Due to the regular amending of regulations in Kentucky, 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 Kentucky can be seen below:
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) regulates the physical facilities for captive cervids. Kentucky Dept. of Agriculture (KDA) is in charge of the health certification of captive cervids, including the Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Identification (CCWDSI) program, & all transportation permits (importation and intrastate movement). Both agencies require ear tags. Contact: (KDFWR) kyle.sams@ky.gov (502) 892-4523; (KDA); statevet@ky.gov (502) 573-0282 or (KDA) christopher.hinkle@ky.gov (502) 782-5922
Standard Regulations
Dept. of Ag. requires a CVI, import permit, and an Official RFID tag to be eligible for importation. Importation of cervids reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis. Must originate from a CWD certified herd. Cervid must come from a Tuberculosis Accredited herd or be negative to an offical Tuberculosis test within 90 days of entry.
CWD Regulations for Captive Cervids and Wildlife
Prohibition on importation of live cervids from CWD positive states. Intrastate movement requires a transportation permit, CVI, and valid KDA and KDFWR captive cervid permits. Cervids may Not be moved into a new facility until all wild deer are removed and a valid captive cervid permit has been obtained from both KDFWR and KDA.
New CWD Regulations in Development
Yes; KDA is revising captive cerivd regulations to streamline processing and to ensure disease testing. New regulations, requires certification for individuals collecting CWD samples, educational training requirement for current certified herd owners and at time of initial enrollment, and enhancement to the identification requirement to include mandatory RFID of all cervids enrolled in herds. A CWD Response Plan for wild cervids has been developed by KDFWR and adopted by KDA. In response to a CWD+ detection near Kentucky's border, regulations will be revised to help prevent the spread of CWD into Kentucky.
CWD Testing Program For Captive Cervids
All cervid facilities, except Non-commercial facilities, must be enrolled with KDA's Cervid CWD Surveillance Identification Program and be enrolled in one of two monitoring programs. The Herd Certificiation Program (HCP) requires the CWD testing of all cervids ≥ 12 months of age that die, or any cervid displaying clinical signs of CWD within 7 days of the animals death. The Herd Monitoring Program (HMP) requires the testing of all cervids that are ≥12 months of age that die for any reason or any cervid displaying clinical signs of CWD. Samples for Herd Monitored Programs are required to be submitted within 30 days of the animals harvest or death.
CWD Testing Program For Wildlife
Approximately 35,300 samples have been tested through hunter-harvested and targeted surveillance of free-ranging cervids since 2002. All samples tested have not detected CWD. Targeted survillance is ongoing and increasing. Beginning in 2012, the state surveillance program began 100% targeted surveillance, which reduced the number of samples tested, but increase the likelihood of each sample to detect CWD, if present.
Baiting Banned?
Baiting is allowed on private land (over 95% of Kentucky land). Baiting is prohibited on all state-managed WMAs and on federally owned areas. Sept. 2021: Prohibition on baiting and feeding of all wildlife by means of any grain, salt, mineral or other attractants intended to be ingested within the surveillance zone, except for: Normal agricultural practices, including food plots; Hanging bird feeders within the curtilage of the home; and Furbearer trapping (trappers shall use no grain, salt or mineral).
Feeding Banned?
Cannot feed wildlife outside the curtilage of the home from March 1 - May 31. Sept. 2021: Prohibition on baiting and feeding of all wildlife by means of any grain, salt, mineral or other attractants intended to be ingested within the surveillance zone, except for: Normal agricultural practices, including food plots; Hanging bird feeders within the curtilage of the home; and Furbearer trapping (trappers shall use no grain, salt or mineral).
Ban On Movement of Animal Parts?
By regulation: Ban on importation of brain and spinal column of hunter harvested carcasses from all states and other countries. Hunters may import boned out meat, quarters and meat portions without spinal column or head attached, antlers, antlers attached to clean skull plate, clean skull, clean upper canines, hide, and finished taxidermy mounts. Sept. 2021: In response to a CWD+ within 30 miles of the Kentucky border, prohibition on transport of entire cervid carcasses, skull contents or spinal columns from deer harvested or slaughtered in the surveillance zone (excluding antlers, antlers attached to a clean skull plate, a clean skull, clean teeth, finished taxidermy work, hide or deboned meat)s.
CWD Found in Captive Cervids?
No
CWD Found In Free Ranging Cervids?
No