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Origin → Destination

Bringing a carcass from Michigan to Washington

Washington restricts which deer and elk parts you can bring in from out of state, including from Michigan. You may generally bring back the lower-risk parts listed below; high-risk parts are prohibited. First CWD detection in Washington in 2024 (Spokane/Eastern WA area), prompting emergency rules. Import ban applies broadly (not limited to CWD-positive states), so 'restricted'. Verify with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) before transport.

Origin · Michigan

CWD confirmed
brings the rule from the destination

Destination · Washington

CWD confirmed
Reverse: WA → MI

CWDCrossing provides informational summaries of state CWD carcass-transport regulations. Rules change annually pre-hunting-season; verify with both the origin and destination state wildlife agencies before transport. Failure to comply may result in citations. Not affiliated with the CWD Alliance, the National Deer Association, or any state agency.

What you can bring into Washington

  • Meat de-boned in the state/province of harvest
  • Any part of the skull and antlers with all soft tissue removed
  • Antlers (velvet removed)
  • Hides or capes without heads attached
  • Finished taxidermy mounts
  • Tissue imported by researchers with preapproved permit
WDFW — Rule changes to reduce the spread of CWD (opens in a new tab)verified June 16, 2026

What's restricted in Washington

  • Whole carcasses
  • Any soft tissue remaining on skull or antlers (non-tooth/bone/antler tissue)
  • Velvet on antlers
  • Brain
  • Spinal cord/column
WDFW — Rule changes to reduce the spread of CWD (opens in a new tab)verified June 16, 2026

Handling + processing requirements

Velvet is soft tissue and must be removed from antlers before transport. Rules apply to out-of-state imports and to carcass movement out of the Region 1 100-series GMUs within Washington.

What to do before you transport

  1. Confirm the current rule directly with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) before you transport anything.
  2. Keep proof of where you hunted — many states require a label with your name, license number, and the state of harvest.
  3. Michigan has confirmed CWD detections; check whether Washington applies a stricter rule to carcasses from CWD-affected states.
  4. If your route crosses additional states, check each one — a state you only drive through can still regulate possession in transit.

Michigan and Washington on the CWD map

ALAKAZARCACOCTDEDCFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY
  • CWD confirmed in state
  • Under heightened surveillance
  • No known CWD detections

Zone status is informational, not a hazard rating. Detections expand over time — confirm current status with each state's wildlife agency.

Other destinations from Michigan

MI → AlabamaMI → AlaskaMI → ArizonaMI → ArkansasMI → California

Check a different pair

The state you took the deer or elk in.

The state sets the rule for what you can bring in.

Verified against the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on June 16, 2026Expert review in progress(state-DNR contact / wildlife biologist / hunting-org compliance officer)

CWDCrossing provides informational summaries of state CWD carcass-transport regulations. Rules change annually pre-hunting-season; verify with both the origin and destination state wildlife agencies before transport. Failure to comply may result in citations. Not affiliated with the CWD Alliance, the National Deer Association, or any state agency.

How we verifyPrimary-source manifestCWD-zone map