Illinois launches automated system to send chronic wasting disease test results to hunters

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will debut a new notification system this season which will automatically relay chronic wasting disease (CWD) test results to deer hunters.

CWD is a fatal disease that impacts the central nervous system in deer and elk. It was first found in a female deer in Boone County in 2002. Since then, over 2,748 deer have tested positive. 

The IDNR encourages hunters who harvest deer across the CWD endemic areas in Illinois to have their deer tested at deer check stations, participating vendors, or by dropping deer heads at self-serve drop-off sites.  

To participate in the new notification system, IDNR said hunters will need to provide a mobile phone number with their CWD sample, and have an email address linked to their ExploreMoreIL. Then, hunters will receive the test results through email and text. If a sample tests positive, hunters will also receive a link to a mapping application which will help verify the location of where the deer was harvested.

IDNR said a website with CWD test results will remain available to hunters — regardless of if they choose to opt in to text or email notifications. Hunters can also submit inquiries to DNR.CWDQuestions@illinois.gov. 

If a deer tests positive for CWD but the hunter has not verified their township range, IDNR will attempt to reach out. If a hunter fails to provide their township range selection, they may be ineligible to receive free replacement tags next deer season.  

Click here to access a map which contains all of the township sections where positive CWD samples were found. Between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, CWD-positive deer were found 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.

To learn more about CWD management in Illinois, click here.