Restrictions for transporting Arkansas deer into Tennessee

Restrictions for transporting Arkansas deer into Tennessee

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has issued new regulations for harvested deer being brought into Tennessee because of CWD in surrounding states. CWD means Chronic Wasting Disease, a deadly disease that can be transmitted to other deer.

If Tennessee hunters kill deer from a restricted state [Arkansas] they can only bring the animals into Tennessee if the meat has been deboned. This also means that if the antlers are attached to the skull, the skull MUST be clean-no meat or tissue left on it. Detached antlers are legal along with the finished taxidermy products, hides, and tanned products.

The bottom line is that a deer killed from a CWD zone can not be brought back to Tennessee to be processed. This means that you can not shoot an Arkansas deer, put it in your truck and take it to Tennessee to be processed. This also applies to Taxidermy Mounts. Dino’s has just open up a new processing station on the West Service Rd north of Marion. Lakeside Taxidermy will be pleased to mount your deer. Violating this new law can result in very hefty fines. DO NOT DO IT!