd must have no evidence or diagnosis of CWD, cervid must originate from certified or monitored CWD herd, with the CWD herd no., anniversary date, expiration date and herd status for each animal listed on the CVI. All CWD susceptible cervidae shall only be allowed from herds which are enrolled in and satisfactorily completed at least five years in an official recognized CWD monitoring program.
New CWD Regulations in Development
To meet the new Federal rules requirements, Iowa rules effective November 1, 2012, will require CWD testing of all Iowa captive CWD susceptible cervid mortalities or slaughtered animals that are 12 months of age (previously 16 months) and older in CWD Program enrolled herds.
CWD Testing Program For Captive Cervids
Voluntary surveillance for elk and deer, but no purchase or movement is allowed from herds not enrolled in a program.
CWD Testing Program For Wildlife
Have tested over 88,000 wild white-tailed deer since surveillance began in 2002. First positive in the wild was found from surveillance in 2013/14 deer season in NE Iowa. As of Dec. 2019, hunters can also submit samples for CWD testing through the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at Iowa State University independent of Iowa DNR surveillance activities.
Baiting Banned?
Baiting prohibited.
Feeding Banned?
No ban.
Ban On Movement of Animal Parts?
Ban on the importation of a whole carcass from any cervid taken from a CWD endemic area within any state or province, may only transport boned-out meat, capes, and antlers attached to clean skull plates from which the brain tissue has been removed.
CWD Found in Captive Cervids?
Yes - 320 captive deer and 2 elk from 7 Premises (2 hunting Preserves and 5 Farm Deer herds), All premises have been depopulated.
CWD Found In Free Ranging Cervids?
Yes - 112 free-ranging white-tailed deer; 61 in Allamakee Co., 1 in Appanoose, 20 in Clayton Co., 1 in Decatur Co., 2 in Dubuque Co. (roadkill 2018, hunter-harvest 2020), 2 in Fayette Co., 1 in Jackson Co., 1 in Lee (found during captive cervid depopulation 2020), 15 in Wayne Co., 6 in Winneshiek Co., 2 in Woodbury Co. (roadkill 2019, hunter-harvest 2020)"