PHOTO GALLERY: Chronic wasting disease impacts hunters in Macon County

Heartland Wildlife Ranch occupies land in northern Macon County where chronic wasting disease was identified in 2010. The free-range deer pen is surrounded by approximately 8 foot fences to contain the animals that once occupied the land. Since the discovery of the disease on the property and in surrounding areas, the Missouri Department of Conservation has killed all captive deer on the ranch.   |  Carrie Durkee

Elk can still be found at the Heartland Wildlife Ranch, one of several locations that imports and raises captive deer for hunting in Macon County. The ranch is located in an area that has confirmed cases of captive and wild deer with chronic wasting disease, which can be spread by feeding procedures that unnaturally concentrate animals, natural movement of infected wild deer or the transportation of live captive deer that are already infected.   |  Carrie Durkee

An individual gestures at the map showing the hot spots for chronic wasting disease in Macon and Linn counties at Macon County R-IV School in New Cambria on June 2. Landowners gathered to talk with Missouri Department of Conservation officials about their concerns about the disease and the new hunting regulations.   |  Carrie Durkee