CWD Management Permit Program

No. CWD Management Permits are valid only during deer season (Sept. 15 to Jan. 15). Hunters must use the methods authorized for the season and follow deer season regulations for hunting. Targeted removal occurs after deer season closes (Jan. 16 to Mar. 15) and requires a separate authorization from MDC to take deer outside of deer season.

Learn more about post-season targeted removal.

Application:

1. Eligible landowners will receive a letter from MDC prior to the deer hunting season with application information.
2. Applications must be submitted online: CWD Management Permit Application
   • Applications submitted by mail will experience longer processing times.
   • Incomplete applications will slow the processing time.
3. Once the application is submitted, the landowner will receive a confirmation notification that the application is being processed.

Processing:

• Online applications can take up to two weeks to process. Submit the application at least two weeks before you plan to hunt. 
• Processing times for mailed applications may exceed two weeks.
• Landowners may submit applications at any point during deer season.
• Once processed, hunters will receive a letter or email notification that their permit(s) are available.

Get/Purchase Permit(s)*:

*Only after an application is submitted and has been processed.

1. Permits can be obtained through the regular permitting system:
   • MO Hunting app
   • MDC website
   • Retailers or MDC offices
2. Hunters must first possess a valid permit (filled or unfilled) for the portion of the season (archery or firearms) in which they are hunting:
   • Valid permits during the archery season include a resident, nonresident, or landowner Archer’s Hunting Permit or Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit.
   • Valid permits during the firearms season include resident, nonresident, or landowner Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit or Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit.
3. Hunters who provide a CWD sample from a deer harvested with a CWD Management Permit are eligible for reimbursement to cover processing fees:
   • The hunter must complete a reimbursement form with sample information, telecheck ID, and processing information.
   • Reimbursements may take up to four weeks to process. Delays may occur due to holidays or if verification issues occur.

To check if your CWD sample has been recorded, visit CWD Results.

The landowner ID is printed in the attention line of the eligibility letter. If you cannot locate your landowner ID, contact the Wildlife Health Program.

Your Conservation Number is a unique number issued to you by MDC that is associated with your hunting permits. It can be located on: 

• Previous permits
• Front of the Missouri Conservation Permit Card
• Back of the Missouri Heritage Card (below the barcode)
• MO Hunting app

CWD Management Permits can only be used on the property specified by the landowner ID. If multiple properties in the same CWD Core Area (generally, the same county) have the same landowner ID, the permits can be used on any of these properties. Contact your local MDC office if you have questions. 

Please check the map located below to verify your property is within a CWD Core Area. CWD Core Areas are not the same as the CWD Management Zone. CWD Core Areas are areas within about two miles of where CWD has been found. If you believe your property is within a CWD Core Area, contact your local MDC office and provide the location information for the property to verify eligibility.

Youth hunters will need to obtain a youth permit before submitting their application. If the CWD Management Permit application has already been submitted, the youth hunter’s information (name, date of birth, and Conservation Number) must be sent to the Wildlife Health Program after they receive their Conservation Number from acquiring a youth permit. 

No. Landowners must specify on the CWD Management Permit application who will obtain the CWD Management Permits for use on their land. Once permits have been assigned to and acquired by those hunters, they cannot be assigned to a different hunter.

An application can only be submitted once. Any changes or additions after an application has been submitted must be sent to the Wildlife Health Program. Please provide the following information for each hunter: first and last name, date of birth, Conservation Number, phone number, and number of CWD Management Permits they should receive. 

Permits are processed in batches each Monday and made available each Friday of the same week. It can take up to two weeks for permits to become available. 

The application web page may be down for maintenance. Check back in 24 hours to see if the issue has been resolved. If the issue is not resolved after 24 hours, contact your local MDC office for assistance. 

CWD Management Permits are not mailed to hunters. They can be obtained from the MDC website, MDC offices, or retailers. Hunters can also obtain CWD Management Permits from the MO Hunting app but may experience issues.

Prior to obtaining CWD Management Permits, hunters must first possess a valid permit (filled or unfilled) for the portion of the season (archery or firearms) in which they are hunting. Valid permits during the archery season include a resident, nonresident, or landowner Archer’s Hunting Permit or Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit. Valid permits during the firearms season include resident, nonresident, or landowner Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit or Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit.

Some hunters have experienced issues obtaining CWD Management Permits on the MO Hunting app. Hunters are encouraged to obtain CWD Management Permits from the MDC website or at an MDC office or retailer. 

It can take up to two weeks to process an application. If you submitted an online application and it has been longer than two weeks, you can contact the Wildlife Health Program for additional information.

If you mailed in your application, processing times may take longer than two weeks.

No. As with any other deer hunting permit, when using a CWD Management Permit, you can only use allowed methods for the season in which you are hunting.

No. You can use the permits in any order you choose.

Yes. If hunting in a county that is open during the antlerless portions, a hunter may shoot an antlered buck during the antlerless portions if using a CWD Management Permit.

No, but MDC strongly encourages hunters to have their deer tested for CWD. Sampling locations on firearms opening weekend can be found on the Mandatory CWD Sampling page. Voluntary sampling locations for the duration of deer season can be found on the Voluntary CWD Sampling page.

To receive the reimbursement, hunters must get their deer sampled for CWD at an authorized sampling location and fill out a reimbursement form. 

Sampling locations on firearms opening weekend can be found on the Mandatory CWD Sampling page. Voluntary sampling locations for the duration of deer season can be found on the Voluntary CWD Sampling page.

Deer that are donated to the Share the Harvest program are not eligible for reimbursement. 

• Sept. 15 until firearms opening weekend: Estimated time is 1 to 2 weeks 
• Firearms opening weekend until Dec. 8: Estimated time is 3 to 4 weeks 
• Dec. 9 through Jan. 15: Estimated time is 1 to 2 weeks 

To be removed from the CWD Management Permit mailing list, please provide your name and contact information (and landowner ID, if possible) to the Wildlife Health Program.