CONSERVATION ACTION
News of the August 14, 2002 Conservation Commission meeting
Contact: Jim Low, (573) 751-4115, extension 3243;
E-mail: Jim.Low@mdc.mo.gov

The Conservation Commission met by telephone conference call at Conservation Department Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City, Mo. Commissioners attending were:

Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre, Chairman
Stephen C. Bradford, Cape Girardeau, Vice-Chairman
Cynthia Metcalfe, St. Louis, Secretary
Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City, Member

REGULATIONS:

The Commission approved recommendations of the Regulation Committee, including:

  • An amendment to the Wildlife Code of Missouri requiring that all elk, elk-hybrids, mule deer, and white-tailed deer introduced into a Class I wildlife breeder operation or licensed hunting preserve be tagged to allow individual animal identification.
  • An amendment to the Wildlife Code of Missouri requiring that all elk, elk-hybrids, mule deer and white-tailed deer over 12 months of age that die of any cause in a Class I wildlife breeder operation or breeding pens of licensed hunting preserve be tested for chronic wasting disease at a federally approved laboratory.
  • An amendment to the Wildlife Code of Missouri requiring all Class I wildlife breeder operations and breeding pens of licensed hunting preserves be enrolled in Missouri's chronic wasting disease monitoring program by March 31, 2003.
  • An amendment to the Wildlife Code of Missouri requiring all Class I breeders and licensed hunting preserves maintain importation records and CWD test results for Conservation Department inspection.
  • An amendment to the Wildlife Code of Missouri requiring all breeders and preserve owners report any positive CWD test results to the Conservation Department immediately.

The changes will be effective Sept. 1.

In addition to these amendments, the Commission approved a proposed amendment that would go into effect March 31, 2003. This amendment would require hunting preserves that have introduced elk, elk-hybrids, mule deer and/or white-tailed deer into the hunting area within the previous year to test as many as 10 harvested animals for CWD. A 30-day public comment period on the amendment will begin in October.

The full text of these changes will be published in the Missouri Register. Missouri Register documents are available online at http://www.sos.state.mo.us/ or by calling (573)751-4015.