Hunters encouraged to stay informed about 
big game meat transport and carcass disposal

As you prepare for upcoming hunts in New Mexico or other states, you are encouraged to familiarize yourself with carcass disposal and transport regulations in the states where you will be hunting deer or elk.

While state wildlife agency regulations may vary state-by-state, the goal remains the same: to keep deer and elk herds healthy and minimize the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). This cannot be accomplished without help from hunters.

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“CWD can have a significant effect on our deer and elk populations in New Mexico,” the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish says. “Early detection is the easiest way to mitigate disease spread.”

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that can be unintentionally transmitted from CWD-positive carcasses that are moved or not disposed of properly.

Chronic wasting disease has been detected in Game Management Units 19, 28 and 34 in New Mexico.

Proper disposal of carcass parts is an important management action for reducing the risk of unintentional transmission of CWD prions to susceptible wildlife from CWD-positive areas to areas where the disease is not yet known to exist. Research shows that prions can remain infectious in the environment for 16-plus years. This complicates CWD management because there is no known, practical way to destroy prions in the environment.

More information and resources for hunters traveling across state lines can be found on the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance website.

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