MDC thanks hunters for help in collecting 19,200 tissue samples for CWD testing

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News from the region
Statewide
Published Date
11/15/2016
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that it collected approximately 19,200 tissue samples for chronic-wasting-disease (CWD) testing from this past weekend’s mandatory sampling efforts at 75 stations in 29 counties in and around where the fatal deer disease has been found in northeast, central, and east-central Missouri. The Department’s goal was 18,000 – 20,000 tissue samples collected.

Department staff will send the collected tissue samples to an outside laboratory that specializes in wildlife disease testing. MDC expects test results to begin being available in 4-6 weeks. Hunters can get free test results for their harvested deer online at mdc.mo.gov/CWDtestresults.

“Thank you to the thousands of hunters who made this effort successful by bringing their deer in for CWD testing -- and for the golden opportunity to listen to their stories and share in their excitement about their harvests,” said MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. “And thank you to the dozens of local businesses and organizations who provided facilities and services for this monumental effort. I also want to express my appreciation to Department staff and volunteers for their incredible work this past weekend.”

Pauley added, “As we get the final test results back in the coming weeks, we will be evaluating our next steps in our CWD management efforts, including future testing efforts in the CWD management zone and around the state.”

Hunters who harvest deer throughout the rest of the hunting season in the 29 counties of the CWD management zone can still have their deer tested for the disease. Contact the MDC Central Regional Office in Columbia at 573-815-7900, the MDC Northeast Regional Office in Kirksville at 660-785-2420, or the MDC St. Louis Regional Office in St. Charles at 636-441-4554. Hunters can also find voluntary CWD sampling stations at mdc.mo.gov/CWD.

Chronic wasting disease is a deadly deer disease that has been found in 33 free-ranging deer in northeast, central, and east-central Missouri. According to MDC wildlife-disease experts, chronic wasting disease has the potential to greatly reduce deer numbers, deer health, and deer hunting in Missouri. CWD could also hurt the many Missouri families and businesses that rely on deer hunting. For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov/CWD.