The start of the Missouri Firearm Deer Season this Saturday will see aa change in a recent requirement for hunters.
Chris Boyd, one of the Taney County Agents for the Missouri Department of Conservation, said during a recent edition of the "At Your Service" Podcast that the required testing for Chronic Wasting Disease during the opening weekend is no longer in effect for several area counties.
Boyd said the reason for the change is that with the knowledge that the disease is in the area and the manpower available to the department, MDC is focusing on areas that have not had many positive tests. Boyd said the counties no longer in the mandatory area include Barry, Christian, Ozark, Stone and Taney Counties. Douglas County is one of the area counties that is still in a mandatory testing area. Boyd said specific details on which counties are in the zone are on the MDC Website.
Boyd adds that hunters who wish to have their deer tested can do so at several drop-off locations in the area, also listed on the MDC Website.
More on the upcoming Deer Season and other conservation information can be heard by clicking below: