Missouri Western University hosted a Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) meeting on Monday to update hunters and other on infectious diseases such as chronic wasting disease (CWD) that threatens Missouri deer.

Missouri’s nearly 520,000 deer hunters, millions of wildlife watchers, thousands of landowners, 12,000 Missouri jobs, and hundreds of businesses and communities depend on the $1 billion boost in economic activity related to deer hunting and watching.

The Missouri Department of Conservation continues to work with hunters, landowners, businesses, other agencies, and partner organizations to identify and limit the spread of CWD in the state.

All deer hunters, landowners, businesses — including captive deer breeders and big-game hunting preserves — and conservation organizations in Missouri must continue to do their parts in limiting the spread of CWD and other infectious diseases.

Another meeting on the topic is scheduled for tonight at the MDC Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, 1401 NW Park Road, in Blue Springs at 6:30 p.m.

Chronic wasting disease infects deer and other members of the deer family, called cervids. CWD belongs to a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) which cause degeneration of the brain in cervids. CWD is transmitted through prions, which are abnormal proteins that attack the nervous systems of these species. These prions accumulate in the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, and lymph nodes of infected animals.

CWD is spread both directly from deer to deer and indirectly to deer from infected soil and other surfaces. Animals with signs of CWD show changes in natural behavior and can exhibit extreme weight loss, excessive salivation, stumbling, and tremors. CWD in deer can only be confirmed by laboratory tests of brain stem or lymph tissue from harvested animals.

The disease has no vaccine or cure. CWD is 100-percent fatal. Deer and other cervids can have CWD for several years without showing any symptoms. Once symptoms are visible, infected animals typically die within one or two months.

There is no scientific evidence that white-tailed deer have a genetic immunity to CWD that could be passed on to future generations.

Once well established in an area, CWD is impossible to eradicate. States with CWD must focus on limiting the spread of the disease and preventing its introduction to new areas.

Deer hunters play an important role in preventing the spread of CWD, which can be spread through carcasses of diseased deer, which can remain infectious for years. Carcass parts known to concentrate CWD include brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, and lymph nodes. Moving harvested deer that still have these parts can spread CWD to other areas.

MDC strongly encourages hunters who harvest deer in the Containment Zone to not take whole deer carcasses out of the Zone, or carcass parts that contain brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, or lymph nodes. Items that are safe to transport are:

• Meat that is cut and wrapped,
• Meat that has been boned out,
• Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spine or head attached,
• Hides or capes from which all excess tissue has been removed,
• Antlers, including antlers attached to skull plates or skulls cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue, and
• Finished taxidermy products.

The Missouri Department of Conservation also encourages all deer hunters throughout the state to properly dispose of carcasses from harvested deer to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, such as CWD.

• Remove meat in the field and leave the carcass behind. Bury the carcass if possible.
• If processing harvested deer in camp or at home, place carcass parts in trash bags and properly dispose of them through a trash service or landfill.
• Take harvested deer to a licensed commercial processor to assure proper carcass disposal.
• For taxidermy work, use a licensed taxidermist to assure proper carcass disposal.

Take proper precautions with deer meat

While there is no evidence from existing research that CWD can spread to people or domestic livestock, the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance recommends the following common-sense precautions when handling deer or other cervids that may have been exposed to CWD:

• Do not handle or consume any animal that is acting abnormally or appears to be sick.
• Contact your state game and fish department if you see or harvest an animal that appears sick.
• Wear latex or rubber gloves when field-dressing deer or other cervids.
• Bone out meat from the animal. Don’t saw through bone and avoid cutting through brain or spinal cord (backbone).
• Minimize handling of brain and spinal tissues.
• Wash hands and instruments thoroughly after field dressing is completed.
• Avoid consuming brain, spinal cord (backbone), eyes, spleen, tonsils and lymph nodes of harvested animals. Normal field dressing coupled with boning-out a carcass will remove most, if not all, of these body parts. Cutting away all fatty tissue will remove remaining lymph nodes.
• Avoid consuming meat from any animal that tests positive for CWD.

Don’t bring deer carcasses from other states

The importation, transportation or possession of deer and other cervid carcasses or carcass parts taken from or obtained outside of Missouri is prohibited, except the following:

• Meat that is cut and wrapped
• Meat that has been boned out
• Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached
• Hides or capes from which all excess tissue has been removed
• Antlers
• Antlers attached to skull plates or skulls cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue;
• Upper canine teeth
• Finished taxidermy products

People may transport carcasses or parts of carcasses with the spinal column or head attached into Missouri only if they report the action to MDC by calling 877–853–5665 within 24 hours of entering the state. They must then take the carcasses or parts of carcasses to a licensed meat processor or taxidermist within 72 hours of entry. Licensed meat processors and taxidermists shall dispose of the discarded tissue in a properly permitted landfill.

Don’t feed deer in north-central Missouri

MDC has placed a restriction on activities that are likely to unnaturally concentrate white-tailed deer and promote the spread of CWD. The ban on the placement of grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable natural or manufactured products is limited to the CWD Containment Zone comprised of Adair, Chariton, Linn, Macon, Randolph, and Sullivan counties.

The regulation includes exceptions for backyard feeding of birds and other wildlife within 100 feet of any residence or occupied building or if feed is placed in such a manner to reasonably exclude access by deer. The regulation also includes exceptions and normal agricultural, forest management, crop, and wildlife food-production practices. Hunters and landowners should make existing mineral blocks inaccessible through removal, fencing or covering. Farmers are encouraged to remove salt and minerals when livestock are not present to minimize use by deer.

Harvest more young bucks in north-central Missouri

MDC has rescinded the antler-point restriction (four-point rule) in the CWD Containment Zone comprised of Adair, Chariton, Linn, Macon, Randolph and Sullivan counties. The reason for the regulation change is that management strategies, such as antler-point restrictions, protect yearling males and promote older bucks. Yearling and adult male deer have been found to exhibit CWD at much higher rates than yearling and adult females, so a reduction in the number of male deer can help limit the spread of CWD. The dispersal of yearling males from their natal or birth range in search of territory and mates is also one of the primary ways CWD spreads.

Test deer harvested in or near the Zone

A system for Missouri hunters statewide to have harvested deer tested for CWD is not available. MDC will continue to work with hunters in the six-county area of north-central Missouri where CWD has been found to test harvested deer for CWD.