The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds deer hunters it is conducting mandatory and voluntary sampling of harvested deer to help find cases of chronic wasting disease.
While Callaway is not among the 31 counties requiring mandatory sampling, Cole and Moniteau counties are. Callaway County is, however, in the state's CWD management zone, as is Boone County.
One deer tested positive in Cole County during the 2014-15 season. Twenty-six in Macon County, 13 in Adair and 75 total positives have been determined since testing for CWD begain in 2011.
Those shooting deer in Cole County on Nov. 10 and 11 must take the deer or the head with at least six inches of neck attached to a designated sampling station on the day of the harvest. In Cole County, there are three CWD stations:
Brazito, Cole County Public Works Shop, 9406 Pleasant Hill Road. From the Hwy. 54 and Brazito Road intersection, north 0.1 mile on Pleasant Hill Road.
Jefferson City, Conservation Commission Headquarters, 230 Commerce Drive. From the Hwy. 50 and Hwy. 179 intersection, take Hwy. 179 (Commerce Dr.) north 0.8 mile, turn left into Conservation Department campus.
Russellville, Cole County R-1, 13600 Hwy. C on the west end of Russellville.
In Moniteau:
Moniteau County Fairgrounds in California at 700 E. South St.
Advanced Chimney Techniques, 365 W. Row St. in Jamestown.
MDC encourages hunters to properly dispose of deer carcasses to help limit the spread of the disease. MDC also encourages hunters to Share the Harvest and to follow special guidelines if sharing a harvested deer from a county where CWD has been found.
CWD is an infectious and deadly illness for white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family (cervids). There have been no known cases of CWD infecting people, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends having deer tested for CWD if harvested in an area known to have cases of the disease. The CDC also recommends not eating meat from animals that test positive for CWD. Cases of CWD are relatively rare in Missouri with 76 confirmed cases in free-ranging deer since the disease was first found in free-ranging deer in 2012. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.
MDC also continues to offer free voluntary CWD sampling and testing of deer harvested anywhere in the state throughout the entire deer hunting season. Hunters can also get free test results for their deer online. Find locations and more information at mdc.mo.gov/cwd under Voluntary CWD Sampling All Season.
Share the Harvest
MDC and the Conservation Federation of Missouri encourage deer hunters around the state to share their harvests through the state's Share the Harvest program. Share the Harvest coordinates the efforts of thousands of deer hunters, numerous participating meat processors, many local supporting organizations, and statewide sponsors to help feed hungry Missourians.
The program works by deer hunters donating their extra venison - from several pounds to a whole deer - to participating meat processors throughout the state who grind and package the deer meat. The packaged venison is then given to local food banks and food pantries for distribution to Missourians in need of food assistance. Processing fees are covered entirely or in part by numerous program sponsors.
In Missouri, the MDC set deer firearms season Nov. 10-20, with late youth Nov. 23-25, antlerless Nov. 30-Dec. 2, and alternative methods Dec. 22-Jan. 1.
Archery season runs through Nov. 9 and again Nov. 21-Jan. 15. Learn more at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov.