SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reminding deer hunters that free chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing is available at participating sampling locations throughout the state.
CWD is a fatal disease of the central nervous system that affects deer and elk. First detected in Illinois in 2002 in a deer from Boone County, CWD has since been identified in 28 counties across northern and central Illinois. Since 2002, 199,136 wild deer have been sampled statewide, with 3,410 testing positive for CWD.
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IDNR wildlife biologists monitor the distribution and prevalence of CWD primarily through testing hunter-harvested deer. CWD is not known to be transmissible to humans. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization recommend that people not consume meat from CWD-positive deer.
Hunters can have deer tested for free at participating taxidermists and meat processors or by dropping deer heads at designated self-service sampling locations. A list of sampling locations is available through the CWD sampling locations page and on the Hunt Illinois app.
Hunters in counties where CWD has been detected are strongly encouraged to have harvested deer tested. Hunters planning to have their deer mounted can have a cooperating taxidermist collect a sample. The testing process does not damage the deer skull or cape. Hunters who do not use a cooperating taxidermist can bring the caped-out head to an IDNR sampling drop-off barrel, where available.
During the 2026-2027 regular firearm deer seasons, Nov. 20-22 and Dec. 3-6, firearm deer hunters in CWD counties can also have a voluntary CWD sample collected by an IDNR biologist when they bring harvested deer to mandatory physical check stations. A map of check stations is available on the Hunt Illinois website.
Hunters in counties without known CWD cases can use designated sampling drop-off barrels or participating vendors to submit deer for testing.
Hunters can check CWD test results through the IDNR CWD test results website or by visiting the CWD page on the IDNR website. Results generally are available within two to four weeks, with priority given to samples from counties with known CWD cases. An IDNR wildlife biologist will contact hunters if their deer tests positive for CWD.
According to the IDNR Wildlife Disease Program’s CWD annual report, 662 CWD-positive deer were identified in 28 Illinois counties between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The counties are Adams, Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Effingham, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, McHenry, Ogle, Peoria, Putnam, Scott, Stark, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago.
For more information about CWD management in Illinois, visit the IDNR CWD webpage.
About IDNR
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 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 and follow us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
