Protecting Deer in Missouri

Share your opinions on protecting deer

Go online to mdc.mo.gov/DeerHealth to share opinions on proposed MDC regulations. Public comment period ends Aug. 14. Thank you to those who have already submitted your comments!
 
As you may well know, the Missouri Conservation Commission recently approved proposed regulation changes to the Wildlife Code of Missouri regarding the operations of hunting preserves and wildlife breeding facilities that hold white-tailed deer, mule deer, and their hybrids. Under the Missouri Constitution, MDC (which is governed by the citizen-led Conservation Commission) has the authority and responsibility to protect and manage Missouri wildlife, including deer. All white-tailed deer in Missouri are wildlife, regardless of which side of a fence they may be on.

The regulations are part of our ongoing strategy to minimize the spread of fatal diseases in our state’s deer population, such as Chronic Wasting Disease. Chronic Wasting Disease was first found in Missouri in captive-deer operations in Macon and Linn counties. It has also been found in numerous captive-deer operations in more than a dozen other states. It is always fatal to infected animals and has no cure. The disease is spread among deer herds mainly through direct contact. The movement of captive cervids within states and across state lines spreads the disease to new areas.
Our statewide proposed regulations include:

• Banning the importation of live white-tailed deer, mule deer, and their hybrids from other states;
• Improving fencing requirements for new and expanding captive-cervid facilities;
• Requiring all deer six months or older that die in captive-cervid facilities to be tested for Chronic Wasting Disease;
• Establishing better record-keeping requirements for captive-cervid operations; and
• Prohibiting any new captive-cervid facilities within 25 miles of where Chronic Wasting Disease has been confirmed.

A healthy and abundant deer population in the state is vital to you and the other half-a-million deer hunters, along with two-million wildlife watchers, tens-of-thousands of landowners who manage their properties for deer and deer hunting, and many conservation organizations. Deer hunting and watching also supports our state’s vital Share the Harvest Program where hunters like you donate deer meat to Missourians in need, along with more than 12,000 Missouri jobs, and a billion-dollar annual economic benefit to Missouri and Missourians.