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NewsGame and Fish reminds hunters of CWD carcass disposal rules

Game and Fish reminds hunters of CWD carcass disposal rules

September 25, 2025

News – Sheridan Media

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Chronic wasting disease is a chronic, fatal disease of the central nervous system in mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. It can be transmitted to other animals or into the environment from carcasses of harvested animals that have the disease.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department works to minimize the possibility of transmission to healthy animals. Wyoming regulations require deer, elk and moose hunters to transport only the following items within the state from the site of the kill:

Whole carcasses may be transported to a camp, private residence for processing, a taxidermist, a processor or a CWD sample collection site in Wyoming if the head and all portions of the spinal column remain at the kill site or are disposed of in an approved landfill or incinerator in Wyoming.

Cut and wrapped meat.
Edible portions with no part of the spinal column or head attached.
Cleaned hide without the head attached.
Skull, skull plate or antlers cleaned of all meat and brain tissue.
Teeth.
Finished taxidermy mounts.

Game and Fish are reminding hunters that whole deer, elk and moose carcasses cannot be transported out of Wyoming. Only edible portions with no part of the spinal column or head, cleaned hides without the head, cleaned skulls or antlers, teeth, or finished taxidermy mounts are approved to leave the state. Hunters should be aware that other states may have different importation or transportation requirements.

These requirements do not allow hunters to remove evidence of sex, species, or horn or antler development as required in regulations.

To facilitate proper disposal of big game carcasses, several dumpsters are available in the Sheridan Region. The dumpsters are funded by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the Mule Deer Foundation and the Bureau of Land Management.

The dumpsters may be used free of charge during the listed timeframes. They are emptied regularly by sanitation companies into approved landfills, meeting CWD disposal rules. They are not for personal, residential or commercial garbage.

Sheridan Region dumpster locations:

Highway 14 pullout on the north side of the highway between Dayton and Ranchester — Oct. 1 through Nov. 30.

Highway 191, about one-half mile west of Kaycee on the south side of the highway — Oct. 1 through Oct. 31.

BLM Buffalo Field Office dumpster locations:

Highway 16 west of Buffalo — Oct. 1 through the end of December.

Petrified Tree Recreation Area east of Buffalo — Oct. 1 through Oct. 31.
It is illegal to dispose of a big game carcass on public or private lands, unless it is the site of the harvest, or along roadways. Carcasses must be taken to an approved local landfill or to a provided carcass dumpster. Many municipal landfills take carcasses for little or no charge. A statewide map of landfill and carcass dumpster sites is available and can be found by clicking here.

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