Currently, Florida is one of 24 states where chronic wasting disease, or CWD, has NOT been detected. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is continuing its work to reduce the risk of CWD spreading into our state, and your involvement in these efforts is vital. Knowing and following the requirements for importing harvested deer, elk, moose, caribou and other members of the deer family are important ways you can help protect Florida deer populations.
Requirements for importing deer carcasses into Florida
With big game seasons opening in neighboring states and across the country, we want to remind everyone hunting outside of Florida that carcasses and carcass parts of deer, elk, moose, caribou and all other members of the deer family may not be imported into Florida from anywhere. Following are exceptions to this requirement:
Hunters may import into Florida de-boned meat; finished taxidermy mounts; antlers; and hides, skulls, skull caps, and teeth if all soft tissue has been removed.
White-tailed deer legally harvested in Georgia or Alabama may be imported into Florida, provided the person:
Possesses an FWC Georgia/Alabama Carcass Importation Permit prior to the carcass being imported into Florida (The FWC’s Georgia/Alabama Carcass Importation Permit is available by logging in or creating an account at the FWC’s PermitMe! webpage and following the instructions to self-issue the permit.)
Reports the carcass importation within 24 hours of entering Florida using the FWC’s online Georgia/Alabama Carcass Importation Reporting Form (through the PermitMe! Webpage.
Disposes of any remains using FWC-approved deer carcass disposal options.
White-tailed deer legally harvested from Georgia or Alabama properties bisected by the Florida state line and under the same ownership are exempt from importation permit, reporting and disposal requirements. If CWD is detected in Georgia or Alabama, importing a white-tailed deer carcass and carcass parts from that
