Bringing an Out-of-State Elk Head Into California

November 21, 2019

Answer: If you do bag an elk on your out-of-state trip, here’s what you need to know. There are restrictions on importing deer and elk into California – and they are in place for a very good reason. You’ve probably heard of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), the neurodegenerative disorder (https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Investigations/Monitoring/CWD) which is fatal to cervids. Colorado is a CWD positive state (https://cpw.state.co.us/cwd) . Keeping the disease out of California is one of CDFW’s top priorities. It is incumbent upon every hunter to do his or her part to prevent inadvertently transporting the agent that causes CWD into California. We must keep our cervid populations healthy in part so that hunters like you can continue to benefit from their harvest. While CWD has never been detected in humans, scientists haven’t completely ruled out the possibility that the disease could spread between species.

To prevent the accidental importation of CWD-infected tissues into the state, California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 712 prohibits hunters from importing or possessing carcasses with a skull or backbone still attached. If you are hunting out of state, please make sure to review the regulations related to CWD for that state (https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcwd-info.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2FCWDRegstableState-Province.pdf&data=02%7C01%7CKirsten.Macintyre%40wildlife.ca.gov%7C14ef0e81a05149fd0aef08d76e1e13fe%7C4b633c25efbf40069f1507442ba7aa0b%7C0%7C0%7C637098947858003864&sdata=%2FQmUxgrvJImA1k7d%2B4Eg8zrjsnUCL8iz0%2FUQf7El6Pg%3D&reserved=0). Also, if hunting in a state where CWD is present, make sure to check with that state’s wildlife agency for information about hunter check stations and how to get your animal tested in the state where it is harvested. An animal that is taken in a CWD endemic zone should be processed in that area or state. Bringing back packaged meat is the best and safest approach. If a harvested animal tests positive for CWD, CDFW supports the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization to not consume the meat. The hunter should contact a CDFW office or the Wildlife Investigations Laboratory to have all remaining tissues incinerated.

So, what can you bring home? You do have options as per CCR, section 712. You can import meat with no part of the spinal column, brain or head attached. You can also bring in a clean skull plate without a single iota of brain tissue present. Also allowed are hides and capes, antlers, finished taxidermy mounts and upper canine teeth. In all cases, the spinal column, brain tissue must be removed. (Please read the regulation carefully for specifics.)

Failure to comply with section 712 is a misdemeanor offense that will result in a citation by a California wildlife officer. But compliance is easier than you may think. CDFW created a video to show you how to clean your elk at . You can also find background information, additional links and updates on California’s efforts to fight CWD at www.wildlife.ca.gov/cwd.