Elk NetworkSouth Dakota Proposes Deer and Elk Carcass Disposal Rules Go Statewide

General | March 17, 2021

Below is a news release from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission proposed a change to the way deer and elk hunters must dispose of carcass remains for the management of chronic wasting disease (CWD).

Under the proposal, all hunters transporting a deer or elk from the county of harvest, must dispose of all carcass remains in a garbage container or at a permitted landfill. This would apply statewide regardless of CWD status in the respective county. For taxidermists and processors, all carcass remains need to be disposed of in the same way regardless of harvest location.

“Our previous rule required only those hunters in CWD endemic areas to follow this rule,” said John Kanta, Terrestrial Section Chief of the Division of Wildlife.

“With the detection of CWD in a good portion of South Dakota, we are now being more proactive and proposing that this rule go statewide to further help reduce the spread of CWD,” Kanta said.

Individuals can comment on this proposal by visiting gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions. Comments can also be mailed to 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501.

To hear the discussion on this proposal, audio from the meeting is available through South Dakota Public Broadcasting and will soon be available on the GFP website as part of the meeting archive. To see the proposal in its entirety, visit gfp.sd.gov/commission/information

To be included in the public record and to be considered by the commission, comments must include a full name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of 72 hours before the public hearing (not including the day of the public hearing).

The next GFP Commission meeting will be held April 8-9.

(Photo source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks)