Opinion -- Open Letter from MDC on Chronic Wasting Disease

As a young boy growing up in rural Missouri, many days were spent outdoors enjoying wild places and wild critters. At a young age, I became fascinated with the graceful ghost of our forest, the white-tailed deer. This fascination fueled a life-long pursuit to learn everything I could about this iconic species. After graduating high school, the decision to align this passion with career pursuits was natural. It turned from an outsized fascination to a professional pursuit that led me on a decades long journey studying and researching white-tailed deer management across the southern U.S., eventually leading to an opportunity to “come home” and serve as the private-lands deer biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. This was truly a dream come true for a small-town country kid with a passion for deer management and conservation of our natural resources.

The dream would turn to dread in February 2010 when chronic wasting disease (CWD) was first detected in our state. By that time, CWD had been known to occur in eastern Colorado and Wyoming since the 1960s and was slowly spreading east across the great plains. It had been detected in Wisconsin and Illinois eight years earlier. Long-term studies of CWD on mule deer populations in the west were beginning to show the destructive impacts on those herds. Research over the last 20 years has continued to demonstrate that, if left unmanaged, CWD will increase in prevalence and distribution leading to increased mortality in deer populations.

As with many diseases, early detection and aggressive management have the greatest impact on the future distribution of the disease. So we embarked on an aggressive strategy to minimize the likelihood of spreading the disease within Missouri (i.e., increased safeguards for the importation of captive deer from outside of Missouri and carcass movement restrictions). Using science to inform management actions, we liberalized local harvest opportunities, prohibited the use of feed and minerals that unnaturally concentrate deer, and implemented localized targeted removals in an effort to minimize the number of infected deer on the landscape (a strategy that Illinois had utilized with measurable success).

Aggressive management actions implemented by cooperating hunters, landowners, and agency staff over the last decade have been successful in slowing the number of infected deer on our state’s landscape. Unfortunately, CWD has continued to be introduced to new parts of the state and spread where it was previously detected.

Some will say CWD is simply a political disease that has not impacted deer populations, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Scientific studies have continued to demonstrate that CWD is a fatal disease that, if left unchecked, will increase in prevalence resulting in increased mortality on local populations that significantly alter buck age structure and the ability of the population to recover from other natural factors like extreme droughts and other disease outbreaks like EHD. Others recognize that CWD is a serious threat but disagree with the approach we have implemented to address the disease.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue of CWD, most share the same goal—a healthy sustainable population of deer in Missouri that can be appreciated and utilized by future generations. I certainly hope that my son (and hopefully grandchildren one day) will continue to have the opportunity to utilize and appreciate a healthy and thriving deer population into the future. The white-tailed deer is the heartbeat of Missouri’s wild places—familiar, resilient, and woven into our outdoor heritage. It is also a symbol of the success of wildlife conservation and restoration across North America.

The Missouri Conservation Commission, and subsequently the Missouri Department of Conservation, were created by the citizens of Missouri to restore and manage our valuable fish, forest, and wildlife resources. There is no species more emblematic of this conservation success than the white-tailed deer.

As CWD has spread in Missouri over the last decade, MDC’s objective has been and continues to be to keep CWD infection rates low to protect the long-term health of the deer herd. This extensive undertaking can only be accomplished by working collaboratively with hunters and landowners to achieve both surveillance and management goals. MDC has continued to work with hunters and landowners to adapt the management tools, including creating CWD management permits and simplifying regulations. Last year, we piloted the Hunter Harvest Initiative to encourage additional deer harvest during deer season to alleviate the need for post-season targeted removal.

We remain committed to keeping our deer herd heathy and working collaboratively with the hunters and landowners that are critical to our conservation mission. We cannot be successful in this work, and at the scale needed, without hunters’ and landowners’ support and participation.

At this time, MDC will be pausing our post-season targeted removal efforts to work with hunters and landowners to adapt and identify a more sustainable path forward.

Future generations of Missourians are counting on us to work together to sustain the future of one of our great state’s most important natural resources. Together, we can preserve the health of the herd and the future of hunting; divided, we may lose it.

We are committed to continuing our engagement with hunters, landowners, and Missourians on this hard work ahead. Feel free to send your thoughts to CWDFeedback@mdc.mo.gov.



In gratitude,

Jason Sumners

Director, Missouri Department of Conservation

Harrison, Daviess Counties Added to CWD Management Zone

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer hunters of new regulations related to chronic wasting disease (CWD) and other changes for the 2025-2026 deer-hunting season. Get more information from the MDC 2025 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, through the MDC MO Hunting app, and online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer.

Carcass Movement and Disposal

The rule that prohibited transporting high-risk deer parts -- such as the brain and spinal cord -- out of the county of harvest has been removed. Hunters are now required to dispose of unused deer parts in trash that is dumped in a sanitary landfill or on the property where the deer was harvested. Hunters must Telecheck their deer before transporting it (or its parts) out of the county where it was harvested or by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest, whichever comes first. The interstate carcass movement restrictions for those bringing harvested deer, elk, moose, or caribou into Missouri have not changed. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/carcass-transportation-disposal.

CWD Management Zone

The following counties have been added to the CWD Management Zone: Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Daviess, Harrison, Henry, Marion, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Ralls, St. Louis, and Texas. Within the past year, these counties either had their first CWD detection (Callaway, Marion, Miller, Morgan, Texas) or are within 10 miles of a CWD detection (Cape Girardeau, Daviess, Harrison, Henry, Moniteau, Ralls, St. Louis). These counties are open during the CWD Portion of firearms deer season. Placement of feed and minerals is prohibited in CWD Management Zone counties. The antler-point restriction (APR) has been removed in Callaway, Daviess, Harrison, Henry, Marion, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, and Ralls counties. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/cwd-management-zone-regulations.

Voluntary CWD Sampling Sept. 15 to Jan. 15

MDC encourages hunters who harvest deer anywhere in Missouri throughout the entire deer hunting season — Sept. 15 through Jan. 15 — to get free CWD testing for their harvested deer at numerous sites around the state including MDC offices, participating taxidermists and meat processors, and freezer drop-off locations. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/voluntary-cwd-sampling.

Mandatory CWD Sampling Nov. 15 and 16 in select counties

All deer harvested in designated CWD Management Zone counties during the opening weekend of the November Portion of the firearms season -- Nov. 15 and 16 -- must be taken (or the deer head) to an MDC Mandatory Sampling Station on the day of harvest. Sampling stations will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mandatory CWD sampling for this year will focus on counties that are newer to the CWD Management Zone. Mandatory CWD sampling will not be conducted in many counties where it has been conducted in previous years. MDC encourages hunters to check the status of the counties where they hunt. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/mandatory-cwd-sampling.

Early Youth Portion Bag Limit

Youth hunters may now harvest more than one deer during the Early Youth Portion of firearms deer season. This change simplifies regulations by standardizing the bag limit across all portions of firearms deer season. The statewide limit of one antlered buck during firearms deer season (all portions combined) still applies. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/seasons/deer-firearms-youth-portions.

Firearms Antlerless Permits

Hunters may now fill four firearms antlerless permits in Buchanan, Clinton, Dade, DeKalb, Lawrence, and Texas counties. Qualifying resident landowners in the following counties may now receive two Resident Landowner Firearms Antlerless Permits: Andrew, Atchison, Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Holt, Iron, Mississippi, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Scott, Stoddard, and Wayne. This change simplifies regulations by standardizing the limit (two) of Resident Landowner Firearms Antlerless Permits in all counties. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/antlerless-deer-hunting-county-restrictions.

Get more information from the MDC 2025 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, through the MDC MO Hunting app, and online at mdc.mo.gov.

 

Hunting Safety Measures for Non-Hunters

With deer and turkey hunting underway in Missouri, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds non-hunters to practice safety measures when afield during hunting seasons.  

“Safety while hunting is ultimately the responsibility of the hunter,” said MDC Hunter Education Coordinator Justin McGuire. “Hunters must clearly identify their targeted game animals before even putting their fingers on the triggers of their firearms or before drawing their bows when archery hunting. They must also be aware of what is behind their targets and should never shoot at movement or sound.”

McGuire added that non-hunters out in hunting areas can also practice some safety measures. He and MDC offer these safety tips for non-hunters:

Wear bright clothing to be more visible, such as a bright orange hat, jacket, or pack.

Place a bright orange vest or bandana on the canines who join you and keep them leashed.

Avoid earth-toned or animal-colored clothing such as tan and brown.

Be aware that hunters are often most active during the early morning and late afternoon, when game animals are most active. Be especially aware of your own visibility during these times when light is dim.

Stay on designated trails. Trails are designed to improve the safety of public users and to protect sensitive habitats. Enjoying recreational activities only on designated trails will reduce the likelihood of entering hunting areas.

Whenever venturing into the outdoors, let someone know where you are going and when to expect your return.

Make yourself known. If you hear shooting, raise your voice , and let hunters know you are in the area.

Be courteous. Once a hunter is aware of your presence, don’t make unnecessary noise to disturb wildlife. Avoid conflict.

Identify hunting seasons and lands open to hunting. Learn where and when hunting is taking place. Plan your recreation activities based on this information. Find information on Missouri hunting seasons at mo.gov/hunting-trapping.

Find conservation areas that allow hunting and those that do not by using the MDC Places to Go web feature at mo.gov/discover-nature/places.

Archery deer and turkey hunting runs through Nov. 14 and opens again Nov. 26 through Jan. 15, 2026. Firearms turkey hunting is open Oct. 1-31. Firearms deer hunting opens with the early antlerless portion Oct. 10-12 followed by several other portions through Jan. 6, 2026. Learn more about deer and turkey hunting online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer and mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey.

 

Invasive Lotus Treatment Scheduled at Mozingo Lake

Mozingo Lake Recreation Park will begin treatment of the invasive lotus plant that has spread across much of the north end of the lake. The treatment effort is being conducted by a licensed contractor with assistance from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and has been reviewed and approved by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The treatment will take place October 2-3, 2025, and will involve the use of drone spraying. To ensure the effectiveness of this effort, the north side of the lake past the city boat ramp will be closed to disturbance during and after treatment. Treated areas must remain undisturbed for at least three (3) days following application.

Officials emphasize that this process will not impact the water quality supplied by the Maryville Water Treatment Plant. Mozingo Lake Recreation Park appreciates the public’s cooperation and understanding as steps are taken to protect and enhance the long-term health of the lake.

 

Hunters Education Class in Maryville

The Missouri Department of Conservation will have a Hunters’ Education Course in Maryville on Saturday, October 4th in Maryville. It will be from 9 am until 1 pm at the Technical Center at 1515 South Munn Avenue. Register on the MDC website. The course is for ages 11 and up. Students 15 and under must bring a copy of their birth certificate or other proof of age.

Prior to the class, participants will need to complete the knowledge portion of the certification process. Participants can either complete the online version for a fee or fill out the student manual review questions. Those who choose to fill out the student manual chapter review questions will need to bring the booklet to the event for the instructor to review. Student manuals are available at any MDC office.

The final exam will be administered at the end of the skills session. The course meets the Missouri Hunter Education requirements.

Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before the beginning of the class. Late arrivals will not be admitted.

 

Native Seedlings Available from MDC

Brandon Lyddon, Conservation Agent

You can go native with tree and shrub seedling planting from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). Native trees and shrubs can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of private property.

MDC’s George O. White State Forest Nursery offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for sale for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes. Orders can be placed beginning Sept. 2 through April 15, 2026. Place orders online at mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-seedlings.

The nursery provides mainly one-year-old, bare-root seedlings with sizes varying by species. Seedlings varieties include: pine, bald cypress, cottonwood, black walnut, hickory, oak, pecan, persimmon, river birch, maple, willow, sycamore, blackberry, buttonbush, hazelnut, redbud, ninebark, elderberry, sumac, wild plum, witch hazel, and others. MDC recommends ordering early for the best selection.

Seedlings are available in bundles of 10 or increments of 25 per species. Prices range from 40 cents to $1.17 per seedling. Sales tax will be added to orders unless tax exempt. There is a shipping fee and a $9 handling charge for each order. Receive a 15% discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Conservation ID Number. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery, located near Licking, from February through May.

Prairie Day at Dunn Ranch September 20th

The native grasslands in the rolling hills of northwest Missouri are a sample of the prairie ecosystem that once dominated the area. Are you a landowner in northwest Missouri looking to better understand your property’s relationship to the prairie? Do you have a family looking for a fun and educational way to spend your weekend? The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) invite the public to a free Prairie Day event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Dunn Ranch Prairie and Pawnee Prairie near Eagleville.

Before the main event kicks off, MDC, Audubon Society, and Missouri Master Naturalist representatives will lead a guided sunrise birding hike from 7 to 9 a.m. at MDC’s Pawnee Prairie Conservation Area. Interested participants will meet in the parking area on the west side, off gravel road W 140th Ave.

Once the main event begins, visitors can tour exhibits and display tables from a variety of community partners, meet with land conservation experts, take wildflower walks, and ride on a wagon to see bison grazing on the prairie in Harrison County. Exhibits and departure points for both hikes and the bison tour will be located at TNC’s shelter across from the ranch headquarters (16970 W. 150th St. in Hatfield).

This event is free and open to all ages. Lunch concessions will be available onsite. No registration is required.

For any questions about the event, call MDC’s Northwest Regional Office at 816-271-3100. To learn more about prairie in Missouri, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/habitats/grasslands-prairies-savannas/prairies.

 

MDC Asks Public to Report Hemorrhagic Disease in Deer

The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking people to report hemorrhagic disease in deer this summer. The MDC is receiving reports of it in Missouri deer this summer. This is a general term for two related viruses, epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bluetongue. They are spread to deer through the bite of a native midge.

To report, contact Brandon Lyddon for Gentry and Worth Counties at (816) 294-8144. For Harrison, call Josh Roller at (816) 294-8767. For Daviess County, call Jaycob O’Hara at (660) 605-2893. The Northwest Regional Office is at (816) 271-3100. People can also report through the MDC website.

While the MDC does not anticipate a large outbreak this year, every report helps biologists monitor deer health and better understand the impacts of the disease. Outbreaks are most common between July and October and typically end after a heavy frost that kills the midges that spread it.

Symptoms include reluctance to move, difficulty breathing, swelling of the head, neck, and tongue, and appearing dazed or unresponsive. The disease can cause high fever, prompting deer to seek water. Deer that die from it are frequently found in or near water. Death can occur within days.

Hemorrhagic Disease does not spread to humans. The viruses that cause it are not zoonotic, meaning that they do not spread from animals to humans. Consuming venison from infected deer is generally considered safe; however, it is advised not to eat visibly sick animals and to use gloves when field dressing. Domestic ruminants like sheep and cattle can be affected.

 

Archery Deer Season Starts September 15th

 Brandon Lyddon, Conservation Agent

The 2025/2026 Missouri deer hunting seasons are as follows: The archery deer season starts Sept. 15 and is open until Nov. 14 as it closes for the November portion of the firearms deer season. The archery season will open back up on Nov. 26 and close for the season on Jan. 15, 2026. The firearms deer early firearms antlerless portion is Oct. 10-12 (open in select counites only). The firearms deer early youth portion is Nov. 1-2. The November portion of the firearms deer season is Nov. 15-25. The firearms deer CWD (chronic wasting disease) portion is Nov. 26-30 (open in select CWD counties only). The firearms deer late youth portion is Nov. 28-30. The firearms deer late antlerless portion is Dec. 6-14 (open in select counties only). The firearms alternative methods portion is the last firearms portion and is Dec. 27-Jan 06, 2026.

The early and late antlerless portions, and the firearms deer CWD portion are open only in select counties. There is a map showing the open counties in the regulation booklet and online. The 2025/2026 Fall Deer and Turkey regulations and information booklet is available at license vendors, at MDC offices, or available online at www.missouriconservation.org.

To report conservation violations call the OGT (Operation Game Thief) 24-hour hotline at 1-800-392-1111; you can remain anonymous and rewards are possible.

 

September Hunting Seasons Open

Brandon Lyddon, Conservation Agent

September is the month in Missouri when several hunting seasons open. The dove hunting season opens Sept. 1 and closes Nov. 29. The early teal duck season opens Sept. 13 and closes Sept. 21. The deer and turkey archery season opens Sept. 15 and closes Nov. 14 for the Nov. firearms portion of the deer season. Hunting regulation booklets can be found online at www.mdc.mo.gov, at permit vendors, and at MDC offices.

