Hunting News

Thousands of hunters aid CWD sampling of harvested deer

Thousands of hunters aid CWD sampling of harvested deer

By Missouri Department of Conservation

Thousands of deer hunters participated in its mandatory CWD sampling efforts in 29 counties Nov. 16 and 17 during the opening weekend of the November portion of the fall firearms deer season. Thanks to hunter participation, MDC collected more than 18,800 tissue samples from hunter-harvested deer for CWD testing.

Chronic wasting disease is a deadly disease in white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family. The CWD sampling and testing efforts identify cases of the deadly disease to help limit its spread.

According to MDC, opening weekend of the fall firearms deer season is the most popular two hunting days for most deer hunters. Hunters take about a third of the state’s total annual deer harvest during those two days. Focusing on this key weekend was the best opportunity to collect the most tissue samples during a very concentrated time period.

The statewide, season-long, voluntary CWD sampling efforts continue through Jan. 15, 2020. MDC sends collected tissue samples to the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory for CWD testing.

Hunters who submitted tissues samples from their harvested deer for CWD testing can get free test results for their deer.

According to the Department of Conservation, the prevalence of CWD is still very low in the state. The Department’s CWD surveillance and management efforts aim to keep CWD rare in Missouri and to prevent it from spreading to a level where sick deer are routinely observed, and regional population declines occur.

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Copyright 2020 by Buckmasters, Ltd