Changes to 2024 fall deer and turkey seasons
This upcoming fall deer and turkey seasons, hunters across many mid-Missouri towns will need to pay extra close attention to changes in regulations brought on by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Boone, Audrain, Howard, Osage, Maries and Saline counties have all been added to the Chronic Waste Disease (CWD) management zones . Starting July 1st, there will be no more placement of feed or mineral licks for deer. In addition to this, the antler point restriction is no longer in effect for those counties. Along with these regulation changes for these counties, there will also be an extension in the rifle season of five days to help with efforts to eliminate and contain Chronic Waste Disease (CWD). The first weekend of rifle season for these counties all require a mandatory sampling of a deer if harvested.
CWD is made up of a protein called a Pion. This disease has a 100% fatality rate and there are currently no cures. It is spread from deer to deer through contact, or even through deer remains. Other states with CWD has seen large declines in herd populations prompting an alarm for MDC to put in these new regulations.
This upcoming fall turkey season also sees the removal of automatic turkey tags with the archery deer tags purchase. This means you will have to purchase a set of two fall turkey tags seprately than can be used in either the archery portion or the firearms portion. This cuts the overall tag maxium for turkeys in the fall from four to two.
To find out more about these regulation changes you can go to https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-has-regulation-changes-fall-deer-turkey-seasons or pick up a booklet at local MDC offices.
