Whitetail deer

I was checking out Annie Got Her Gun blog and saw her post on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and thought it was an important subject that we should cover.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of deer and elk. TSEs are neurological diseases characterized by microscopic empty spaces in the brain matter, creating a “spongy” appearance. The disease prions attack the brains of infected animals, causing decreased interactions with other animals, listlessness, lowering of the head, a blank facial expression and repetitive walking in set patterns. Infected animals become emaciated and eventually die. To date, CWD has been found only in cervids (members of the deer family) in North America.

NCWRC

CWD has shown up in two new states, Virginia and North Dakota. Hunters in those states will need to comply with rules for handling members of the deer family. North Carolina hunters hunting in states that are positive for CWD will need to be well aware of NC law before bring any deer back into the state.

15A NCAC 10B .0124 IMPORTATION OF ANIMAL PARTS
(a) No cervid carcass or carcass part from any state or province where Chronic Wasting Disease occurs as identified by
the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance on the Internet at http://www.cwd-info.org/index.php/fuseaction/about.map shall
be imported, transported, or possessed in North Carolina except as provided herein:
(1) meat that is cut and wrapped;
(2) quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached;
(3) meat that has been boned out;
(4) caped hides;
(5) cleaned skull plates;
(6) antlers;
(7) cleaned teeth;
(8) finished taxidermy products.
(b) Pursuant to G.S. 113-291.2, any cervid carcass, carcass part, or container of processed and packaged cervid meat
imported as in (a) above from a state or province where Chronic Wasting Disease is known to occur as identified by the
Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance on the Internet at http://www.cwd-info.org/index.php/fuseaction/about.map shall be
tagged identifying:
(1) Hunter’s name and address;
(2) State or province of origin of any cervid carcass, carcass part, or container of processed and packaged
cervid meat;
(3) Date the cervid was killed and the hunter’s hunting license number from the state or province of origin
of any cervid carcass, carcass part, or container of processed and packaged cervid meat; and
(4) Destination of the cervid carcass, carcass part or container of processed and packaged cervid meat
within North Carolina.
History Note: Authority G.S. 113-291.2;
Eff. May 1, 2006.

North Carolina residents that deer hunt in Virginia are going to have to really think about the changes now that Virginia is a positive state. No longer can a deer taken in Virginia be brought across the state line and butchered here. Even though CWD is for all intense purposes is not really much closer to North Carolina the game has forever changed.

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