Chronic Wasting Disease Management

Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a fatal disease of the central nervous system in deer and elk.

Since the first case of Chronic Wasting Disease was discovered in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources started a "targeted surveillance program" for CWD in wild deer which was first proposed by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, a diagnostic and research service which investigates wildlife diseases.

This site provides consolidated CWD information including: CWD statistics that show the Total Cases per Year and Total Cases per Year per County, FAQ's, a query system for samples taken, test results for hunters, annual reports, and other CWD resources.

Below is an interactive map that contains all of the township sections where positive CWD samples were found. Click on the red box to see what years positive samples were reported for the section.

• Pamphlet on Chronic Wasting Disease

  Summary of Illinois’s CWD surveillance and management

• CWD Management in Illinois: Fact or Fiction?

  Explains various things you may have heard about CWD

• CWD Hunting Permit Information

  Document containing instructions, season dates and counties that are open for CWD firearm season. 

• Late Winter/CWD Deer Counties Map​

  Most recent map showing which counties are open for CWD and Late-Winter firearm season

• Illinois Cumulative CWD-Infected Sections Map

  Illinois Cumulative CWD-Infected Sections as of August 15, 2023

• CWD Check Station Locations Map

  Map of all mandatory check stations in Northern Illinois

• CWD Testing Locations By County – Where to Get Your Deer Tested​​​​

List of sampling vendors and head drop-off stations to have your deer tested at no cost for CWD 


CWD Testing Locations Map 


Interactive map to find your nearest CWD testing location


• Chronic Wasting Disease Test Results

  Check your test results by entering your phone number you provided with your sample

• Chronic Wasting Disease Query System​

  Find the number of CWD-positive cases and samples collected by year, by county, or statewide

• Firearm Deer Hunting Regulations for CWD Counties

  Instructions and check station locations for hunters in CWD counties

• Administrative Rule 17-625​

  Regulations for Special White-Tailed Deer Season for Disease Control​

• Illinois Department of Agriculture’s CWD Webpage

  Find advice for deer hunters and meat processors on how to field dress deer and cut up carcasses to avoid prions and more.
  

Below is a series of videos:

1. Part 1-Introduction,
2. Part 2-Testing CWD Samples,
3. Part 3-Sharpshooting,
4. Part 4-Common Questions, Research and Safe Handling of Deer.

Note: Click on the title "Illinois Chronic Wasting Disease Management" (top strip) for viewing