Aaron Hildreth

Aaron Hildreth has been a deer and elk biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation for the past 9 years. He has a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a M.S. in Forestry from the University of Kentucky where he studied the elk that were being reintroduced to Missouri and Virginia. When not working, he enjoys spending time hunting, fishing, doing land management, and pretty much anything else outdoors in Missouri and across the country with family and friends.

Missouri Elk Update – Missouri reintroduced elk starting in 2011. How is the herd doing 15 years after reintroduction? How have the first few elk hunting seasons gone? What are the primary causes of mortality for elk in Missouri? Answers to these questions and more as well as what is next for elk in Missouri will be discussed.

Missouri Deer Population Status and CWD Update – Missouri has a healthy deer population that is enjoyed by nearly half a million hunters annually. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) poses a significant threat to the long-term health of the deer population. A summary of the 2025-2026 deer season as well as an overview of CWD surveillance and management in Missouri will be presented.