Due to the regular amending of regulations in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee can be seen below:
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Department of Agriculture. Contact: Dr.Sara Clariday, e-mail-
sara.clariday@tn.gov or Dr. Doug Balthaser, e-mail-
douglas.balthaser@tn.govStandard Regulations
No cervids from geographic areas where CWD diagnosed; CVI must state importing cervid originates from herd in CWD surveillance program . All cervids require an entry permit.
CWD Regulations for Captive Cervids and Wildlife
Department of Agriculture Rule: No person shall import CWD susceptible cervidae from an area where CWD has ever been diagnosed in wildlife. The cervidae must originate from a certified status herd that has had no loss or reduction in status during its program enrollment..
New CWD Regulations in Development
Tennessee has an approved Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program and recognizes the certified status of herds with completion of 5+ years monitoring. A bill to permit farming of white-tailed deer was withdrawn from legislative consideration in 2012. It is not legal to possess live white-tailed deer in TN.
CWD Testing Program For Captive Cervids
Surveillance performed on a voluntary basis, except mandatory for those facilities in or working toward certification. Mandatory testing on CWD susceptible cervids held and harvested on wildlife preserves. Wildlife preserves may only obtain CWD susceptible cervids from certified herds.
CWD Testing Program For Wildlife
Nearly 14,000 hunter killed samples tested since 2002. Beginning in 2018, CWD surveillance will employ a risk-based weighted surveillance strategy that takes into account risk factors such as surrounding states' surveillance programs, regulations and CWD status. The surveillance strategy will utilize a statistically robust sampling regime to detect CWD in wild cervid populations at prescribed prevalence, based on testing targeted animals (diseased, road-killed, emaciated hunter-killed) and priority hunter-killed deer (with mature bucks being the highest priority).
Baiting Banned?
No baiting allowed.
Feeding Banned?
No ban.
Ban On Movement of Animal Parts?
No person may import, transport, or possess in Tennessee a cervid carcass or carcass part from anywhere outside state except as provided herein:
(a) Meat that has bones removed.
(b) Antlers, antlers attached to cleaned skull plates, or cleaned skulls
(where no meat or tissues are attached to the skull.)
(c) Cleaned teeth.
(d) Finished taxidermy and antler products.
(e) Hides and tanned products.
CWD Found in Captive Cervids?
No
CWD Found In Free Ranging Cervids?
Yes