White-Tailed Deer

We support additional Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) research, funding, and disease management efforts to work towards mitigating the harm posed by CWD to cervid populations in North Carolina. We also firmly oppose the import and export of farmed raised deer and elk to fence hunting preserves.

A Growing Threat: Chronic Wasting Disease

CWD is considered the most significant disease threat to North American deer and other cervids, including elk. In March 2022, CWD was detected for the first time in North Carolina, marking a major shift in how the state manages its deer herd.

In response, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission established CWD Surveillance Areas and implemented targeted regulations to limit the spread of the disease and protect both wild deer and elk populations.

Monitoring and Management in North Carolina

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has been proactively monitoring for CWD since 1999.

Today, surveillance relies on a combination of:

• Hunter-harvested deer

• Roadkill collection

• Samples from cooperating processors and taxidermists

Early detection remains critical to guiding management decisions.

Protecting North Carolina’s Deer Herd

Managing CWD and maintaining healthy deer populations requires a coordinated, long-term approach. State agencies, including the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission  are working together to:

• Implement science-based disease response plans

• Regulate movement of deer carcasses and captive cervids

• Monitor and respond to new detections

• Educate hunters and the public

At the same time, habitat management and population balance remain essential. Healthy forests, farms, and early successional habitats support not only deer, but a wide range of wildlife species across the state.