Hunting News

Opener sampling reinstated; 4 counties added to CWD zone

Opener sampling reinstated; 4 counties added to CWD zone

By Missouri Department of Conservation

The Department of Conservation has added Camden, Laclede, McDonald and Pulaski counties to the CWD Management Zone, and reinstated mandatory CWD sampling opening weekend of the November firearms portion. The Commission approved MDC regulation changes at its May 21 open meeting.

The four counties were added the CWD Management Zone after CWD was found in or near them. The Management Zone now consists of 34 counties in or near where CWD has been found. Previously, MDC confirmed 44 new cases of CWD from more than 15,300 deer tested during the past year.

Of the 44 new cases, one was found in Pulaski County, which previously had no known CWD cases. After CWD detection of in Pulaski County, MDC recommended Pulaski and adjacent Camden and Laclede counties also be placed in the CWD Management Zone. McDonald County was added to the CWD Management Zone after detection of a CWD-positive deer in northern Benton County in Arkansas within 10 miles of McDonald County in Missouri.

The Commission reinstated mandatory CWD sampling for the coming deer season. Counties designated for mandatory CWD sampling must be approved by the Commission each year.

Hunters who harvest deer in any counties of the CWD Management Zone during the opening weekend of the November portion of the firearms deer season (Nov. 13-14) are required to take their harvested deer or the head on the day of harvest to one of MDC’s mandatory CWD sampling stations throughout the Zone.

Hunters must follow carcass-movement restrictions when traveling to a mandatory sampling station, and present the deer or deer head at a mandatory CWD sampling station within the county of harvest. Deer that will be delivered to a permitted meat processor or taxidermist within 48 hours, or deer heads that will be left at the mandatory CWD sampling station for disposal after sampling may be transported to a sampling station in any county.

Regulations also prohibit the placement of feed or minerals for deer in CWD Management Zone counties. The deer-feeding ban is effective July 1 for the counties newly added to the Management Zone.

Deer transportation regulations effective within all CWD Management Zone counties limit transportation of some deer parts outside of the county of harvest. Antler-point restriction for the upcoming deer season in Camden and Pulaski counties has been removed to minimize risk of disease spread to other areas.

Beginning this fall, hunters may fill two Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits in Camden, Laclede, and Pulaski counties. For more information, refer to the 2021 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet available in July.

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