Minnesota Mandates CWD Testing; Missouri Pilots Community Deer Management

Key points

• Minnesota requires all deer one year or older harvested during the Nov. 7-8 firearms opening weekend in the southwest block to be tested for CWD.
• The state has divided into four surveillance blocks, with mandatory testing rotating annually: southwest in 2026, northwest in 2027, northeast in 2028, and southeast in 2029.
• Missouri is conducting a Community Deer Management Pilot in eight CWD core areas, encouraging but not requiring testing for deer harvested with special management permits.
• Missouri’s pilot areas, such as Core Area 36 near Ware, focus on partnering with landowners and hunters to increase harvests and reduce disease spread.
• Minnesota has replaced carcass movement restrictions with a disposal rule, allowing hunters to transport carcasses if they are disposed of via refuse haulers, landfills, or meat processors.

Background

Recent scientific research has highlighted the importance of waste clearance systems in biological contexts, though these studies focus on human brain health rather than wildlife disease. However, the broader theme of managing waste and disease spread through targeted interventions parallels the current wildlife management strategies. Prior to these new measures, CWD surveillance in Minnesota was limited to known risk areas, leaving nearly two-thirds of the state without targeted monitoring for over 20 years. In Missouri, CWD was first detected in 2012, and management efforts have evolved from targeted removals to community-based approaches due to public feedback and the need for broader participation.

How outlets are covering it

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources emphasizes a systematic, mandatory approach to ensure comprehensive data collection across the state, citing recent detections outside existing management zones as justification for the rotational plan. In contrast, the Missouri Department of Conservation adopts a voluntary, community-driven model, arguing that mandatory testing could limit hunter participation. Missouri officials highlight data from Wisconsin, where limited management led to a rapid increase in CWD prevalence, to justify their strategy of encouraging higher harvests in core areas. While Minnesota focuses on standardized testing infrastructure, Missouri prioritizes local engagement and flexibility, with landowners in pilot areas able to receive up to five no-cost management permits.

Why it matters

These changes reflect a shift in wildlife disease management from reactive, localized efforts to proactive, statewide strategies. For hunters, the new rules in Minnesota require compliance with testing to avoid penalties, while Missouri’s approach relies on voluntary cooperation to maintain herd health. The outcomes of these strategies will influence future CWD management policies across the region, potentially affecting hunting regulations, public health guidelines for venison consumption, and the long-term sustainability of deer populations.

What to watch

Hunters in Minnesota’s southwest block must complete CWD testing by November 8, 2026, using staffed stations, mail-in kits, or partner programs. Missouri’s pilot program will run through the 2026-27 hunting season, with results used to develop a template for broader implementation. Both states will monitor disease prevalence and adjust strategies based on data collected, with Minnesota planning to rotate mandatory testing to other blocks in subsequent years and Missouri evaluating the effectiveness of community-based management in core areas.