How weather impacts deer harvest and Chronic Wasting Disease testing
The Missouri November Fall Firearms Portion season has ended as of the 26th. Hunters across the state harvested 159,120 during the 2024 season. Previous totals for the 2023 season were listed at 193,885 leading to a difference of -34,765 deer. There are various factors that could have lead to the decrease in the harvest count, and one of those includes weather conditions.
Deer hunters across the state were required to bring their harvest to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing sites in the county it was shot in for the opening weekend of the season. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation CWD is defined as, "A contagious, deadly brain disease of white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family, called cervids. The disease is caused by a misfolded protein and can be spread by direct contact between deer and when deer encounter the misfolded proteins in the environment after they have been shed by an infected deer." This disease has a fatality rate and there is currently no cure for this disease. This leads to a major concern to track the spread of this dangerous disease.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has chosen the start of rifle season as the mandatory testing weekend since there is a very high harvest rate for this two-day time stretch. With more deer harvested, the state can then determine how many deer could potentially carry CWD.
There are several factors contributing to the 2024 season harvest count decline and as shown in the above media release from the Missouri Department of Conservation, weather can be a factor due to high winds and warmer days.
High winded days can result in deer movement declining as deer typically move towards the woods in shelter, leading to less movement and opportunity for hunters to see and harvest these deer. Colder weather also leads to an increase in the need for calories meaning deer are more likely to move and feed more often giving an increased chance of harvest for hunters.
There is still more time for some counties to use a rifle in attempt to harvest more deer during the CWD firearms season. Specific counties have extended the rifle season to last through December 1st. The good news for optimistic hunters is that temperatures look to dramatically decrease going into the second half of the weekend lasting through the weekend. This could lead to increase movement of deer.
Make sure to go to https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/deer-regulations to find out more on the 2024 regulation changes.
