CWD Management Permit Program

The minimum acreage needed to receive CWD Management Permits has been increased from 5 acres to 20 acres. In previous years, although properties less than 20 acres in size represented about 40% of those enrolled, less than 10% of the deer taken using CWD Management Permits were harvested from these properties. Increasing the minimum acreage requirement to 20 acres will increase program efficiency while also making the acreage requirement the same for CWD Management Permits and no-cost landowner deer hunting permits, reducing potential confusion for landowners. 

Landowners will no longer need to assign permits to designated hunters during the application process.  Landowners will be allocated 5 permits and assigned a unique code. This code will be mailed to the landowner, which should arrive approximately 2-3 weeks after the application is completed. This code can then be shared with designated hunters.  Hunters can use the code to obtain CWD Management Permits that were allocated to the landowner.

CWD Management Permits for Landowners in CWD Core Areas

To help manage chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Missouri, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) offers no-cost CWD Management Permits to eligible landowners in designated CWD Core Areas—locations within approximately one to two miles of a confirmed CWD case.

Who is eligible?
Landowners with at least 20 contiguous acres within a CWD Core Area may receive up to 5 CWD Management Permits to use during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons (Sept. 15–Jan. 15). These permits may be used by the landowner or designated to other hunters.

Purpose of CWD Management Permits
These permits provide an opportunity for landowners and their designated hunters to take a more active role in managing CWD by harvesting additional deer from affected areas.

Important notes

  • CWD Management Permits are valid only on the specific property listed on the landowner’s MDC postcard.
  • All hunters using CWD Management Permits must also possess a valid, season-specific hunting permit (filled or unfilled) for the season (archery or firearms) in which they are using a CWD Management Permit.
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Questions and Answers

NOTE: You need to be an eligible landowner with a valid landowner ID. 

Step 1: Application

  • Notification: Eligible landowners will receive a postcard from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) prior to deer season with details about how to apply.
  • How to Apply:
    Applications must be submitted online using the CWD Management Permit Application.
  • Important: Incomplete applications will delay processing. Be sure to provide all required information.

Step 2: Processing

  • Online Applications: May take up to three weeks to process. Submit at least three weeks before your intended hunt date.
  • Timing: Applications are accepted at any time during deer season.

Step 3: Obtaining Your Permit(s)
(Only available after your application has been processed.)

Permits can be obtained through the standard permit distribution channels:

  • MO Hunting app
  • MDC website
  • Authorized retailers or MDC offices

You will be asked to enter the unique code provided by the landowner when obtaining a CWD Management permit.  You will also be asked how many permits you would like to receive.  Prior to obtaining permits, there should be a discussion between hunters and landowners as only 5 permits are available to distribute. Once a permit is assigned to a hunter, the permit cannot be changed.

Permit Requirements:
Hunters must also possess a valid, season-specific hunting permit (filled or unfilled) for the portion of the season in which they are using a CWD Management Permit.

  • Archery Season:
    • Resident, nonresident, or landowner Archer’s Hunting Permit
    • Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit
  • Firearms Season:
    • Resident, nonresident, or landowner Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit
    • Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit

The landowner ID is printed on the postcard. If you cannot locate your landowner ID, contact 573-522-0141 or CWDMP@mdc.mo.gov

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 are valid only on the property or properties associated with the landowner ID provided in the application.

If a landowner owns multiple properties within the same CWD Core Area under the same landowner ID, the permits may be used on any of those qualifying properties.

If you’re unsure which properties are eligible or have questions about your landowner ID, please contact 573-522-0141 or CWDMP@mdc.mo.gov.

Before applying for a CWD Management Permit, youth hunters must first obtain a valid youth hunting permit.

No. Each CWD Management Permit must be used by the hunter that obtained the permit. The landowner will receive a unique code that can be shared with hunters to obtain their own individual CWD Management Permit(s).

Once a permit has been issued to a hunter, it cannot be transferred or reassigned to someone else. Landowners should carefully select who will receive the unique code that will allow hunters to obtain permits. Landowners and hunters should discuss how many CWD Management Permits should be used per person before hunters begin obtaining the permits. 
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Landowners will no longer add hunters to their application.  Once their application is processed, a unique code will be sent to them via mail.  This code can be shared with hunters that the landowner selects to obtain CWD Management Permits associated with their land. For questions, please contact the 573-522-0141 or CWDMP@mdc.mo.gov.

CWD Management Permits are processed in weekly batches. Applications submitted by Monday are typically processed and made available by Friday of the same week.

However, please allow two to three weeks for processing and mailing your unique code to use when obtaining your CWD Management Permits, processing time depends on volume of applications received.  

No. CWD Management Permits are not mailed to hunters. Once your application is approved, a unique code will be mailed to the landowner, then permits can be obtained through any of the following:

  • The MDC website
  • MDC offices
  • Authorized permit retailers
  • The MO Hunting app 

Confirm that all the allocated CWD Management Permits have not been claimed.  Once a permit is distributed, it cannot be changed. 

Before CWD Management Permits will appear in the MO Hunting app, hunters must first have a valid permit (filled or unfilled) for the portion of the season in which they plan to hunt.

Ensure the unique code provided by the landowner is entered in the appropriate area when prompted. 

No. CWD Management Permits do not override season-specific method restrictions. Just like any other deer hunting permit, you must use only the legal hunting methods allowed for the season in which you're hunting.

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

Yes. If you are hunting in a county that is open during the antlerless portions of the firearms deer season, you may harvest an antlered buck while using a CWD Management Permit.

This is an exception specific to CWD Management Permits and does not apply to other permit types.