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Missouri cancels late season

Well, the heading of the article was a little rage baiting for Missouri deer hunters.

I been following this on the Facebook MDC page regarding changes they are making, now and for 2026-2027.

This article refers to the culling that the MDC has been doing at night, over corn piles, with thermals to cull the deer herd in CWD counties to slow the spread of the disease. It has stirred a chit-storm with Mo deer hunters because after all the smoke has cleared, the shot deer are testing at less than 1% CWD positive, and the counties testing positive with CWD deer has grown to 82 counties across the state, with only 18 counties now remaining in Missouri have no tested CWD positive deer. The MDC is decimating the deer herd in an effort to slow the spread of CWD and it appears to be a failed exercise.

So, they are going to pause the culling for now....
 
State after state has tried the same culling programs and ultimately stopped. I dont get it!!!! These arnt inherently stupid people but severely lacking the wherewithal to simply look at multiple past examples of what HASNT worked.

In regards to Iowa.... they've announced a management plan (no culling at this time). Im not even sure what the point of "a plan" is.

The best thing I've seen in regards to CWD is litterally to do nothing.
 
Maybe it's because of the money.....
"Yes, there is significant federal money for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer, primarily through the USDA's APHIS, which awards millions annually to states, tribes, and universities for research, surveillance, and management, with recent legislation also establishing dedicated annual funding to help states and agencies combat the spread in both wild and farmed cervids. This funding supports everything from genetic research and testing to public education and carcass disposal to slow the disease.
Key Federal Funding Sources:
USDA-APHIS Grants: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) distributes millions each year (over $11M in 2025) to support states, tribes, and researchers in CWD control and prevention in wild and captive deer.
CWD Research and Management Act: Congress passed legislation allocating dedicated funds (around $70M annually through 2028) specifically for CWD research and management, providing a sustainable funding stream, notes https://www.facebook.com/USDAAPHIS/...rsities-and-research-institu/820148643867567/ and https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/chronic-...ll-earmarks-annual-70-million-cwd-containment. "
 
Southern Missouri person here....
Lots of things to think about / point out:

1) I know some very smart wildlife biologist who have differing opinions on how to handle CWD. I understand arguments from both sides of the aisle as they have been articulated, and can easily see why / how to agree with differing opinions.
2) The Arkansas study from earlier this year has some red flag numbers...HOWEVER, I think there are some very important questions that need to be asked prior to contextualize those numbers
3) The 24 and 25 seasons have been the toughest for us in the past decade or so (Lots of Missouri hunters would say this). HOWEVER, in 24 we had a double bumper crop of acorns, and in 25 our temps average 70-degrees or so the whole month of November. TONS of deer dead on the highways due to night movement. BUT, I didn't see near the amount of does all season, nor did I see a mature buck all season (4+ year old or better). Darn near everyone blaming on the "CWD SEASON" and culling. However, only around 3000 deer have been culled (reportedly)
4) 25-26 season looks like we will end up around 283,XXX harvest number.

2024–2025276,262
2023–2024326,448 (State Record)
2022–2023299,719
2021–2022295,143
2020–2021297,214
2019–2020285,872
2018–2019290,224
2017–2018284,477
2016–2017266,144
2015–2016274,447
2014–2015256,753
2013–2014251,924
2012–2013313,254
2011–2012293,527
2010–2011275,134
2009–2010299,461
2008–2009286,419
2007–2008302,401
2006–2007325,457 (Previous Record)
2005–2006287,535
[th]
Hunting Season​
[/th][th]
Total Deer Harvested​
[/th]​
 
deerdown said:
Maybe it's because of the money.....
"Yes, there is significant federal money for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer, primarily through the USDA's APHIS, which awards millions annually to states, tribes, and universities for research, surveillance, and management, with recent legislation also establishing dedicated annual funding to help states and agencies combat the spread in both wild and farmed cervids. This funding supports everything from genetic research and testing to public education and carcass disposal to slow the disease.
Key Federal Funding Sources:
USDA-APHIS Grants: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) distributes millions each year (over $11M in 2025) to support states, tribes, and researchers in CWD control and prevention in wild and captive deer.
CWD Research and Management Act: Congress passed legislation allocating dedicated funds (around $70M annually through 2028) specifically for CWD research and management, providing a sustainable funding stream, notes https://www.facebook.com/USDAAPHIS/...rsities-and-research-institu/820148643867567/ and https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/chronic-...ll-earmarks-annual-70-million-cwd-containment. "
Click to expand...
As usual, follow the money to find the "why".
 
hesseu said:
Southern Missouri person here....
Lots of things to think about / point out:

