Cervid Carcass Importation Restrictions
Most states regulate the transportation of hunter-harvested cervids (deer and elk) to prevent the spread of diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease. In 2005, the AGFC adopted regulations to prevent CWD from spreading into the state through mishandled animal carcasses.
A cervid is any member of the Cervidae family, including white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, sika deer, fallow deer, mule deer and caribou.
It is unlawful for hunters to import, transport or possess in Arkansas any portion of a cervid other than boneless meat that originated or was harvested from any captive facility or enclosure. Deer or elk harvested in commercial wildlife hunting resorts in Arkansas may be transported or possessed only after a CWD sample is collected.
It also is unlawful for hunters to import, transport or possess in Arkansas any portion of a cervid other than boneless meat that originated or was harvested from any state Canadian province where CWD has been found.
Cervid carcasses may not be imported into Arkansas from the following CWD-positive U.S. states and Canadian provinces:
- Alberta
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- New York
- Saskatchewan
- South Dakota
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Hunters may bring the following items back into Arkansas:
- Antlers and/or antlers attached to clean skull plates or cleaned skulls (where no meat or tissues are attached to skull)
- Meat with bones removed
- Cleaned teeth
- Finished taxidermy products
- Hides and tanned products