Deer Hunters Encouraged to Share the Harvest & Test For CWD This Season

The Missouri Department of Conservation wants to remind hunters to share the harvest and test for chronic wasting disease during the upcoming deer season.

MDC encourages deer hunters to share their harvests by donating surplus venison to the Share the Harvest program to help feed hungry Missourians.

The donated deer meat goes to local food banks and food pantries to help feed hungry Missourians all around the state.

The program is administered by the Conservation Federation of Missouri and MDC and has provided nearly five million pounds of lean, healthy venison to help feed hungry Missourians since it was started in 1992.

As part of its efforts to find cases of CWD early and help slow its spread, MDC is again offering free voluntary CWD sampling and testing of harvested deer during the entire deer season at select locations throughout the state, including some MDC offices and participating taxidermists and meat processors.

CWD is a deadly, infectious disease in deer and other members of the deer family that eventually kills all animals it infects.

There is no vaccine or cure.

For more on Share the Harvest or CWD testing, visit mdc.mo.gov.