Chronic wasting disease has been found in Illinois deer since 2002. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is encouraging hunters to have the deer they kill tested for it. It’s mostly known in the northern third of the state.
Hunters can take carcasses to Buffalo Rock and Gephard Woods state parks for testing. They can also drop off caped out deer heads at the Illinois and Michigan Canal Seneca Grain Elevator.
Humans aren’t known to be affected by chronic wasting disease. Nevertheless, the IDNR advises anyone eating deer meat to maybe avoid any that tests positive for it.