You have until Thursday (8/14) to share your opinions on proposed Missouri Department of Conservation regulations pertaining to captive deer. The Missouri Conservation Commission recently approved proposed regulation changes to the Wildlife Code of Missouri regarding the operations of hunting preserves and wildlife breeding facilities that hold white-tailed deer, mule deer and their hybrids.
According to a Conservation Dept. news release, MDC has the authority and responsibility to protect and manage MO wildlife, including deer regardless of which side of a fence they may be on. The proposed regulations are part of the department's ongoing strategy to minimize the spread of fatal diseases in the state's deer population such as Chronic Wasting Disease.
The proposed regulations include banning the importation of live white-tailed deer, mule deer and their hybrids from other states; improving fencing requirements for new and expanding captive-cervid facilities; requiring all deer six months or older that die in captive-cervid facilities be tested for CWD; establishing better record-keeping requirements for captive-cervid operations and prohibiting any new captive-cervid facilities within 25 miles of where CWD has been confirmed.
To comment on the proposed regulations, click here.
