The CWD Management Zone includes counties that have had a CWD positive detection or are within approximately 10 miles of a CWD detection. Special regulations apply in CWD Management Zone counties.
For the 2025–2026 deer seasons, the CWD Management Zone includes Adair, Audrain, Barry, Barton, Bollinger, Boone, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Crawford, Dallas, Daviess, Dent, Douglas, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Howard, Howell, Jasper, Jefferson, Knox, Laclede, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Ripley, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shannon, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Warren, Washington, and Webster counties.
New counties in the CWD Management Zone: Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Daviess, Harrison, Henry, Marion, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Ralls, St. Louis, and Texas counties.
Fall 2025 Mandatory CWD Sampling
If you harvest a deer from designated counties (counties shaded gray in map below) in the CWD Management Zone during opening weekend of the November portion (Nov. 15-16), you must take your deer — or the head — to a mandatory CWD sampling station on the day of harvest.
CWD Portion of Firearms Deer Season
The CWD Management Zone includes: Adair, Audrain, Barry, Barton, Bollinger, Boone, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Crawford, Dallas, Daviess, Dent, Douglas, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Howard, Howell, Jasper, Jefferson, Knox, Laclede, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Ripley, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shannon, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Warren, Washington, and Webster counties. Note: Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Daviess, Harrison, Henry, Marion, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Ralls, St. Louis, and Texas counties are new additions to the CWD Management Zone.
All other counties are closed to firearms hunting during the CWD portion.
CWD Management Zone Regulations
Carcass Disposal
- Parts of a deer carcass that are not kept or provided to a taxidermist, processor, or tanner must be disposed of in trash that is dumped in a sanitary landfill or left on the property where the deer was harvested. You must Telecheck your 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.
Prohibition of Feed and Minerals
Grain, salt products, minerals and other consumable products used to attract deer are prohibited year-round within CWD Management Zone counties. The following exceptions are allowed:
- Feed placed within 100 feet of any residence or occupied building
- Feed placed in a manner that excludes access by deer
- Feed and minerals used solely for normal agricultural, forest management, or wildlife food plot production practices
- Feed placed as part of a feral hog or CWD management effort authorized by the Conservation Department
Antler-Point Restriction (APR)
MDC has removed the APR for CWD Management Zone counties. This change is made because young bucks (which the APR protects) leave the area where they were born, often traveling many miles. Removing the APR reduces the chances of young bucks spreading CWD to deer in new areas.
Bringing Harvested Deer or Other Cervids Into Missouri
- For deer, elk, moose, or caribou harvested out of state, only the following parts may be brought into Missouri:
- Meat that is cut and wrapped or that has been boned out
- Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached
- Hides from which all excess tissue has been removed
- Antlers or antlers attached to skull plates or skulls cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue
- Upper canine teeth
- Finished taxidermy products
- The head with the cape and not more than 6 inches of neck attached may be brought into Missouri only if taken to a licensed taxidermist within 48 hours of entry.
Hunters and Landowners Can Help Maintain a Healthy Deer Herd
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a 100% fatal, contagious, disease that could devastate Missouri's deer herd. MDC’s goal is to have a healthy, sustainable deer population. Managing CWD is essential to protecting deer and preserving our hunting culture. We are committed to working with hunters, landowners, and other partners to ensure deer continue to thrive, now and in the future. You can help maintain a healthy deer herd by harvesting additional deer in areas that have CWD, participating in CWD sampling, following the carcass disposal regulations (statewide) and the prohibition of placing feed and minerals for deer (CWD Management Zone), and educating others about the importance of CWD management.