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Deer Hunters Asked To Help Prevent Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease In Mo.

Conservation officials in Missouri want deer hunters to take precautions this fall in order to prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease.

CWDcases are so far limited to a containment zone in north central Missouri, with the state's first documented case occurring three years ago.  JoeJerekwith the says hunters should wear latex gloves when field-dressing a deer.

"Weencourage hunters to remove the meat in the field if possible, and leave the carcass behind, and even bury it if possible," Jerek said.  "If hunters are processing their harvested deer at (a) deer camp or at home, then we encourage them to place those carcass parts in trash bags and properly dispose of them through a trash service or a landfill.  For those hunters who are having their deer processed for them, we encourage them to take their deer to a licensed commercialprocesserto assure proper carcass disposal."

Jerek says deer with CWD stop eating and tend to stumble around. The disease cannot be transmitted to humans, but conservation officials fear it could affect the state's recently restored elk herd in southern Missouri.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

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Marshall Griffin is the Statehouse reporter for St. Louis Public Radio.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.
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