Springfield, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) launched mandatory chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing stations this weekend, coinciding with the first two days of firearms deer season. Under the new rule, any hunter who harvests a deer in Greene County or the neighboring counties must submit the animal for testing.
Why the testing matters
CWD is a 100‑percent fatal disease that spreads from deer to deer and has no vaccine or cure. Infected animals can appear healthy for up to a year, silently transmitting the disease to others. By testing harvested deer, MDC can pinpoint where the disease is present and gauge how quickly it is spreading.
Impact on deer populations
“If we have a high prevalence, a high percentage of our deer that have CWD, we’re more likely to see lower reproductive success and a lower age structure,” explained Brad Graevs, a private‑lands conservationist with MDC. “So, our deer won’t be getting as old, which will eventually have an impact on the population itself.”
Those effects could translate into fewer mature bucks and does, reducing hunting opportunities and altering the ecological balance of Missouri’s forests and fields.
Testing locations and process
Mandatory testing stations are set up at several MDC field offices and partner facilities throughout Greene County and adjacent counties. Hunters are instructed to bring the harvested deer, along with a completed harvest report, to the nearest station within 24 hours of the kill. Samples are taken from the brainstem and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, the standard sites for CWD detection.
All testing is free of charge, and results are typically available within a few weeks. Positive cases are reported to the state’s wildlife database, allowing officials to adjust management strategies as needed.
Current CWD landscape in Missouri
To date, CWD has been confirmed in every county of the Missouri Ozarks except Dade, Lawrence, and Wright. The disease’s spread has prompted MDC to increase surveillance and public outreach, emphasizing the role of hunters in protecting the herd.
“Early detection is our best tool,” said Graevs. “When hunters cooperate, we can act quickly to contain outbreaks and preserve healthy deer populations for future generations.”
What hunters should know
- Bring the harvested deer to a testing station within 24 hours.
- Complete the MDC harvest report online or on paper.
- Testing is mandatory for any deer taken on the first two days of firearms season.
- Results will be communicated directly to the hunter and entered into the state database.
For more information on testing locations, hours, and requirements, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website or call the MDC hotline at 1‑800‑555‑CWD.
Original reporting: KY3 Springfield (local) — read the source article.
