The Department of Conservation has begun more testing for Chronic Wasting Disease as hunters ready for a new deer hunting season.

This year, because of the pandemic it’s voluntary, not mandatory to get your deer tested.

Chronic Wasting Disease is a major concern for the health of the deer population in Missouri. It attacks the central nervous system of deer and the deer family.

There are collection sites to get any deer you get tested. The CDC recommends that people not eat any deer that have Chronic Wasting Disease.

Testing is usually done by taking a lymph node from the deer’s neck. Testing is usually done on the opening weekend of deer hunting season because hunters help the most in identifying the spread of the disease and most deer are brought in the first week.