CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - This weekend marks the start of Missouri’s most popular deer hunting season, and wildlife officials are reminding hunters about regulations for tracking chronic wasting disease.

The illness has been detected in parts of Southeast Missouri, and new rules aim to keep it from spreading.

Hunters in certain counties, including Cape Girardeau, have to bring their harvest to a sampling station. The process is required by law, and takes about 10 to 15 minutes

Jason Isabelle with the Missouri Department of Conservation says ignoring the rules could have serious consequences.

“It could have significant effects on our white tail herd, and our hunting culture certainly has the potential to cause significant deer population declines,” Isabelle says.

“Then those ripple

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