Chronic wasting disease, a chronic, fatal disease of the central nervous system in mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose, can be transmitted to other animals or into the environment from carcasses of harvested animals that have the disease. To minimize the possibility of transmission to healthy cervids, Wyoming’s regulations require deer, elk and moose hunters transport only the following items within Wyoming from the site of the kill:

• Whole carcasses can be transported to a camp, private residence for processing, a taxidermist, a processor, or a CWD sample collection site in Wyoming provided that the head and all portions of the spinal column remain at the site of kill or such parts are disposed in any approved landfill or approved incinerator in Wyoming. 

• Cut and wrapped meat

• Edible portions with no portion of the spinal column or head attached

• Cleaned hide without the head attached

• Skull, skull plate or antlers that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue

• Teeth

• Finished taxidermy mounts

Whole deer, elk and moose carcasses cannot be transported out of Wyoming. The only parts approved to leave the state are edible portions with no part of the spinal column or head; cleaned hide without the head; skull, skull plate or antlers that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue; teeth; or finished taxidermy mounts. While these parts are permitted by Wyoming Game and Fish to leave Wyoming, other states may have different importation or transportation restrictions and requirements.

Please note that nothing in these requirements allows hunters to remove evidence of sex, species, or horn or antler development as required in the regulations. 

To facilitate proper disposal of big game carcasses, there are multiple carcass dumpsters located in the Sheridan Region. The dumpsters are funded by the Game and Fish, the Mule Deer Foundation and the Bureau of Land Management.

These dumpsters can be used free of charge for disposal of big game carcasses during the list timeframes. They are emptied regularly by sanitation companies into approved landfills, meeting the CWD disposal regulations. Please do not use these dumpsters for disposal of personal, residential or commercial garbage.

Dumpsters will be available at the following locations: 

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

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

The Bureau of Land Management Buffalo Field Office generously provides dumpsters at the following 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 should be taken to an approved local landfill or a provided carcass dumpster. Many municipal landfills take carcasses for little or no charge. A statewide map is available showing landfill and carcass dumpsters sites.