For the second consecutive year, hunters in Jefferson County will not be required to submit their deer for chronic wasting disease testing during opening weekend. However, voluntary CWD sampling is available at four county locations and several places in nearby counties.
Over the past decade more than 11,300 deer harvested in Jefferson County have been tested for the disease and 79 have returned positive results. While that represents a small percentage, 77 of those samples came from an area in southern Jefferson County that covers about 10 percent of the county’s entire land mass.
In that area, south of Festus and east of De Soto, the outbreak is significant. It may not be mandatory for hunters to have their deer tested where the disease has been found, but it’s foolish to pass on the opportunity. The testing is free, and the peace of mind is worth the investment. It is also recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There is no evidence that the disease can be transferred from deer to humans, but I always say that I don’t want to become the person a disease is named after. Chronic Winkelman’s Disease could use the same acronym, but I’m not willing to take chances on a degenerative brain disease for myself or my family.
Some supposed reasons for not testing are arguments like “we’ve never had to do it before,” “it takes too much time,” and “I don’t want to have to do all that work and not get the reward.” Well, “we’ve always done it this way” never allows for improvements, test results are usually available in a few weeks, and you commit to doing the work the moment you pull the trigger.
The number of voluntary sampling locations in Jefferson County is reduced this year. Bilbrey Studio in Barnhart and Belmar Taxidermy in Arnold have provided sampling since testing began here in 2016, both have opted out.
“As participating processors join or leave the program, we work to maintain convenient sampling options across counties and expand access in underserved areas or counties,” said Brigid Niemeyer, wildlife health program coordinator for the state Department of Conservation. “We welcome suggestions for new cooperators each season, particularly as some retire or choose to leave the program.”
Robertson’s Taxidermy in Dittmer remains an option for testing. Tines and Timber, a taxidermist at 3311 Watson Road west of Festus, provides a new location this year. John’s Butcher Shoppee in Festus continues to provide sample removal, while offering the added opportunity to donate venison through the Share the Harvest program. All three offer “while you wait” service.
The conservation department has a freezer available this year at Mid-American Vulcanizing, 6867 Highway Y in Ware, for hunters to drop off their deer heads for testing. As reported earlier, that location is in the other core area of the county where chronic wasting disease has been discovered.
Voluntary sampling is also available at locations just beyond the county’s borders, including freezer drop locations at Tyson Research Center in Eureka and the Dairy Queen parking lot in Ste. Genevieve. Nature and Wildlife Solutions in Gray Summit and Dave’s Taxidermy on Hwy. 30 near St. Clair also are on the list at mdc.mo.gov/cwd. While the freezer drop locations are available at any time, it is recommended that hunters call the other participating businesses before taking their deer for sampling.
Mandatory sampling is required in 28 of the 114 counties in Missouri this year. Hunters who shoot a deer on Nov. 14 or 15 must take it to a sampling station on the day of harvest in Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Benton, Buchanan, Callaway, Carter, Cedar, Dade, Greene, Holt, Iron, Lawrence, Lincoln, Monroe, Montgomery, Nodaway, Oregon, Pike, Polk, Ralls, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, St. Charles, St. Clair, Warren, and Wayne counties.
“Our plan is to conduct mandatory CWD sampling in each Missouri county on a rotation over the next four years. This rotation will help us continue monitoring CWD where it is already present while supporting early detection in new areas,” Niemeyer said. “We plan to propose mandatory sampling in Jefferson County in 2028. Proposed years are subject to change and will depend on Conservation Commission approval.”
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 35 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.