To continue to keep hunting one of the safest outdoor activities, remember the top four safety rules. 1. Always point the firearm muzzle in a safe direction. 2. 100% identify your target and what is beyond it. 3. Keep your safety on until you are ready for a safe shot. 4. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.

According to the International Hunter Education Association, out of the 11.5 million hunters in the U.S., in an average year fewer than 1,000 hunting related shooting incidents occur. Due to the mandatory hunter education programs and safety regulations like blaze orange, hunting incidents have declined significantly over the last 50 years.

To report conservation violations, you can contact Conservation Law Enforcement Agents directly (numbers on MDC website and in the fall/spring deer/turkey regulation booklets) or by calling the county or state dispatch center. You can also call the OGT (Operation Game Thief) 24-hour hotline at 1-800-392-1111, you can remain anonymous, and rewards are possible.

 

Missouri Department of Conservation to Buy Seeds from Public

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Northwest Regional Office will buy select tree and shrub seeds from the public in August ahead of a larger collection period later in the season. People can bring approved seeds to the office on Friday, Aug. 8 and Thursday, Aug. 28 between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

MDC’s George O. White Tree Nursery in Licking conducts these seed collections annually, and collected seeds are grown into bare root seedlings.

The station at the Northwest Regional Office will accept the following seeds in August:

Black Cherry: $6.00 per pound

Fruit must be ripe (black in color)

 

Hazelnut: $4.75 per pound

Must be mature. Husk should be brown, and seed should be loose in husk.

 

Paw Paw: $1.50 per pound

Fruit must be ripe and soft.

 

Wild Plum: $1.95 per pound

Fruit must be ripe and red, yellow, or orange in color. No green or partially green fruit.

MDC reserves the right to stop buying seed once needs are met. Call the Northwest Regional Office at 816-271-3100 to confirm seed needs before collecting. MDC also reserves the right to reject seed that is poor quality, is not mature, or is mixed with refuse such as leaves and twigs.

A special use permit will be required to collect seeds on conservation areas. More information can be found online at https://mdc.mo.gov/permits/special-use-permits.

The Northwest Regional Office is located at 701 James McCarthy Drive on the Missouri Western State College campus. To inquire about free collection bags and labels or to schedule an alternative drop-off time, call MDC Forester Timothy Wolfe at 816-271-3100 ext. 1437.

 

Missouri Bill Would Ban Sale of Six Invasive Plants

A bill passed in the Missouri legislature would ban the sale of six invasive plants — Sericea Lespedeza, the Burning Bush (Compactus), the Callery Pear, the Japanese Honeysuckle, the Perilla Mint, and the Wintercreeper (Coloratus).

The bill passed the House by a margin of 124-19. State Representatives Mazzie Christensen and Jeff Farnan voted yes. The bill awaits Governor Mike Kehoe’s signature. If he does not sign it by July 14th, it will automatically become law.

Sericea Lespedeza, also known as the Chinese Bush Clover, produces seeds that remain viable in soil for more than two decades. It releases compounds into the soil that harm other plants and crowds out native plant species.

The Burning Bush is widely sold on gardening websites and produces bright red colors in fall, but it can form dense thickets, displacing native vegetation.

The Callery Pear, also known as the Bradford Pear, is prone to wind and ice damage, causing frequent power outages and damage. It chokes out native grasslands and also invades forest areas.

The Japanese Honeysuckle is a perennial vine which crowds out native plants. It kills trees by twining around tree trunks and eventually crushes them under its weight. It also attacks shrubs and other vegetation. It can grow as high as 50 feet when growing up a tree or 6-10 feet long on the ground.

The Perilla Mint was introduced for its medicinal and culinary purposes, but it can be toxic to livestock. It can be fatal. In West Virginia, multiple animal fatalities were reported.

The Wintercreeper spreads rapidly, chokes out native plants, and is so dangerous that it poses a threat to entire forests. In 2019, The Pitch did a feature on Swope Park in Kansas City and stated that the Wintercreeper was one of its biggest threats.