State
CWD rules in Kentucky
CWD zone status
Agency
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
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 Kentucky
Kentucky is the regulating authority for what you can bring in. Import ban applies to deer/elk/moose/caribou from ALL other states (not only CWD-positive). CWD confirmed in Kentucky: first wild case Ballard County Dec 2023; second wild case Pulaski County Oct 2025; captive cases at a Breckinridge County farm. Agency CWD-FAQ page is CloudFront geo-blocked from this environment; rule text verified via search-surfaced KDFWR content and the official eRegulations Kentucky publication.
Allowed for import
- deboned/boned-out meat
- quarters or portions of meat with no spinal column or head attached
- antlers
- antlers attached to a clean skull plate
- cleaned skull (no brain tissue)
- cleaned teeth
- hides/capes with no head attached
- finished taxidermy mounts
Restricted from import
- whole carcass
- brain and skull contents
- spinal cord/spinal column
- eyes
- lymphoid/lymph tissue
Handling + processing
Brain and spinal column must be removed before import; high-risk parts prohibited. Violations may result in fines and confiscation of the animal and hunting equipment.
Taking a carcass out of Kentucky
When you hunt in Kentucky and bring the carcass to another state, that destination state sets the rule. Because Kentucky 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.
Kentucky 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.