2025-2026 Chronic Wasting Disease Proclamation

Pursuant to North Dakota law and upon the recommendation of the North Dakota Game and Fish Director, I hereby declare the following a precaution against the potential spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) into and within North Dakota:

1. BAITING.

It shall be unlawful for an individual to hunt big game over bait or place bait on any North Dakota Game and Fish Department Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). As used herein, bait includes grain, seed, mineral, salt, fruit, vegetable nut, hay, any naturally derived scent or lure (e.g. urine), or natural or manufactured food placed by an individual. As used herein, baiting does not include agricultural practices; gardens; wildlife food plots; agricultural crops; livestock feeds; fruit or vegetables in their natural location, such as apples on or under an apple tree; or unharvested food or vegetables in a garden. This ban does not apply to wildlife management activities conducted by or under the direction of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

2. CARCASS TRANSPORTATION.

1. It shall be unlawful to transport into North Dakota the whole carcass or carcass parts of: white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, elk, or members of the cervid family harvested outside of North Dakota except the following lower-risk portions of the carcass:
   • Meat that is cut and wrapped either commercially or privately.
   • Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.
   • Meat that has been boned out.
   • Hides with no heads attached.
   • Skull plates with antlers attached having no brain tissue present.
   • Intact skulls with no visible brain or spinal cord tissue present that has the eyes, lower jaw, tongue, salivary glands, tonsils, and lymph nodes removed.
   • Antlers separated from the skull plate.
   • Upper canine teeth, also known as “buglers”, “whistlers”, or “ivories”.
   • Finished taxidermy heads.
2. The carcass waste (material not used for consumption, preserved for taxidermy, or defined as lower-risk portions in Section (1)) of a white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, or elk harvested in North Dakota by any method (gun, archery, muzzleloader) transported out of its respective gun unit of origin must be disposed of via landfill or waste management provider. This requirement does not apply to heads dropped off at Game and Fish Department CWD collection sites, or lymph nodes submitted for CWD surveillance.
3. Taxidermists or game processors may accept intact carcasses harvested within North Dakota but assume responsibility for disposal requirements specified in Section (2).

Violations and Penalties.

Violations of this proclamation are noncriminal with a fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00). All portions of carcasses, or parts thereof, in violation may be seized for appropriate disposal.