Mike Blevins rides his side-by-side across the 300-acre property in Perryville, Missouri, watching white-tailed deer graze where none existed when he and his wife Dana bought the land in 1992. "We take the side-by-side out with our grandkids, and we will always see deer," the couple told the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) in a September 2026 feature. For them, spotting the animals is no longer a hope; it is a daily baseline.
The land was a mess before the Blevins arrived. The previous owner allowed cattle to trample the woods and subjected the area to unsustainable hunting pressure. Habitat was gone. After consulting an MDC biologist, the couple implemented specific management practices to rebuild the ecosystem. It took more than 30 years of adjustment and monitoring to turn the scrubby woods into a functioning deer refuge.
Their success mirrors a wider state trend. By 1925, widespread habitat destruction had reduced Missouri’s white-tailed deer population to fewer than 400 animals. Regulated hunting and conservation efforts reversed that collapse, bringing the number back to levels where nearly 500,000 people now pursue the species annually. The deer are back, but they face a new enemy.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is the pressing concern. First detected in Missouri in 2010 after testing nearly 33,000 deer, the fatal prion disease persists despite strict monitoring. MDC reports that less than 1% of tested deer statewide have tested positive 15 years later. However, officials warn that once CWD establishes itself in a local population, it becomes exponentially harder to control.
The Blevins have pivoted from pure habitat restoration to active disease management. Mike, who previously ran an archery shop, wanted to ensure his customers received accurate information on CWD risks. The couple now participates in post-season targeted removal efforts, working alongside MDC to keep infection rates low. They also harvest deer to feed their family and donate meat through Missouri’s Share the Harvest program.
MDC is shifting its strategy toward localized management, relying heavily on hunters and landowners like the Blevins to monitor herds during regular seasons. The next step involves continued data collection to prevent CWD from spreading from isolated herds to broader regions of the state.