Origin → Destination
Bringing a carcass from Vermont to Michigan
Origin · Vermont
Destination · Michigan
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 Michigan
- deboned/boned-out meat
- quarters or parts with no spinal column or head attached
- antlers
- antlers attached to a skull cap cleaned of all brain and muscle tissue
- cleaned skull cap (no brain material, membranes, or skin)
- hides cleaned of excess tissue or blood
- upper canine teeth
- finished taxidermy mounts
- tissue imported for a diagnostic or research laboratory
What's restricted in Michigan
- whole carcasses
- entire head
- brain
- spinal column/spinal cord
- any part not on the allowed list
Handling + processing requirements
Importing a free-ranging deer/elk/moose carcass from any out-of-state location is restricted; from CWD-affected states/provinces hunters are limited to deboned meat, clean antlers/skull cap, hides, and upper canine teeth. If notified another state found an imported cervid CWD-positive, contact the DNR Wildlife Disease Lab (517-336-5030) within two business days. Violation is a misdemeanor.
What to do before you transport
- Confirm the current rule directly with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before you transport anything.
- Keep proof of where you hunted — many states require a label with your name, license number, and the state of harvest.
- Check Vermont's current CWD-zone status, since affected-zone designations can change between seasons.
- If your route crosses additional states, check each one — a state you only drive through can still regulate possession in transit.
Vermont and Michigan on the CWD map
- 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 Vermont
Check a different pair
The state you took the deer or elk in.
The state sets the rule for what you can bring in.
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.