Chronic Wasting Disease Laws in Washington Every Hunter Needs to Know

Chronic wasting disease has officially arrived in Washington, and the rules for hunters, landowners, and wildlife enthusiasts have changed significantly as a result. In 2024, Washington became the 35th state to confirm the presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Since that first detection, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has moved quickly to put new regulations in place — and if you hunt, salvage roadkill, or simply live near deer habitat in eastern Washington, these laws apply to you.

Understanding your obligations under Washington’s chronic wasting disease laws isn’t just about avoiding fines. Unmanaged, CWD in Washington could severely impact deer and elk populations, which could in turn impact hunting opportunities, economies that rely on hunting revenue, and ultimately, ecosystem health and resilience. This guide breaks down every major rule so you know exactly what is required of you.

CWD Status and Affected Areas in Washington

CWD attacks an animal’s nervous system and is always fatal, spreading through contact with infected animals or even their carcasses. CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that infects members of the cervid family — deer, elk, and moose. There is no cure, and once it takes hold in a population, it is nearly impossible to eradicate.

In 2024, CWD was first detected in a white-tailed deer in Spokane County. Additional cases of CWD were found in Spokane County, and one case was found in Pend Oreille County during the hunting season in 2024. As of the time of publication, the department has confirmed CWD in Region 1 — WDFW’s Eastern Region, which covers the 100 series Game Management Units (GMUs).

In March of 2025, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind approved new rules designed to limit the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Washington. Big game hunters should remember that as of 2025, Washington has new rules to limit the spread of CWD, including rules related to transporting harvested deer, elk, and moose in Washington, importing meat and other cervid parts into Washington, and using scent lures derived from cervid urine or glandular materials. If you hunt or spend time in Washington’s wildlife zones, you need to know these rules before heading afield.

Baiting and Feeding Restrictions in Washington

One of the most sweeping changes in Washington’s CWD response is a statewide ban on baiting and feeding deer, elk, and moose. Baiting deer, elk, and moose in Washington is banned statewide, as baiting draws animals together where they can spread disease. Using scent lures derived from cervid urine or glandular materials is also prohibited.

On March 24, 2025, the WDFW director approved a rule prohibiting baiting deer, elk, and moose in Washington, as baiting draws animals together where they can spread disease. These rules went into effect May 17, 2025. The feeding ban goes beyond just hunters — it applies to anyone who might attract these animals to a location.

• Salt blocks: Feeding deer, elk, and moose in Washington State is illegal, and this includes providing salt blocks to attract animals.
• Grain, hay, and fruit: WDFW approved the rule prohibiting feeding deer, elk, and moose in the state, including the use of salt blocks, distributing grain, hay, fruit, or other bait intended to lure animals.
• Cervid-based scent lures: The director also approved a rule prohibiting using scent lures derived from cervid urine or glandular materials.
• Inadvertent feeding: Under the new rule, it is also illegal to feed any other Washington wildlife if doing so causes deer, elk, or moose to congregate in the area — even if you aren’t intending to feed them.

This means your bird feeder could put you at legal risk. If bird feeders or other items on your property are attracting deer, elk, or moose, remove them to help limit the potential spread of CWD and other diseases.

It is also worth noting that the ban does not apply to WDFW’s own winter supplemental feeding programs, though the agency said it is reevaluating that practice. WDFW maintains wintertime feeding programs for elk and other ungulates at multiple wildlife viewing areas including the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area and the Oak Creek Wildlife Area.

These regulations sit alongside Washington’s broader animal welfare and wildlife protection framework, which governs how residents interact with wild animals across the state.

Carcass Transportation Rules in Washington

Whether you harvest an animal in eastern Washington or bring one home from a hunt in another state, strict transport rules now govern what parts you can legally move. If you hunt deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of Washington, there are rules (WAC 220-413-030) regulating how you can bring your meat and trophies home. You cannot bring whole carcasses into Washington.

These rules also apply to people harvesting or salvaging deer, elk, and moose within the 100 series GMUs in WDFW’s Region 1 and wishing to transport carcasses to other areas of Washington. The following items are the only ones permitted for import into Washington or transport out of the 100 series GMUs:

• Meat that has been fully deboned in the state or province where it was harvested
• Any part of the skull and antlers with all soft tissue removed — soft tissue is any tissue that is not tooth, bone, or antler (velvet must be removed)
• Hides or capes without the head attached
• Upper canine teeth (buglers or ivories)
• Finished taxidermy mounts
• Tissue imported by researchers with preapproved permits for use by a diagnostic or research laboratory

When it comes to disposing of carcass remains, WDFW recommends a tiered approach. The first preferred method is to debone at the kill site and leave inedible parts on site. The second preferred method is to dispose of any inedible parts brought out of the kill site at an approved landfill (call ahead for hours and rates) and make sure transport restrictions are followed. The third preferred method is to double-bag any inedible parts that are brought home and put them in household trash that goes to a landfill.

If you also need to understand how Washington handles roadkill salvage rules, those regulations have also been updated to include CWD testing requirements for salvaged animals in Region 1.

CWD Testing Requirements for Hunters in Washington

Mandatory CWD testing is now a legal requirement for hunters and salvagers operating in eastern Washington. If you harvest a deer, elk, or moose in WDFW’s Eastern Region (100 series GMUs), you are required to provide a lymph node sample for CWD testing within five days of harvesting animals, either by submitting the whole head with at least three inches of the neck attached or by submitting extracted retropharyngeal lymph nodes.

