On March 31, 2022, the NCWRC announced CWD had been detected in a hunter-harvested buck from Yadkin County, becoming the first detection of the disease in North Carolina. Emergency powers were invoked by the Executive Director on April 12, 2022 to activate a localized response plan to assist with detection and isolation of CWD in the affected area. The emergency powers established a Primary Surveillance Area (PSA) and Secondary Surveillance Area (SSA) with special regulations intended to increase CWD surveillance and reduce risk of CWD spread. On June 9, 2022, the Wildlife Commission voted to replace emergency powers with temporary rules that are now in effect.
Primary Surveillance Area map (for download/print) Secondary Surveillance Area map (for download/print)
Use of Natural Deer Attractants/Scents: No person shall possess or use any substance or material that contains or is labeled as containing any excretion collected from a cervid, including feces, urine, blood, gland oil, or other bodily fluid for the purposes of taking or attempting to take, attracting, or scouting wildlife in the PSA or SSA. Natural substances collected by a hunter from a cervid legally harvested in North Carolina may NOT be used or possessed in these areas. This prohibition shall not apply to the following substances:
15A NCAC 10B .0503 (PDF)
Mandatory Sampling: A sample from all hunter-harvested deer taken within the 2022-23 season dates below must be submitted to the Wildlife Commission for testing.
*NOTE: Hunters may voluntarily submit samples for CWD testing from deer harvested at other times and locations during the 2022-2023 season.
Carcass Transport Restrictions: The transportation of a deer carcass or parts of a carcass out of the PSA or out of the SSA is prohibited with the following exceptions, or as otherwise permitted by the Wildlife Commission:
*Note: Refer to the Carcass Disposal Section below for additional carcass transportation exceptions.
Wildlife Feeding: The placement of minerals or salt to purposely congregate wildlife is prohibited in the PSA and SSA. The placement of bait, food, or food products to purposefully congregate wildlife is prohibited from Jan. 2 – Aug. 31 in the PSA and SSA, except for:
*NOTE: Baiting deer will be legal in both Surveillance Areas from Sept. 1, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023
Carcass Disposal
It is the hunter’s responsibility to dispose of deer carcasses after harvest in a safe and responsible manner. Follow deer carcass transportation rules and never dispose of carcasses in water, on roadsides, in waterways, or on other’s property without permission. Also, never transport carcass parts and then discard on the ground. Instead, responsibly dispose of carcasses by burying on the property where harvested, in a landfill, or leave on the ground at the harvest site. For more information, read Disposal and Transport of Deer Harvested in North Carolina.
Fawn Rehabilitation: All fawn rehabilitation within the PSA and SSA is prohibited. Fawns may not be transported out of these Surveillance Areas and cannot be accepted by fawn rehabilitators.
2022 Hunter Requirements in CWD Surveillance Areas (PDF)
Disposal and Transport of Deer Harvested in North Carolina (PDF)
Enlarge map
Return to main CWD page.