Due to the regular amending of regulations in Wyoming, 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 Wyoming can be seen below:
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has jurisdiction over import and possession of cervids. WGFD contact: Samantha Allen (samantha.allen@wyo.gov)
Standard Regulations
1) Certificate of veterinary inspection
2) negative brucellosis test withn 30 days,
3) negative TB test within 90 days,
4) statement that no animal on the premise of origin is known to be infected with or to be exposed to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis,
5) 60 day quarantine prior to entry with 2 negative baermann tests for Elaphostrongylinae parasites and 2 negative fecal sedimentations for large american liver flukes
6) 180 day quarantine post entry with negative baermann fecals for Elaphostrongylinae parasites every 30 days
7) must originate from herds CWD free for at least 5 years
8) free of ticks, mites, and lice
9) all elk must be genetically tested for hybridization and test as pure rocky mountain elk.
10) WGFD import permit.
CWD Regulations for Captive Cervids and Wildlife
No imports of cervids unless they come from monitored herds free of CWD for at least 5 years.
New CWD Regulations in Development
New CWD management plan adopted in April, 2016.
CWD Testing Program For Captive Cervids
Captive cervids are not allowed; single exemption allowed; single exempted ranch not in CWD endemic area and has opted not to import any cervid.
CWD Testing Program For Wildlife
Preliminary research based surveillence from 1982-1996. Agency hunter-harvested, targeted, and road-kill surveillance in deer, elk, and moose since 1997. Testing done by WGFD Wildlife Health Laboratory. Over 53,000 samples tested by 2016. Testing is voluntary and free if samples taken by WGFD personnel.
Baiting Banned?
The department may issue baiting permits to landowners for specific sites on private land where conditions exist which are limiting the ability to take big game animals for the purpose of addressing damage to private property, human safety, disease issues, or population management. Wyoming Statute 23-3-304:
(d) No person shall place any bait for the purpose of taking a big game animal nor shall any person knowingly take a big game animal by the use of any bait that has been deposited, placed, distributed or scattered in a manner to constitute a lure, attraction or enticement to, on or over the area where any hunter is taking big game animals. Nothing in this subsection shall:
(i) Apply to normal or accepted agricultural management practices;
(ii) Prohibit taking big game animals over stored and standing crops, salt, mineral or other feed scattered solely as a result of normal and accepted agricultural practices;
(iii) Apply to the placement, distribution, depositing or scattering of bait, as approved by the game and fish commission, for the taking of big game animals by any legally blind person, person confined to a wheelchair or person hunting with a license issued pursuant to W.S. 23-1-705(j);
(iv) Apply to the placement, distribution, depositing or scattering of bait for the taking of big game animals in hunt areas to address population management, damage, disease or human safety issues. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the provisions of this paragraph.
(e) As used in subsection (d) of this section, "bait" means the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, hay, grain, fruit, nuts or chemical, mineral or other feed as an attraction or enticement for big game animals, regardless of the kind and quantity. A chemical used as an attractant or mask rather than for consumption shall not be considered "bait".
Feeding Banned?
SECTION 1: Supplemental Feeding of Certain Wild Animals Prohibited
A. Definitions.
1. Supplement feed attractants. “Supplement feed attractants” are any human food, pet food, including pelleted forage feed, hay, block salt, forage product or mineral supplements, grain, seed or birdseed, garbage, and other food sources and attractants, but does not included incidental food sources such as lawns and gardens.
2. Agricultural. For the purposes of this section “agricultural” means the science or art of cultivating the soil, producing crops, boarding and/or raising permitted livestock.
B. Prohibition. No person shall knowingly or intentionally provide supplemental feed attractants to the following wild animals, unless specifically authorized by an agency of either the State of Wyoming or the United States of America; antelope, deer, elk, moose, turkey, ducks, non-domestic geese, bobcat, bear, mountain lion, coyote, fox, raccoon, wolf and skunks.
C. Exemptions. A person engaged in any of the following activities is not subject to liabilities under this section:
1. A person engaged in the normal feeding of livestock;
2. A person pursuing an agricultural purpose on agricultural land as defined by Wyoming Statues §39-13-101 (a)(iii);
3. A person engaged in the practice of raising crops and crop aftermath, including hay, alfalfa and grains, produced, harvested, stored or fed to domestic livestock in accordance with normal agricultural practices;
4. A person engaged in the cultivation of a lawn or garden;
5. A person engaged in bird feeding using a feeder designed to limit access by the animals specified in paragraph B of this Section; and
6. Any health department employee, law enforcement officer or a state or federal game official acting within the scope of his/her official duties.
Ban On Movement of Animal Parts?
Importation into Wyoming of any deer, elk, or moose taken from any state, province, or country within areas designated as positive for CWD is restricted—such animal carcasses may only be transported into Wyoming to a private residence for processing, to a taxidermist, to a processor, or to a CWD sample collection site in Wyoming provided the head and all portions of the spinal column are disposed of in an approved landfill. Within Wyoming, transport of deer, elk, or moose taken or possessed from any hunt area in Wyoming to another hunt area within Wyoming or any other state, province or country is restricted—such animal carcasses may only be transported in Wyoming to a camp, a private residence for processing, to a taxidermist, to a processor, or to a CWD sample collection site in Wyoming provided the head and all portions of the spinal column remain at the site of the kill or are disposed of in any approved landfill in Wyoming.
CWD Found in Captive Cervids?
No
CWD Found In Free Ranging Cervids?
Yes - white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose