The Origins Foundation Podcast

Episode 615 – Jason Sumners: A Tough Decision on Missouri’s Deer

Date: January 13, 2026
Guest: Jason Sumners, Director, Missouri Department of Conservation
Host: Ashley Smith, The Origins Foundation

Overview

This episode tackles Missouri’s recent, highly contentious decision to end its post-season, targeted deer removal program (sometimes referred to as "winter operations") aimed at chronic wasting disease (CWD) management. Ashley Smith sits down with Missouri Department of Conservation Director Jason Sumners, an experienced deer biologist, to get a transparent, science-driven explanation of the state’s conservation strategies, why the targeted removal program was paused, and how societal trends are impacting wildlife management.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jason Sumners’ Background and Philosophy

• Missouri heritage: Jason is a lifelong Missourian, educated at Mizzou and Mississippi State. He's worked throughout the Southeast before returning home to lead deer management programs (03:40).
• Career path: Rose through roles including wildlife chief, science branch lead, and now agency director (05:00).
• Values: Emphasizes blending science, local cooperation, and a strong tradition of public trust in wildlife management.

"The opportunity to impact conservation at a broader scale and then use that direct connection to hunters and the public... is something that I think has benefited me in this role." (05:53)

Elk Reintroduction in Missouri

Background:

• Original elk reintroduction plans in early 2000s delayed by disease and landowner concerns.
• Project relaunched around 2010, bringing elk from Kentucky to the Peck Ranch Conservation Area.

Status & Management:

• The herd has grown to about 350 elk, with expansion into antlerless tags likely soon (17:02).
• Tag allocation uses a $10 lottery; only residents can apply; one tag reserved for local landowners (18:36).
• Dedicated conservation sales tax in Missouri reduces pressure for revenue from tags, preventing auctioned tags (19:12).
• Strong community roots in making opportunities accessible to all Missourians, not just the wealthy.

"All Missourians should have the [chance] at an elk if they so chose." (19:54)

CWD Detection and Response in Missouri

Timeline and Initial Approach

• First CWD Detection:
  • 2010 in a captive facility; 2011 first wild case (21:42)
  • Missouri had a robust surveillance plan and had sampled over 30,000 deer pre-2010 (24:22)
• Illinois-inspired model:
  • Implemented a focused, voluntary, landowner-driven approach to culling deer in affected "core areas" (24:59-26:11)
  • Core area: 3x3 mile section, landowner participation strictly voluntary (26:13)

“We tried to remove some additional deer. Again, completely voluntary, based on what their desires.” (27:18)

Regulatory Responses

• Removed antler point restrictions in affected areas to increase buck harvest (32:35)
• Banning baiting/feeding mineral sites (not a strong pre-existing culture of baiting in the state) (33:11-33:43)
• Movement and carcass restrictions to localize infection risks (33:45)
• New regulations in 2014 restricted import/movement of live cervids, along with strict reporting (35:20-37:07)

“We just call it winter operations... focused around our core areas... one tool in the toolbox.” (38:28)

Evolution and Declining Participation

• Initially high landowner/hunter participation, declining over 2-3 years (31:07)
• This ‘decline after enthusiasm’ pattern seen each time a new area becomes affected (40:00)

“The pattern that plays out is folks are interested, they're willing to participate the first couple of years and then... declining participation pretty quickly.” (31:07)

Ending Targeted Removal: The ‘Winter Operations’ Decision

Societal and Programmatic Challenges

• Erosion of Trust: Rising general political distrust and skepticism toward science undermining support for targeted removals (41:00)
• Program Fatigue: Fewer landowners participating or willing to cooperate; resources stretched as more counties affected (beyond initial ‘core areas’) (43:55)
• Voluntariness: Program remained fully voluntary; "We can't do this alone, nor are we going to." (49:37)

The Decision-Making Process

• Not Political Pressure: Contrary to rumors, not driven by politicians, insurance companies, or angry mobs (43:55, 49:37)
• Capacity and Collaboration First: Chose to “pause” rather than permanently end the program, prioritizing local buy-in, community partnerships, and hunter-driven management (43:55-46:30)
• Hunter Harvest Initiative: Shifted focus to encouraging more hunter harvest (in-season) instead of post-season agency-led culling (43:55, 49:37)

"Really, this has to be a collaborative approach... local decisions are absolutely what makes conservation successful, regardless of what species it is." (46:30)

Outcomes and Observations

• Successes: Areas with strong landowner buy-in have much lower CWD prevalence; others see spread increasing (51:13).
• Data: Now able to ‘show’ within-state differences, which will inform future outreach and management (51:45).

“Prevalence has remained really, really low in that... Adair County... We've got some other places where from the very beginning participation and support was very low. And you can see prevalence beginning to increase and spread is increasing. Right.” (51:45)

Broad Lessons in CWD Management and Conservation

• Missouri’s Record: CWD only present in ~30 of 114 counties after 16 years, thanks to intensive testing and rapid, localized responses (53:42).
• The Misinformation Challenge: Transparency, education, and direct local engagement are vital for retaining trust and countering conspiracy/misinfo (54:03-59:20).
• Future Steps: Town halls, smaller local meetings, and grassroots communication.

“Just being open, trying to be honest about conversations and getting back to that grassroots approach... That's the next steps.” (58:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Wildlife moves, they don't belong to us..." – Ashley Smith (28:48)
• “This is not an elimination program... and prevalence has remained really, really low.” – Jason Sumners (51:45)
• "It's a fundamentally gnarly question even if you remove CWD from the equation." – Jason Sumners (54:03)
• “All hunting is shooting deer to protect them from overpopulation or mismanagement... This is just a management reality.” (54:03)
• “If I can just do my small part to keep pushing [the relevance and importance of nature] forward, I’ll consider it a success.” – Jason Sumners, on his conservation legacy (63:03)

Important Timestamps

• Jason’s background & department history: 03:40 – 06:00
• Elk reintroduction: 13:53 – 20:59
• CWD detection & management: 21:42 – 43:55
• The decision to pause winter operations: 43:55 – 50:00
• Results, community differences, lessons learned: 51:03 – 54:03
• On combating misinformation and the future of management: 54:03 – 59:20
• Closing and Jason’s conservation philosophy/legacy: 62:25 – 64:14

Tonal Highlights

The episode maintains a frank, empathetic tone with a strong focus on transparency, science-based management, and the importance of local collaboration. Sumners’s humility and candor (“I don’t think we take any of these decisions lightly...") and Smith’s supportive-but-probing approach ("You only have a couple of weeks left, right?") bring clarity to a divisive issue.

Summary for Non-Listeners

If you’re seeking a deeper understanding of how CWD management works at the ecosystem and political level, and want a candid, science-based explanation of Missouri’s highly publicized decision to pause targeted deer removals, this episode is essential. Jason Sumners details not just the biology and logistics, but the human complexities and value judgments inherent in modern conservation. It’s a nuanced case study in trust, adaptation, and the lived reality of managing public wildlife.