CWD Hunter Harvest Initiative

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a 100% fatal, contagious disease of deer that threatens Missouri’s deer population, hunting traditions, and economy. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) works closely with landowners and hunters to conserve Missouri’s deer herd and manage CWD.

Managing CWD in CWD Core Areas

When CWD is detected, MDC establishes CWD Core Areas (cores) which are areas within roughly one to two miles of a confirmed case. In these cores, the management goal is to remove additional CWD-positive deer and reduce deer density, which both help to keep the local deer population healthy.

To maintain healthy deer herds in cores, MDC:

• Provides no-cost CWD Management Permits to qualifying landowners for use during deer season.
• Established a Hunter Harvest Initiative in select cores to encourage hunters to harvest additional deer during deer season to minimize the need for post-season targeted removal.
• Works with landowners on a voluntary basis to conduct post-season targeted removal (Jan. 16–Mar. 15).

Hunter Harvest Initiative (HHI)

This year, MDC is expanding the HHI to 19 cores. Under this program, MDC sets a harvest goal for each core that hunters aim to meet during the deer season. If hunters meet the harvest goal in a core, no post-season targeted removal will take place there that winter.

For a deer to count toward the HHI goal:

• It must be harvested within the core.
• If taken with any permit other than a CWD Management Permit, the head must be submitted for CWD testing to count towards the harvest goal along with proper documentation (available at freezer drop-off sites, cooperating taxidermists, and meat processors).
• If taken with a CWD Management Permit, submission of the deer’s head is not required for the deer to count towards the harvest goal.