Roadkill salvage permit

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in Eastern Washington. Per a rule effective May 17, 2025, you are required to have salvaged animals in WDFW’s Eastern Region (100 series GMUs) tested for CWD. This means you must submit the whole head with at least three inches of neck attached OR extracted lymph nodes to WDFW within five days of receiving a salvage permit for any salvaged deer or elk. CWD test results will be available by entering your Salvage Permit ID in the test results lookup tool. It can take several weeks for them to be available, depending on laboratory demands.

In addition, it is illegal to transport whole carcasses to other areas of the state if they originated in WDFW's Region 1 (100 series GMUs) unless in compliance with requirements outlined in WAC 220-413-030 for importing and possessing carcasses. Visit the Chronic Wasting Disease webpage for more information about the disease, how to have animals tested, and how to properly dispose of carcass parts. 

WDFW also approved a rule change in 2025 that allows people to salvage deer killed in motor vehicle collisions in Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties. It remains illegal to salvage, handle, or possess Columbian white-tailed deer in Washington. For more information, refer to the news release.

In Washington, it is legal to salvage deer and elk carcasses. Nearly 20 other states also allow this. The rule allowing roadkill salvage specifically applies to deer and elk killed by motor vehicles. Anyone who takes possession of a deer or elk carcass must obtain a free, printable permit from WDFW within 24 hours. The permittee must keep a hardcopy of the signed/dated salvage permit with the meat until all edible parts are consumed.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife does not guarantee that salvaged meat is fit for consumption, and encourages those planning to salvage deer and elk carcasses to review information on food safety guidelines for game meat. The salvage rule does not authorize trespassing on private property or ignoring highway-safety rules.

Provisions of the salvage rule

  • It is permissible to salvage and transport a deer or elk that is accidentally killed by a motor vehicle collision.
  • A salvage permit must be obtained from the department within 24 hours of taking possession of the animal. Permits may be obtained on the department's website or at department regional offices.
  • Big game licenses and tags cannot be used for the purpose of salvaging motor vehicle-killed deer or elk.
  • The entire carcass, including entrails, of the animal must be removed from the road right of way. As a reminder, per Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia rules, transporting carcasses across state or provincial lines is prohibited unless certain criteria are met. Do not transport carcasses across state or provincial borders before reviewing carcass import regulations on the CWD Alliance webpage for your home state or province.
  • Any meat an individual deems unfit for human consumption or unusable animal parts must be disposed of pursuant to WAC 246-203-121. Individuals salvaging and consuming this meat do so at their own risk. The department makes no guarantee as to the fitness for consumption of deer or elk collected under a salvage permit. (See food safety guidelines for game meat.)
  • An individual may not kill an injured or wounded animal for the purpose of salvage. Only a law enforcement officer or individuals or entities authorized by the department may euthanize an animal injured in a motor vehicle collision, whether or not the animal is taken for salvage. Possession of wildlife in violation of subsection (4) is punishable under RCW 77.15.750.

Application

Apply for a Salvage Permit

Salvage permit data