MO Department of Conservation collects more than 20K samples from hunter-harvested deer for CWD testing

(KBSI) – Thousands of deer hunters participated in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s mandatory sampling efforts in 39 counties this past weekend to test for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in harvested deer.

MDC collected tissue samples from more than 20,600 hunter-harvested deer for CWD testing on Nov. 11 and 12.

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 station over the weekend,” said MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle in a news release. “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.”

The opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season is the most popular two days for most deer hunters in Missouri, according to MDC.

Between a quarter to a third of the state’s total annual deer are harvesteed 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,” Isabelle 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.”

MDC collects samples for CWD testing throughout the state each year over the entire deer season.

The 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.

MDC has collected more than 263,000 tissue samples for CWD testing since surveillance for the disease began more than 20 years ago.

So far 411 confirmed cases of CWD since the disease was first detected in wild deer in Missouri in 2012.

Tap here to learn more about CWD surveillance.

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

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

Visit mdc.mo.gov/cwd to learn more on voluntary sampling locations and drop-off locations.

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. However, 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, according to MDC.

Each year, nearly half a million hunters hunt deer in Missouri. That provides a 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% deadly. There is no vaccine or cure. It 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.

If left unmanaged, CWD could have significant effects on Missouri’s deer population, hunting culture, and economy, according to MDC.

Hunters play an important role in helping MDC find and manage CWD by having their deer tested and following carcass movement restrictions and other CWD regulations.