Targeted culling of Missouri deer is underway in areas where new cases of chronic wasting disease were found following the latest deer harvests.
The deer-hunting season wrapped up Jan. 15 with preliminary reporting from Missouri Department of Conservation showing a total of 299,721 deer killed.
Chronic wasting disease is a deadly, infectious disease in deer and other cervids. The disease eventually kills all animals it infects. The disease spreads through improper disposal of deer carcasses and through the environment where a deer comes into contact with infectious material from another deer.
Targeted culling is used as a 'disease management tool'
Targeted culling within two miles of where the disease has been detected is conducted from Jan.