MDC thanks deer hunters for help with CWD sampling last weekend

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) thanks the thousands of deer hunters who participated in its mandatory sampling efforts in 43 counties this past weekend to test for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in harvested deer. Thanks to hunter participation, MDC collected tissue samples from more than 18,500 hunter-harvested deer on Nov. 16 and 17 for CWD testing.

CWD sampling consists of MDC staff removing lymph nodes from the necks of harvested deer for testing. Tissue samples are sent to an independent lab for testing.

"We greatly appreciate the many thousands of hunters who brought their deer to mandatory CWD sampling stations over the weekend," said MDC Wildlife Health Program Supervisor Deb Hudman. "Hunters who provide samples from harvested deer play a critical role in MDC's efforts to monitor the spread of CWD and identify new areas of infection."

According to MDC, the opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season is the most popular two days for most deer hunters in Missouri. Hunters typically harvest between a quarter to a third of the state's total annual deer harvest during those two days. Focusing on this key weekend gives MDC the best opportunity to collect the most tissue samples for CWD testing during a very concentrated time period.

"Finding CWD as early as possible provides us with the ability to work with landowners and hunters to effectively manage the disease to slow its spread and protect Missouri's deer population," Hudman said. "The high number of samples collected during opening weekend gives us a much better understanding of the distribution and prevalence of the disease - where the disease is located and what percentage of the deer population is affected."

Hudman noted that MDC collects samples for CWD testing throughout the state each year over the entire deer season. Mandatory sampling is a more intense form of disease surveillance in select CWD Management Zone counties where the greatest potential for new areas of CWD infection exists.

Including the recent sampling efforts, MDC has collected more than 298,000 tissue samples for CWD testing since surveillance for the disease began more than 20 years ago. To date, MDC has found 582 confirmed cases of CWD since the disease was first detected in wild deer in Missouri in 2012. Learn more about CWD surveillance at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.

MDC is also offering free voluntary CWD sampling and testing of harvested deer during the remaining deer season at select locations throughout the state, including some MDC offices and participating taxidermists and meat processors.

MDC also offers self-service freezer deer-head drop-off locations within the CWD Management Zone for hunters to deposit harvested deer heads to have tested for CWD. Instructions, packing supplies, and information tags are available at the sites.

Get more information on voluntary sampling locations and drop-off locations online at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.

Hunters can get their CWD test results for free online at mdc.mo.gov/cwdResults. Results are available within four weeks from the time of sampling and the wait time is often much less.

According to MDC, white-tailed deer are an extremely important wildlife resource of the state and deer hunting is tremendously popular. Each year, nearly half a million hunters pursue deer in Missouri, which provides a tremendous boon to Missouri's economy and supports thousands of jobs.

CWD is a deadly, infectious disease in deer and other members of the deer family (cervids) that is 100% fatal. There is no vaccine or cure. CWD can be spread from direct deer-to-deer contact, through improper disposal of deer carcasses, and through the environment by deer contacting infectious material from other deer. Left unmanaged, CWD could have significant effects on Missouri's deer population, hunting culture, and economy. Hunters play a critical role in helping MDC find and manage CWD by having their deer tested and following CWD regulations. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.