Advice to Hunters Headed Out of State
Be careful what deer, elk and moose parts you return home with.
Compiled by staff
Published: Sep 7, 2010
Thousands of hunters will soon be heading off to hunt big game in other states and Canadian provinces. But concern over the introduction or spreading of Chronic Wasting Disease from mule deer, whitetails, elk and moose, has prompted a warning by Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl Roe.
In July, the PGC updated its executive order prohibiting importation into the state of specific carcass parts from deer, elk and moose from 18 states and two Canadian provinces. The intent is to minimize risk of bring back and disposing of tissues containing CWD prions.
The ban affects hunters heading to: Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York (only from CWD containment area), North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia (only from CWD containment area), West Virginia (only from Hampshire County), Wisconsin and Wyoming; as well as the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The banned carcass parts are ones where the prions (the causative agent) concentrate. they are:
Head (including brain, tonsils, eyes and any lymph nodes);
Spinal cord/backbone;
Spleen;
Skull plate with attached antlers, if visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present;
Cape, if visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present;
Upper canine teeth, if root structure or other soft tissue is present;
Any object or article containing visible brain or spinal cord tissue;
Unfinished taxidermy mounts;
Brain-tanned hides.
The prohibition doesn't limit importing:
Meat without the backbone;
Cleaned skull plate with attached antlers, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present;
Tanned hide or raw hide with no visible brain or spinal cord tissue present;
Cape, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present;
Upper canine teeth, if no root structure or other soft tissue is present;
Finished taxidermy mounts.
Become familiar with the state's wildlife regulations and know whether CWD is a problem in the area that you'll be hunting.
Currently, no evidence of CWD has been found in Pennsylvania deer and elk. For more nationwide details on CWD, visit the CWD Alliance Web site at
www.cwd-info.org.
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