IDNR Announces Chronic Wasting Disease Sampling Locations For Deer Hunters

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is reminding deer hunters about locations where deer can be tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) free of charge.

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal disease of the central nervous system in deer and elk. Chronic wasting disease is a fatal disease of the central nervous system in deer and elk. It was first detected in a suspect adult female deer from northwest Boone County in 2002. Since then, 185,896 wild deer have been sampled statewide, and 2,748 individual deer tested positive for CWD. The disease has been detected across a 25-county area of northern and west-central Illinois.

Wildlife biologists monitor the geographic distribution and intensity of CWD primarily through testing of hunter-harvested deer. CWD is not known to be transmissible to humans. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization do not recommend consuming CWD-positive venison (deer meat).

Hunters can visit participating vendors, including taxidermists and meat processors, or leave deer heads at self-serve drop-off sites. Search for locations online, on the Hunt Illinois app, or at IDNR’s interactive map.

Hunters in CWD counties are strongly encouraged to have their deer tested. Hunters who plan to have their deer mounted can have a cooperating taxidermist collect the sample; testing procedures will not damage the deer skull. Hunters not using a cooperating taxidermist can take the caped-out head to an IDNR sample drop-off location.

Firearm deer hunters in CWD counties can get a voluntary sample taken by a biologist when they bring harvested deer to mandatory physical check stations during the 2025 regular firearm seasons Nov. 21-23 and Dec. 4–7. Go online for the locations of check stations.

Voluntary check stations will be open for successful hunters in Adams County at Twin Oaks Club, 2702 Bonansinga Drive in Quincy, and in Peoria County at Jubilee College State Park Office, West Fussner Road in Brimfield during the first and second firearm deer seasons from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voluntary check stations will serve only to provide CWD testing services to hunters, so harvested deer must be checked in online or by phone before bringing them in for sampling.

Hunters in non-CWD counties can use sample drop-off barrels or sampling vendors to have samples submitted for testing.

Hunters can view the results of their CWD tests online. Please allow two to four weeks for results to post. Priority is given to samples from counties with known CWD cases. Hunters will be contacted by an IDNR wildlife biologist if their deer tests positive for CWD.

Between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, IDNR’s Wildlife Disease Program identified 539 CWD-positive deer in 25 Illinois counties, including Adams, Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, McHenry, Ogle, Peoria, Putnam, Stephenson, Will, and Winnebago.

Go online for more information about CWD management in Illinois.

About IDNR

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is celebrating 100 years of conservation and service to the people of Illinois throughout 2025. The department was established July 1, 1925, as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes.

Today, IDNR’s work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov for more information.

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