Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.167 - [Effective 7/14/2025] Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone Rule

(1) Hunters SHALL submit samples for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing from all deer harvested on any Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Special Opportunity Area (SOA), Community Hunting Area (CHA), State Waterfowl Refuges, or Physically Disabled Hunting Area (PHDA) located within a CWD High Risk Zone (HRZ) or Buffer Zone (BZ) at the WMA Check Station, or Drop-off Sampling freezer locations, or a scheduled DCNR Mobile Sampling location.

(2) Hunters SHALL submit samples for CWD testing from all deer harvested within the High Risk Zone (HRZ) of the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone (CMZ) at DCNR mobile sampling locations or Drop-off Sampling freezer locations on scheduled dates announced by press release and posted to the website below. All other days, hunters are encouraged to submit samples for CWD testing. www.outdooralabama.com/CWD-Info. As an incentive to increase CWD samples submitted for testing on scheduled dates, hunters shall receive a CWD Sampling Permit to harvest one additional antlered deer from within a CMZ for each CWD sample submitted for testing from deer harvested within the HRZ. No more than two additional CWD Sampling Permits will be issued per hunter above the season bag limit, combined for the HRZ and BZ. CWD Sampling Permits are non-transferrable. CWD Sampling Permits are only available at WMA Check Stations and DCNR Mobile sampling locations on scheduled testing days.

(3) Hunters SHALL submit samples for CWD testing from all deer harvested within the Buffer Zone (BZ) of the CMZ at DCNR mobile sampling locations or Drop-off Sampling freezer locations on scheduled dates announced by press release and posted to the website below. All other days, hunters are encouraged to submit samples for CWD testing. www.outdooralabama.com/CWD-Info. As an incentive to increase CWD samples submitted for testing on scheduled dates, hunters shall receive a CWD Sampling Permit to harvest one additional antlered deer from within a CMZ for each CWD sample submitted for testing from deer harvested within the BZ. No more than two additional CWD Sampling Permits will be issued per hunter above the season bag limit, combined for the HRZ and BZ. CWD Sampling Permits are non-transferable. CWD Sampling Permits are only available at WMA Check Stations and DCNR Mobile sampling locations on scheduled testing days.

(4) All deer harvested in the CMZ must be properly recorded and reported through the Game Check System pursuant to Regulation 220-2-.146.

(5) No cervid or cervid body parts taken from the HRZ shall be transported outside of the HRZ. This restriction shall not apply to meat of a cervid species that has been completely deboned; cleaned skull plates with attached bare antlers, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present; unattached bare antlers or sheds; raw capes, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present; upper canine teeth, if no root structure or other soft tissue is present; and finished taxidermy products or tanned hides.

(6) No cervid or cervid body parts taken from the BZ shall be transported outside the CMZ. This restriction shall not apply to meat of a cervid species that has been completely deboned; cleaned skull plates with attached bare antlers, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present; unattached bare antlers or sheds; raw capes, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present; upper canine teeth, if no root structure or other soft tissue is present; and finished taxidermy products or tanned hides.

(7) Deer processors or taxidermists shall apply for a DCNR Carcass Disposal Transport permit when transporting outside of the designated zones, as applicable. www.outdooralabama.com/CWD-Info

(8) Cervid rehabilitation shall not be permitted within a CMZ nor shall Cervid be transported out of a CMZ for rehabilitation purposes.

(9) Hunters may find DCNR Best Management Practices for carcass disposal at the following link: www.outdooralabama.com/CWD-Info.

(10) There shall be no baiting or supplemental feeding of wildlife within the CMZ. Grain, salt products, minerals, or consumable natural and manufactured products may not be placed or put out for wildlife with the following exceptions:

(a) Seed or grain used solely for normal agricultural, forest management, or wildlife food plot production purposes.

(b) Feed solely placed inside an active hog trap.

(c) Feed for attracting birds and squirrels with common bird and squirrel feeders placed within 100 feet of a residence or occupied building.

(d) Feed as permitted by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

(e) Following any positive that results in a new CMZ or an expanded area within an existing CMZ, deer hunting by the aid of bait shall be allowed within the new CMZ or expanded area until the last day of the current CMZ deer season.

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.167

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 08, May 31, 2022, eff. 7/15/2022. Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLII, Issue No. 02, November 30, 2023, eff. 1/14/2024. Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLIII, Issue No. 04, January 31, 2025, eff. 12/23/2024; expires 120 days, 4/22/2025 (Emergency). Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLIII, Issue No. 04, January 31, 2025, eff. 12/30/2024; expires 120 days, 4/29/2025 (Emergency). Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLIII, Issue No. 08, May 30, 2025, eff. 7/14/2025.

Author: Christopher M. Blankenship

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-2-2, 9-2-6, 9-2-7, 9-2-12, 9-11-244.

Penalty: As provided by law.