Fieldnotes on the Edge - Eyes on Joplin

    In states like Missouri, where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been confirmed in wild deer populations, trophy hunting without testing isn’t just risky it’s a public health blind spot. While no human cases of CWD have been documented. Prion diseases are a rare but deadly class of neurological disorders caused by misfolded proteins that trigger irreversible brain damage. While CWD affects deer, elk, and moose, it belongs to a broader family of prion diseases that have crossed species boundaries before. For a full overview of human and animal prion diseases including Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), BSE (mad cow disease), and scrapie.   Why CWD Matters to Trophy Hunt CWD is a fatal neurological disease caused by misfolded proteins called prions . These prions concentrate in the brain, spinal cord, eyes, lymph nodes, and spleen. Even if a deer looks healthy, it may carry infectious prions in the very tissues prized by trophy hunters. That means the risk isn’...

  Uncovering the overlooked risks, biological contradictions, and emotional fallout behind Joplin’s urban deer hunting ordinance. When Joplin’s city council approved its urban bow hunting ordinance on June 16, 2025, they cited neighboring cities Springfield, Columbia, Branson, and Cape Girardeau as models of success. But extensive research reveals a different story: repealed ordinances, wounded wildlife, public backlash, and biological red flags. This article documents the dangerous gap between policy and lived reality and why Joplin’s wooded corridors deserve better.    What the Council Claimed City officials stated the ordinance would: Reduce deer-vehicle collisions Minimize property damage Prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Mirror “successful” programs in other Missouri cities They referenced Branson, Columbia and Springfield , as examples of safe, effective urban hunts. Assistant Police Chief Brian Lewis called ...

Joplin’s urban hunting ordinance, passed in June 2025, claims that thinning the herd will help stop the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). But that premise falls apart under scientific scrutiny.  CWD is caused by prions misfolded proteins that are not only resistant to heat and sterilization, but also capable of binding to soil and remaining infectious for years. These prions don’t vanish when a deer is removed. They persist in the environment, especially in wooded corridors and feeding zones. CWD is in soil and plants.  Prions most likely enter soil via excretion or from the carcasses of infected animals… interactions with clay minerals do little to reduce prion potency. Unless the city plans to excavate every wooded acre and incinerate the topsoil at 900°F, thinning the herd won’t stop the spread. It might reduce visible deer, but it does nothing to eliminate the prions already embedded in the landscape. “CWD prions remain infectious even after thorough cooking a...