State
CWD rules in Delaware
CWD zone status
Agency
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) — Division of Fish & Wildlife
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 Delaware
Delaware is the regulating authority for what you can bring in. Delaware confirmed its FIRST case of CWD in a wild white-tailed deer in April 2026, so zone status is now 'confirmed' (a DE CWD Management Area now exists with its own outbound-movement rules). Allowed/banned import parts verified from the official DNREC CWD page.
Allowed for import
- Boned-out meat that is cut and wrapped
- Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or skull attached
- Hides or capes with no skull attached
- Clean skull plates with antlers attached
- Antlers with no meat or tissue attached
- Upper canine teeth
- Finished taxidermy products
Restricted from import
- Whole carcasses (and parts other than those listed) from any state/province where CWD has been found in free-ranging or captive cervids
- Any carcass or carcass part from a captive (enclosed/fenced) hunting facility
- Spinal column
- Skull with brain tissue / brain
- Lymph nodes / spleen (high-risk tissue)
Handling + processing
Import restriction applies to carcasses/parts from any state/province where CWD has been found in free-ranging or captive deer, and from any captive cervid hunting facility. Anyone notified that an imported animal tested CWD-positive must report to DNREC within 72 hours (302-735-3600). Avoid cutting the spinal column; dispose of carcass waste double-bagged at landfills.
Taking a carcass out of Delaware
When you hunt in Delaware and bring the carcass to another state, that destination state sets the rule. Because Delaware 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.
Delaware 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.
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.