MDC reminds Missourians of changes for youth hunters, sharing the harvest, CWD regulations

Missouri Department of Conservation wants hunters to remember a few things this deer season.

In a news release, MDC went over changes for youth hunters, sharing the harvest, chronic wasting disease regulations and more.

Changes for youth hunters in Missouri

Hunters 15 years or younger are now exempt from the antler-point restriction during the archery season and all portions of the firearms deer season as of Sept. 15.

"The antler-point restriction has been removed for Barton and Vernon counties," per MDC.

Hunters may now fill additional firearms antlerless permits in a number of counties. Visit MDC's deer regulations online for details.

Sharing the harvest

There's a chance hunters kill more than they need for their own freezers. If that's the case, MDC is encouraging deer hunters to share their harvests and donate surplus venison to the Share the Harvest program. This initiative by the Conservation Federation of Missouri and MDC helps feed hungry Missourians by providing almost 5 million pounds of venison since it launched 30 years ago.

"Donating is easy," according to MDC. "Simply take harvested deer to an approved meat processor and let the processor know how much venison to donate."

Fees for processing the meat are either covered entirely or in part by local and statewide sponsors.

"The donated deer meat goes to local food banks and food pantries to help feed hungry Missourians all around the state," MDC stated. "To get Share the Harvest venison, contact local food banks or food pantries."

For information on Share the Harvest, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/share.

Four Missouri counties added to CWD Management Zones

Chronic wasting disease is a deadly, infectious disease in deer and other cervids. The disease eventually kills all animals it infects. MDC is continuing to attempt to limit the spread of the disease in Missouri by finding new cases and slowing the spread to more areas.

More: A closer look at what it means to test for chronic wasting disease in Missouri

The CWD Management Zone consists of counties where or near where CWD has been found, including: Adair, Barry, Barton, Camden, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Howell, Jefferson, Knox, Laclede, Linn, Macon, McDonald, Mercer, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ripley, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Vernon, Warren, and Washington.

Barton, Greene, Ripley and Vernon counties are new to the CWD Management Zone as of this year.

There are special regulations applied when hunting in CWD Management Zone counties, including:

• During Nov. 12–13, hunters who harvest deer in CWD Management Zone counties (except Gasconade, Knox, St. Charles, and Warren) must take the deer or deer head on the day of harvest to an MDC mandatory CWD sampling station.

• The use of grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable products used to attract deer is prohibited year-round in CWD Management Zone counties.

• Deer harvested from CWD Management Zone counties must be reported through Telecheck before they can be removed from the county of harvest.

• Hunters must follow carcass-movement restrictions for deer harvested in a CWD Management Zone county.

Hunters must also follow carcass-movement restrictions when bringing parts of harvested deer and other cervids into Missouri from another state.

MDC will offer sampling and testing all season. Visit MDC's website on chronic wasting disease regulations for more information.

Sara Karnes is an Outdoors Reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Follow along with her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @Sara_Karnes. Got a story to tell? Email her at skarnes@springfi.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: MDC reminds Missourians of hunting regulations, CWD sampling