State
CWD rules in Montana
CWD zone status
Agency
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
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 Montana
Montana is the regulating authority for what you can bring in. The whole-carcass import restriction applies only to carcasses from CWD-positive states or provinces.
Allowed for import
- Deboned/boned, cut and wrapped meat
- Quarters or portions of meat with no spinal column or head attached
- Hides with no head attached
- Clean skull plate with antlers attached (no meat or tissue)
- Antlers with no meat or tissue attached
- Boiled/cleaned skull (no tissue)
- Upper canine teeth
- Finished taxidermy mounts
Restricted from import
- Whole carcasses
- Heads
- Brain tissue
- Spinal cord / spinal column
Handling + processing
Check the carcass-transport requirements of any state you pass through. In-state, brain and spinal tissue from processing must be bagged and disposed of in a Class II landfill.
Taking a carcass out of Montana
When you hunt in Montana and bring the carcass to another state, that destination state sets the rule. Because Montana 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.
Montana 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.