Deer Biologist on the History of CWD and Future of America's Deer | The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 937

Steven Rinella talks with director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, Jason Sumners, about: honest updates on the state of chronic wasting disease in America; managing deer herds; what other states can learn from Missouri; keeping hunters at the core of conservation; whether we might be seeing the end of big bucks; and more! Follow Jason Sumners on Instagram: @huntmo_jason Check out the gear the MeatEater Crew uses in the field here: https://store.themeateater.com Follow us: Web: https://www.themeateater.com Instagram:   / meateater   Facebook:   / stevenrinellameateater   Chapters: 0:00 — Why CWD Is the Most Important Issue in Deer Hunting 6:20 — How Missouri Proved CWD Wasn't Already There 12:37 — Illinois vs. Wisconsin: Two Ways to Fight CWD 19:34 — Missouri's First CWD Detection and the Local Response 26:32 — The Hard Sell: Fewer Deer From Your Tree Stand 31:46 — The 5% Tipping Point Where CWD Becomes Unstoppable 38:05 — Groundhog Day: Explaining CWD to a New Town Every Year 44:12 — Why Missouri Stopped Its Most Controversial CWD Program 50:03 — The Mystery of How CWD Jumps to New Areas 57:32 — How CWD Actually Spreads: Captive Deer and Carcasses 1:03:26 — Why The Body Can't Fight Off CWD 1:08:32 — CWD vs. EHD: Why One Disease Is Different 1:15:34 — CWD Has Passed Cars as a Killer of Bucks 1:22:26 — 75% Infection Rates and the Wisconsin Buck Camp Reveal 1:29:11 — Could Genetics Breed a CWD-Resistant Deer? 1:38:19 — Should We Speed Up Deer Evolution? 1:46:01 — The Controversial Idea of Selling Deer Meat 1:54:04 — Making Hunters Partners, Not Adversaries 2:00:43 — The Real Human Health Risk, and Steve's Change of Mind