If you salvage road-killed animals in any 100 series GMU, it is now a requirement to submit to WDFW the whole head with at least three inches of neck attached or extracted lymph nodes for chronic wasting disease sampling within three days of receiving a salvage permit.

There are several ways to submit your sample for testing:

1. Hunter check station: Stop at a WDFW hunter check station during the season
2. WDFW facility appointment: Schedule an appointment at a WDFW regional office
3. Self-service kiosk: Drop the head at a designated kiosk location
4. Mail-in: Remove the lymph nodes yourself and mail them to WDFW

Once submitted, results typically take 4–6 weeks and will be available online using your WILD ID or salvage permit number. If the animal tests positive for CWD, WDFW will notify you and help with disposal of any meat you do not wish to consume.

Hunters outside Region 1 are not currently required to test, but voluntary testing is available. If you want to have your deer, elk, or moose that was harvested outside of Region 1 tested, visit the WDFW website and follow instructions on how to mail in your sample.

There is also a mandatory cross-border notification rule: if you are notified by another state, province, tribe, or laboratory that the animal you have harvested has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, you have 24 hours to notify WDFW. Failure to do so is an infraction (RCW 77.15.160). You can report by calling 360-902-2515 or emailing CWD@dfw.wa.gov.

Regarding food safety, CWD has not been shown to infect people, but research is still ongoing and it is not known for certain if people can be infected. There is a theoretical risk to people who eat an infected animal. As a precaution, the Washington State Department of Health and the CDC recommend not eating any animal that tests positive for CWD or appears to have it.

Captive Cervid and Deer Farming Rules in Washington

Washington has some of the strictest captive cervid regulations in the country, predating the current CWD outbreak by decades. Captive cervid farms, except formally permitted fallow deer and reindeer farms, were prohibited in 1993. This means that new deer or elk farming operations are not legally permitted in Washington.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) regulates the importation and possession of captive cervids. Both WDFW and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) regulate the disease testing requirements for captive cervids. If you operate one of the grandfathered fallow deer or reindeer farms still permitted in the state, you are subject to both agencies’ oversight.

In addition to standard regulations, cervids must be tested for tuberculosis, brucellosis, and certain Parelaphostrongylus and Elaphostrongylus species before entering the state. CWD surveillance is layered on top of these pre-existing disease testing obligations.

If you are involved in any type of livestock or farm animal operation in Washington, it is also worth reviewing Washington’s goat ownership laws, which similarly involve agricultural and wildlife agency oversight for disease management purposes.

Reporting Sick or Suspected Deer in Washington

Spotting and reporting a sick deer is one of the most valuable things you can do to help WDFW track the spread of CWD. The new reporting requirements for hunters will help wildlife officials track hunting activity and monitor potential disease spread patterns. This data collection will enable the Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify emerging hotspots and adjust management strategies accordingly.

CWD-infected animals often display recognizable symptoms. Common signs to watch for include:

• Dramatic weight loss or emaciation
• Stumbling, staggering, or loss of coordination
• Lowered head, drooping ears, or blank facial expression
• Excessive drooling or difficulty swallowing
• Lack of fear of humans or abnormally docile behavior
• Excessive thirst or urination

To report a sick or suspected CWD-positive deer in Washington, contact WDFW directly:

• Phone: 360-902-2515
• Email: CWD@dfw.wa.gov
• Online: Via the WDFW CWD webpage

There is also a mandatory reporting obligation if a positive test result comes back from another jurisdiction. If you are notified by another state or provincial fish and wildlife agency that your harvested animal has tested positive for CWD, you have 24 hours to notify WDFW by calling 360-902-2515 or emailing CWD@dfw.wa.gov. WDFW will dispose of meat you do not wish to consume.

Washington’s approach to wildlife disease reporting is part of a broader set of wildlife laws in Washington that require residents to interact responsibly with wild animals and report concerns to the appropriate agencies.

Penalties for CWD Violations in Washington

Violations of Washington’s CWD regulations carry real legal consequences, ranging from infractions to gross misdemeanors depending on the specific rule broken. Understanding the penalty structure helps you gauge the seriousness of each obligation.

Violation of the transport restriction rule is a gross misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine or one year in jail (RCW 77.15.290). This is the most serious CWD-specific penalty currently on the books and applies to anyone who brings a whole carcass into Washington or moves one out of the 100 series GMUs.

If you hunt deer, elk, moose, or caribou in states or provinces outside of Washington State, only specific items may be imported to Washington to reduce the risk of transmitting CWD. Violation of the transport rule is a gross misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine or one year in jail. In addition, if you are notified by another state fish and wildlife agency that the animal you harvested outside of Washington has tested positive for CWD, you must notify WDFW within 24 hours — violation of this rule is an infraction (RCW 77.15.160).

Beyond the financial and criminal consequences, CWD violations can also affect your hunting privileges. License suspension and revocation are tools available to WDFW enforcement officers, and a gross misdemeanor conviction could have lasting effects on your ability to hunt in Washington and other states.

If you want to stay on the right side of Washington’s animal and wildlife laws more broadly, it is worth reviewing the full scope of Washington’s pet and animal laws, as well as specific rules around importing animals into Washington, which share some of the same regulatory philosophy as the CWD carcass import rules.

Washington’s CWD regulations are among the most significant changes to hunting law the state has seen in decades. Whether you are a lifelong deer hunter in Spokane County, a western Washington resident who occasionally hunts out of state, or a landowner in the eastern part of the state, these rules affect you directly. Staying informed and compliant is the most effective thing any individual can do to help protect Washington’s deer, elk, and moose populations for years to come.