Meat Processors, Cold Storage Plants, and Frozen Food Locker Plants

This page is for operators of cold storage or frozen food locker plants that store, process, or preserve game meat (including mammals and birds).

Meat Processor Logs

CDFW provides duplicate logbooks (with white and yellow copies) for meat processors to be returned in prepaid self-addressed envelopes. Pursuant to Section 711, Title 14, California Code of Regulations, any person operating a cold storage plant or frozen food locker plant where game birds or game mammals, or parts thereof, taken pursuant to a hunting license are processed, preserved, or stored, shall prepare and maintain records of those animals.

Animals that shall be recorded under Section 711 include:

Game birds or game mammals harvested outside of California and transported to California for processing.
Any game birds hunted in California. For more information, consult FGC 3500.
Any game mammals hunted in California. For more information, consult FGC 3950 and 3965.

At the end of each calendar year, meat processors can send the white copy (original) to CDFW’s Wildlife Health Laboratory (WHL) at the following address: Wildlife Health Laboratory, 1701 Nimbus Rd, Ste D, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. Processors must retain the yellow copies (duplicates) at the facility for at least one (1) year. CDFW can provide envelopes to meat processors to send these records.

Data collected from these logbooks may be used to inform game management and to understand risks associated with chronic wasting disease (CWD), a disease that was first detected in California in 2024 in Inyo and Madera counties.

If you need game processor logbooks or guidance on how to fill out and return logbooks, contact the WHL at meatlocker@wildlife.ca.gov.

Cleaning Equipment

CDFW has put together a guide on how to clean your meat processing equipment to reduce contamination with prions, the infectious agent that causes CWD.

Meat processors can print out their own cleaning guidelines or request a side-by-side 11x17” laminated poster version to hang up at your business by emailing meatlocker@wildlife.ca.gov or call 916-358-2790.

Waste Disposal Guidance

CDFW recommends that meat processors dispose of all animal waste (including deer and elk) through incineration or at a lined landfill. CDFW does not recommend rendering waste from game processing due to disease concerns.

Out-of-State Animals Received

Out-of-state animals should be recorded like any other game animal that comes into your shop. Remember to record the hunter identification or license number, the tag or document number, and the hunt zone.

CDFW advises that meat processors process out-of-state carcasses or carcasses from California’s CWD management zones at the end of each day to reduce the risk of cross contamination from prions and so that complete equipment cleaning (including use of bleach on equipment to denature any prions) can be completed at the end of the day. More information about current CMZs is available at wildlife.ca.gov/CWD.

Meat processors can help inform hunters that hunt out-of-state of restriction(s) on animal parts that may be imported into California. Under Title 14, Section 712, hunters can only import the following parts of cervids (deer, elk, moose, reindeer, caribou): portions of meat with no part of the spinal column, brain or head attached; hides and capes, clean skull plates with no brain tissue, antlers with no meat or tissue attached, finished taxidermy mounts, or upper canine teeth. Under CCR Title 14, Section 712.5, any hunter bringing an animal from out-of-state must declare their dead fish and wildlife, and meat processors may ask for this documentation.

Out-of-state gamebird hunters must observe the requirement that all birds, including migratory game birds, possessed or transported in California must have a fully feathered wing or head attached until being prepared for consumption under CCR Title 14, Section 251.7. Migratory game bird hunters must observe the federal importation limits for dove, pigeon, and waterfowl contained in Title 50 of the Federal Code of Regulations Section 20.61. Each such bird imported to California shall have one fully feathered wing attached, and such wing must remain attached while being transported between the port of entry and the personal abode of the possessor or between the port of entry and a migratory bird preservation facility (50 CFR 20.63).

50 CFR § 20.65 Processing requirement:

No person shall import migratory game birds killed in any foreign country, except Canada, unless such birds are dressed (except as required in § 20.63), drawn, and the head and feet are removed: Provided, That this shall not prohibit the importation of legally taken, fully feathered migratory game birds consigned for mounting purposes to a taxidermist who holds a current taxidermist permit issued to him pursuant to § 21.63 of this chapter and who is also licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to decontaminate such birds.

Participating in CWD Sampling Program

Meat processors have several opportunities to participate in chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance. CWD is an always-fatal neurological disease that was first detected in California in 2024.

Meat processors can participate in CWD surveillance through collecting samples, agreeing to have a check station in their parking lot during peak weekends, or collecting and storing deer heads so that CDFW biologists can collect samples.

For more information, check out the CWD website: Meat Processor and Taxidermist Sampling Program or email us at cwd@wildlife.ca.gov .

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I fill out the logbook?

In all cases, meat processor staff should be filling out their records directly from the hunt tag provided by the hunter. Hunters should not be filling out the meat processor forms.

For species, being general is fine. For example, note “Elk” or “Deer” rather than “Tule Elk” or “Mule Deer.” For more information, consult our guide.

A hunter brought in an animal without a tag. What should I do?

Processors should not process the animal without documentation that it was taken legally. Legal documentation includes: physical tag or e-tag (used in some states or for wild pigs in California). Tags should be completely filled out prior to arriving at the shop.

What do I do about wild pig tags now that they are validation-only?

Because of changes from a hunt tag to validation, hunters need to possess a valid hunting license and wild pig validation to hunt wild pigs. They may not have a physical copy of their hunting license (with GOID) or wild pig validation with them, but they should be able to easily provide this information upon request. They will only have one document number that will apply to all the wild pigs they hunt. It is incumbent upon meat processors to record this information.

What if the hunter took the head to the taxidermist and didn't bring their hunt tag?

The head of the animal may have the first half of the hunt tag, but the hunt report (bottom section) should come with the body of the animal to the meat processor. Request that hunters bring this with them when they deliver the carcass.

Contact Us

If you process game animals and have any questions, contact meatlocker@wildlife.ca.gov.