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Hunters Reminded of Big Game Transport Rules

Big game hunters are reminded of requirements for transporting deer, elk and moose carcasses and carcass parts into and within North Dakota as a precaution against the possible spread of chronic wasting disease.

Hunters are prohibited from transporting into or within North Dakota the whole carcass of deer, elk, moose or other members of the cervid family from states and provinces with documented occurrences of CWD in wild populations, or in captive cervids. Hunters should note that Montana is now included in the 2018-19 CWD proclamation as a state that has had free-ranging deer, moose or elk diagnosed with CWD and therefore now has big game transport restriction. 

In addition, hunters harvesting a big game animal in unit 3F2 in North Dakota cannot transport the whole carcass, including the head and spinal column, outside of the unit. This is a new rule from last year, when hunters could take the carcass outside of the unit if it was taken directly to a meat processor within five days of the harvest date.

Only the following portions of the carcass can be transported:

·         Meat that has been boned out.

·         Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.

·         Hides with no heads attached.

·         Meat that is cut and wrapped either commercially or privately.

·         Clean (no meat or tissue attached) skull plates with antlers attached.

·         Antlers with no meat or tissue attached.

·         Upper canine teeth, also known as buglers, whistlers or ivories.

·         Finished taxidermy heads.

Hunters should also note that hunting big game over bait, or placing bait to attract big game for the purpose of hunting, is prohibited in deer units 3C west of the Missouri River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2.