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KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Thousands of deer have been killed in Missouri but not because it is hunting season.

Since September 18, the Missouri Department of Conservation has received around 3,000 reports of dead deer across the state.

The highest reports in northeast Missouri were from Randolph County, Monroe County and Marion County.

Macon County and Knox County followed close behind those three counties.

Department officials said they believe the deaths are caused by one of two diseases: epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) or bluetongue virus, which causes hemorrhagic disease (HD).

It’s spread by a biting midge fly. HD is rare and humans can not contract it.

“The outbreaks usually occur when we have a drought cycle like we're in right now,” George Shurvington from the Missouri Department of Conservation said. “It's because (the drought) does two things. One, it encourages additional midge flies that spread the disease, and also…it concentrates deer around water sources.”

Not all deer die from the HD.

Evidence that a deer has survived the diseases is sloughing or cast and regrowth of its hooves.