1) I know some very smart wildlife biologist who have differing opinions on how to handle CWD. I understand arguments from both sides of the aisle as they have been articulated, and can easily see why / how to agree with differing opinions.
2) The Arkansas study from earlier this year has some red flag numbers...HOWEVER, I think there are some very important questions that need to be asked prior to contextualize those numbers
3) The 24 and 25 seasons have been the toughest for us in the past decade or so (Lots of Missouri hunters would say this). HOWEVER, in 24 we had a double bumper crop of acorns, and in 25 our temps average 70-degrees or so the whole month of November. TONS of deer dead on the highways due to night movement. BUT, I didn't see near the amount of does all season, nor did I see a mature buck all season (4+ year old or better). Darn near everyone blaming on the "CWD SEASON" and culling. However, only around 3000 deer have been culled (reportedly)
4) 25-26 season looks like we will end up around 283,XXX harvest number.


2024–2025276,262
2023–2024326,448 (State Record)
2022–2023299,719
2021–2022295,143
2020–2021297,214
2019–2020285,872
2018–2019290,224
2017–2018284,477
2016–2017266,144
2015–2016274,447
2014–2015256,753
2013–2014251,924
2012–2013313,254
2011–2012293,527
2010–2011275,134
2009–2010299,461
2008–2009286,419
2007–2008302,401
2006–2007325,457 (Previous Record)
2005–2006287,535

[th]
Hunting Season

[/th][th]
Total Deer Harvested

[/th]​
Click to expand...
I hear what you are saying but can anyone point to a policy change or regulations that changed the outcome of CWD. Deerdown nailed it. The agencies continue to receive funds to "STUDY" it. Here we are 23 years into it in WI and they still want samples to track it????? Why? Nothing is being done and no one i know personally cares about it. But if you can fund a few more positions well let's study it some more.
 
Killed a deer Sunday. I have received this each day since. Key word " monitor". No way I enter the 23 year "study"
4709.jpg
 
Slick said:
I hear what you are saying but can anyone point to a policy change or regulations that changed the outcome of CWD. Deerdown nailed it. The agencies continue to receive funds to "STUDY" it. Here we are 23 years into it in WI and they still want samples to track it????? Why? Nothing is being done and no one i know personally cares about it. But if you can fund a few more positions well let's study it some more.
Click to expand...

You have pointed out the issue...has any policy, or can any policy change / regulation change the outcome. The argument made here from 1 side would be that while yes, it is "spreading", it is at a slower rate due to the regulations from the past decade or so vs. what studies have shown (Arkansas study for example). HOWEVER, the fact remains that it is still spreading. And, at the end of the day, does this even matter? And if it does matter, do we just "rip the bandaid off"? Or, do we try to "buy" ourselves some time with the model used of trying to reduce the spread?

I also have a very big issue with government spending and jobs...It may be the quickest way to get me riled up! So, yes...That is a big deal for me.
 
Hardwood11 said:
Ok I wasn’t aware of any season like that in my county ? I mean I hope not?
Click to expand...

Late season with unlimited tags isn't quite correct. An abundance of tags if folks chose to take / use them...yes. But, I am not aware of anyone that had a "free for all" killing deer. Could've happened, just personally not aware.
 
IowaBowHunter1983 said:
State after state has tried the same culling programs and ultimately stopped. I dont get it!!!! These arnt inherently stupid people but severely lacking the wherewithal to simply look at multiple past examples of what HASNT worked.
Click to expand...
While ALL of the DNR people that I have known over many, many years have been "good guys", or gals, and are generally well intentioned folks...there have been a couple of subjects that they sure seem to have "group think" over. The baseline response to the presence of CWD is one of them. We should be very glad if Mr. Elliot is not drinking the koolaid on this, which I don't think he is from what I can tell.

The common theme that I have seen is that if there is a "study" that purports to show this thing or that...they are then powerless to think outside the box and determine if the study is applicable to our state/situation, in other words, context matters....sometimes a lot.
 
Ok, I'll take the bait... :)

Politics: Missouri's Park Bill is up for its 10 Year Renewal this year. If too many people are mad about culling, MDC is scared straight this renewal will not pass. MDC gets a big portion of funding from this bill. By hitting "pause" on the deer slaughter, they hope to regain enough good will to pass the bill, and resume shooting deer the following year. Don't kid yourself, MDC could care less about public opinion, or deer hunters.

Deer Control: CWD is nothing more than a smokescreen to control deer numbers in Missouri. It's the perfect opportunity to appease the auto insurance companies, farm bureau by using a "biological" reason to control deer numbers. Folks need to wake up, this isn't about CWD, it's just about reducing deer numbers.

CWD isn't a danger to deer, or humans. But its an easy sell for these reasons..
 
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