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CWD rules in Alabama

Alabama restricts which deer and elk carcass parts you can bring in from out of state. You may generally import only lower-risk parts; high-risk parts are prohibited.

CWD zone status

CWD confirmed

Agency

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division

Last verified

June 16, 2026

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.

Bringing a carcass into Alabama

Alabama is the regulating authority for what you can bring in. Import ban applies to all family Cervidae from any other state, territory, or province. CWD confirmed in Alabama (first detected in Lauderdale County, January 2022).

Allowed for import

  • completely deboned meat
  • cleaned skull plates with antlers attached (no visible brain or spinal cord tissue)
  • unattached antlers or shed antlers
  • raw capes with no visible brain or spinal cord tissue
  • upper canine teeth with no root structure or soft tissue
  • finished taxidermy products
  • tanned hides

Restricted from import

  • whole carcasses
  • any meat that has not been deboned
  • skull plates or hides with brain or spinal cord tissue
  • brain
  • spinal cord
  • velvet-covered antlers

Handling + processing

All meat must be deboned and all skull plates and hides completely cleaned of brain and spinal cord tissue before import. No labeling or notification requirement specified.

Taking a carcass out of Alabama

When you hunt in Alabama and bring the carcass to another state, that destination state sets the rule. Because Alabama has confirmed CWD detections, several destination states apply their stricter "from a CWD-affected state" rule to carcasses originating here — plan to bring back lower-risk parts only.

Alabama 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.

Verified against the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division 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.