Chronic Wasting Disease

PA CWD Rules for 2026-27 & Cooperating Processors

The Game Commission rewrote its CWD carcass rules for the 2026-27 seasons. Here is what changed, plus the 69 PGC cooperating processors in this directory.

What changed this season

You can move a harvested deer, including the high-risk parts, between any two locations. The old rule against taking high-risk parts out of a Disease Management Area is gone.
You no longer have to use a PGC cooperating processor or taxidermist for deer from a DMA or from out of state.
Statewide, once a deer is moved from the harvest site, high-risk parts must be disposed of through a commercial trash service. Putting them back on the landscape anywhere else is illegal.
High-risk parts can be left at the harvest site. The PGC recommends burying them if you do.
The ban on cervid urine-based attractants was removed, and the PGC can now set targeted deer-feeding restrictions at the county or township level.

Source: PGC, October 2026 and the 2026-27 PGC pocket guide.

What counts as a high-risk part

The head (including brain, tonsils, eyes and lymph nodes), spinal cord and backbone, spleen, upper canine teeth with root or soft tissue, any object with visible brain or spinal cord tissue, unfinished taxidermy mounts and brain-tanned hides. Meat without the backbone, cleaned skull plates and antlers, and finished mounts are not high-risk.

Free CWD testing

The PGC encourages hunters to submit heads for free testing. Double-bag the head, attach the filled-out harvest tag, and drop it in a PGC collection bin. Results take about two to three weeks. Bin locations: PGC CWD map. Hotline: 1-833-INFOCWD.

Tagging & reporting

Tag the deer immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved, on the ear, and leave the tag on until processing. Report every deer within 10 days online at HuntFish.PA.gov or by phone at 1-800-838-4431. PGC reporting page.

A summary of Pennsylvania Game Commission rules for 2026-27, last checked 2026-11-04. The PGC CWD page and the hunting digest are the official source.

Do I have to tag my deer before taking it to a processor?

Yes. The 2026-27 PGC rules say big game must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. The tag goes on the deer's ear and stays attached until the deer is processed or prepared for mounting. You also have to report the harvest to the Game Commission within 10 days, online at HuntFish.PA.gov or by phone at 1-800-838-4431.

Can I move a deer out of a CWD Disease Management Area this season?

Yes. For 2026-27 the Game Commission dropped the rule against moving deer and high-risk parts between locations, including out of DMAs. In exchange, high-risk parts (head, backbone, spleen and a few others) must be disposed of through a commercial trash service once the deer is moved, or left at the harvest site. Dumping them anywhere else is illegal statewide. PGC announcement.

What is a PGC CWD cooperating processor?

A processor or taxidermist approved by the Game Commission for disposing of high-risk parts properly. Hunters are no longer required to use one for deer from DMAs or other states, but the PGC still publishes the list. The Game Commission may sample deer at processors, but that doesn't guarantee your deer gets tested.

How do I get my deer tested for CWD?

Drop the head, double-bagged with the filled-out harvest tag attached, in a PGC head collection bin. Testing is free and results usually take two to three weeks. Bin locations are on the PGC CWD map, and the CWD hotline is 1-833-INFOCWD. Tell your processor first so they save the head for you.

I shot a deer in another state. Can I bring it to a Pennsylvania processor?

Under the 2026-27 rules, the PGC no longer bans moving deer and high-risk parts between locations, so you can bring it to a processor here. Once it's moved, high-risk parts have to go out with commercial trash. Check the other state's export rules before you leave.

PGC CWD Cooperating Processors in This Directory

Processors the Game Commission has approved for proper disposal of high-risk parts. Using one is no longer required, but they know the disposal rules. Confirm which seasons they take deer before you go.

Adams County