The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will be conducting mandatory sampling of harvested deer in 25 counties THIS WEEKEND — opening weekend of the fall firearms deer season – to test the deer for chronic wasting disease (CWD).

Hunters who harvest deer in any of 25 select counties of MDC’s CWD Management Zone during opening weekend MUST present their harvested deer at one of the Department’s 56 CWD sampling stations on the day of harvest so staff can collect tissue samples to test the animals for CWD.  

The 25 mandatory CWD sampling counties are: Adair, Barry, Benton, Cedar, Cole, Crawford, Dade, Franklin, Hickory, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Macon, Moniteau, Ozark, Polk, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Warren, and Washington.

Find mandatory sampling stations online at mdc.mo.gov/cwd, and in MDC’s 2017 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold.

INFO TO KNOW FOR MANDATORY SAMPLING

• Sampling locations will be open from 7:30 a.m. until at least 8 p.m.
• Deer must be presented by the hunter who harvested the animal.
• Hunters will be asked to identify the location within the county the deer was harvested.
• Deer may be field dressed before being taken to a sampling station.
• Hunters can also present just the deer head with about six inches of neck attached.
• For bucks bound to a taxidermist, the cape may be removed prior to being taken to a sampling station as long as about six inches of the neck is left attached.
• For bucks bound to a taxidermist, hunters may also leave the deer intact and inform staff the deer is bound for a taxidermist. Staff will complete paperwork and inform the hunters about participating taxidermists taking CWD samples.
• Hunters will be given information on getting free test results for their deer.

TIME-SAVING TIPS

• Telecheck deer before going to a sampling location.
• Have completed permit information ready.
• Be prepared to locate the harvest location on a map.
• Position deer in the vehicle so the head and neck are easily accessible.
• Have the detached head or cape with about 6 inches of neck ready for sampling.

For more information on CWD, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.