Missouri Department of Conservation
MDC Weekly Digest Bulletin (Nov 2 2025): The Missouri Department of Conservation’s digest highlighted several news releases. It reminded deer hunters about new regulations for the 2025‑26 season: the rule requiring high‑risk deer parts to be transported out of the county was removed, but restrictions remain for importing deer/elk/moose carcasses from outside Missouri; additional counties were added to the CWD Management Zone, and voluntary CWD sampling runs Sept 15–Jan 15 with mandatory sampling Nov 15‑16 in specific counties:contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}. The early youth portion bag limit now allows hunters to harvest more than one deer, and firearms antlerless permits are available for qualifying landowners.
The digest sought public comments (by Nov 7) on a proposal to reduce the nonresident spring turkey bag limit from two bearded birds to one, while allowing nonresident landowners to take two birds but only one in the first seven days of the season. The change aims to address increasing nonresident participation and perceived crowding.
Another release cautioned Missourians about a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak affecting waterfowl and raptors. The MDC advised hunters to process birds away from domestic poultry, dispose of carcasses properly, allow equipment to dry, and avoid contact with sick birds. Residents should keep pets away from carcasses, wear gloves and masks when handling game, cook meat thoroughly, and report dead waterfowl or raptors to state officials. The virus rarely infects humans and is not found in songbirds.