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JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation will be hosting six informational open houses for the public in August in communities around where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found in north-central Missouri.

Each open house will begin with a presentation on CWD, MDC testing for the disease and cases found, disease-management actions MDC is taking to help limit the spread of the disease and what hunters, landowners and others can do to help. Following the presentation, attendees can visit with MDC staff to get more information and ask questions.

The open houses will be:

Macon: Aug. 18, 3-5 p.m., Macon Expo Center, Macon County Fairgrounds, Hwy 63

Brookfield: Aug. 20, 7-9 p.m., Trinity Methodist Church, 224 S. Main St.

Moberly: Aug. 21, 7-9 p.m., Moberly Area Community College Activity Center, 101 College Ave.

Kirksville: Aug. 23, 7-9 p.m., MDC Northeast Regional Office, 3500 S. Baltimore

Salisbury: Aug. 28, 7-9 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 311 E. Patterson

Milan: Aug. 29, 7-9 p.m., Milan High School, 373 S. Market St.

“These open houses are a great opportunity to come and learn more about MDC’s efforts concerning CWD,” said MDC Deer Biologist Jason Sumners. “There are actions the general public can take to help limit the spread of CWD. We want to make sure the public is aware of these options and answer any questions they might have.”

Sumners added that white-tailed deer are a valuable part of Missouri’s hunting heritage and local economies. More than 500,000 Missouri deer hunters are vital partners in keeping the state’s deer herd healthy, along with supporting the state and local economies. Deer hunters spend more than $690 million directly related to deer hunting each year. This adds up to over $1 billion in overall business activity and supports more than 11,000 jobs.

For more information on the CWD open houses, contact the MDC Northeast Regional Office in Kirksville at 660-785-2420.


Previous stories...

Another wild deer harvested in the Heartland tests positive for a fatal illness  -  Thursday, March 08, 2012 
A wild deer harvested near Heartland Wildlife Ranches in Macon County tests positive for Chronic Wasting Disease.

Chronic Wasting Disease found in Macon County deer  -  Tuesday, January 24, 2012 
Two positive results for Chronic Wasting Disease are first for free-ranging deer in Missouri.

Hunters asked to donate deer tissue samples  -  Wednesday, November 16, 2011 
Hunters helped MDC collect tissue samples from more than 650 deer harvested during youth and opening firearms weekends. Hunter help still needed for MDC to collect more samples.