State
CWD rules in Pennsylvania
CWD zone status
Agency
Pennsylvania Game Commission
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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is the regulating authority for what you can bring in. Under the rule effective September 2, 2022, the high-risk-parts import ban applies to all states and countries regardless of CWD status. CWD was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2012.
Allowed for import
- Deboned meat
- Cleaned skull plate with antlers (no visible brain or spinal cord tissue)
- Tanned or raw hides (no visible brain or spinal cord tissue)
- Capes (no visible brain or spinal cord tissue)
- Upper canine teeth (no root structure or soft tissue)
- Finished taxidermy mounts
Restricted from import
- Head (brain, tonsils, eyes, lymph nodes)
- Spinal cord / backbone
- Spleen
- Skull plate or cape with visible brain or spinal cord tissue
- Unfinished taxidermy mounts
- Brain-tanned hides
Handling + processing
Follow the harvest state's testing instructions. If an animal tests positive after you return, contact the local Game Commission region office.
Taking a carcass out of Pennsylvania
When you hunt in Pennsylvania and bring the carcass to another state, that destination state sets the rule. Because Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania 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.