Post-Season Targeted Removal

Targeted Removal Helps Reduce the Spread of CWD

After the close of deer hunting season, MDC staff work with landowners on a voluntary basis in the immediate areas around where recent cases of CWD have been found to remove additional deer from mid-January to mid-March. Increasing the number of deer removed in areas where CWD has been found increases the chances of removing more infected deer. Targeted removals also serve to lower the number of deer in these areas. By removing infected deer and lowering deer numbers, targeted removals help to slow the spread of CWD and protect Missouri’s deer population.

+ see more - show less

Post-season targeted removal is the only tested method of slowing the spread of CWD in a local deer population. States such as Illinois have had success in slowing the spread of CWD in areas through targeted removals. Learn more about targeted removal in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Limiting the number of CWD-infected deer in an area also helps minimize the accumulation of CWD in the local environment.

MDC does not conduct targeted removals on a county-wide level. Targeted removal occurs in locations within one to two miles of CWD detections. The exact size of the removal operation depends on the number of positives detected and where they were found.

+ see more - show less

CWD Targeted Removal

CWD Targeted Removal Testimonials

Deer Removed During Winter Targeted Removal Operations
Location Winter 2013 Winter 2014 Winter 2015 Winter 2016 Winter 2017 Winter 2018 Winter 2019 Winter 2020 Winter 2021 Winter 2022 Winter 2023 Total
Total 99 147 349 718 687 1440 2212 2426 2710 3070 3520 17378
Adair Core Area --- --- 195 274 179 293 347 346 260 147 196 2237
Barry Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 67 36 103
Barton Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 286 286
Cedar Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 71 200 271
Christian Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 64 45 109
Cole Surveillance Zone --- --- --- 176 77 --- --- --- --- --- --- 253
Dallas Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 19 19
Franklin Core Area --- --- --- 137 35 41 57 58 27 40 27 422
Franklin SW Core Area --- --- --- --- 98 86 178 341 289 292 294 1578
Gasconade Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 28 28
Howell Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 166 117 283
Jefferson Core Area --- --- --- --- 158 141 121 106 246 243 177 1192
Linn North Core Area --- --- --- --- --- 151 186 195 223 276 362 1393
Linn South Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 80 77 99 208 464
Macon-Linn Core Area 99 147 154 131 140 214 201 202 336 375 515 2514
Mercer Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- 175 88 112 --- --- 375
Oregon Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- 286 138 160 226 136 946
Perry Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 27 15 5 5 52
Pulaski Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 152 143 68 363
Putnam Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 36 13 15 64
Putnam 2 Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 21 66 87
St Clair Core Area --- --- --- --- --- 409 420 376 399 404 262 2270
Ste Genevieve Core Area --- --- --- --- --- 105 124 200 154 263 265 1111
Stone Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 44 16 14 8 82
Stone 2 Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 56 40 42 138
Stone-Taney Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- 83 129 91 27 73 403
Sullivan Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 27 27
Taney Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- 34 96 61 11 3 205
Taney 2 Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 46 20 66
Washington Core Area --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 17 20 37
+ see more - show less

MDC Post-Season Targeted Removal Areas

Areas in red show current post-season targeted removal locations.

Increased Landowner Harvest During Deer Season

During deer season, MDC allows for additional numbers of deer to be harvested beyond normal limits for landowners with five or more acres in core areas where CWD has been found using CWD Management Permits (see CWD Management Permit FAQs). While this additional harvest is helpful, the number of deer harvested by landowners through this method is not enough to limit the spread of CWD to more deer in an area or to other areas.

Targeted Removal Is Voluntary for Landowners

MDC staff always get permission from affected landowners before any targeting removal occurs. Landowners have the choice to allow or refuse targeted removal on their lands. Participating landowners either get written authorization from MDC to remove deer on their land or give permission to MDC shooting teams to remove the deer.

Harvest Methods Are Different for Targeted Removal

To maximize the effectiveness of post-season targeted removal, landowners and MDC shooting teams may deviate from hunting-season regulation restrictions. With permission from MDC, they may use spotlights or place limited amounts of bait to help remove targeted deer on designated areas.  

What Happens to Deer Removed Through Targeted Removal?

Deer removed through targeted removal that do not test positive for CWD are offered to the participating landowners or donated to the Share the Harvest Program for local food banks and food pantries. Deer that test positive for CWD are properly disposed of by MDC staff or meat processors.

+ see more - show less