DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials will continue to monitor deer samples for any signs of chronic wasting disease in the wild herd.

The state Department of Natural Resources says staff will be in the field collecting samples during the state's shotgun deer seasons. The focus will be on northeast Iowa as well as Wapello, Davis, Pottawattamie and Cerro Gordo counties.

Chronic wasting disease affects the nervous system of deer and is fatal.

DNR says sampling involves removing and testing the brain stem and lymph nodes. Much of it will be collected during the first half of December.

More than 120,000 hunters take part in Iowa's shotgun deer seasons.