The Missouri Department of Conservation is encouraging deer hunters to help it detect and limit the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), which has the potential to greatly reduce deer numbers and deer hunting in the state.
Hunters who harvest deer during the opening weekend of the fall firearms deer season (Nov. 12 and 13) in any of the 29 counties of the department's CWD Management Zone are now required to present their deer for CWD tissue-sample collection on the day of harvest.
The CWD Management Zone includes the counties of Boone, Callaway, Cole, Gasconade, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan and Osage.
Hunters must take their harvested deer to one of the department's CWD sampling locations. Hunters also have the option of presenting just the deer head with about 6 inches of neck attached.
Deer must be presented by the hunter who harvested the animal. Sampling locations will be open Nov. 12 and 13 from 7:30 a.m. until at least 8 p.m. Hunters can get free test results for their deer after samples are processed.
Area sampling locations include:
Callaway County - Mokane Lions Club, 301 River St., Mokane; Whetstone Creek CA, 3215 County Road 1003, Williamsburg; Kingdom City Hall, 5584 Dunn Drive, Kingdom City; and Little Dixie Lake CA, Highway RA, Millersburg.
Cole County - Conservation Commission Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City; Cole County R-5, 14803 Highway 17, Eugene; and Cole County R-1, 13600 Highway C, Russellville.
Miller County - Eldon Middle School, 1400 N. Grand Ave., Eldon; Iguana Watersports, 70 Legion Road, Lake Ozark; and Iberia High School, 201 Pemberton Drive, Iberia.
Moniteau County - Moniteau County Fairgrounds, 700 E. South St., California; and Manito Lake CA, East Manitou Road, Tipton.
Morgan County - Versailles Middle School, 913 W. Newton St., Versailles; former MoDOT shed, 304 S. Hickory St., Stover; and Central Missouri Archery, 408 N. Main St., Laurie.
Osage County - Linn Fairgrounds and Park, 26 Highway CC; Rich Fountain Shop, 1426 Highway E, Freeburg; Westphalia Lions Club, 2073 Highway 63; and Chamois Access, North City Park Road, Chamois.
A map of all 29 CWD Management Zone counties, a list of the department's 75 sampling locations and other information can be found online at mdc.mo.gov/CWD and in the department's deer hunting regulations booklet, available where hunting permits are sold.