Deer hunters in Illinois have been required to test their deer for a deadly neurological illness called chronic wasting disease. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources recently unveiled a testing notification system that will make it easier for hunters to stay updated on its presence in local deer.
Chronic wasting disease affects the nervous systems of elk and deer. It was first detected in a female deer in Boone County in 2002. Since then, almost 3,000 deer have tested positive for the disease.
Hunters can test their deer at firearm deer check stations, or they can drop off deer heads at select drop-off sites.
If a hunter signs up for the new test result notification system, they will receive a text and an email with their test results. If they do not sign up, they can still receive their results by looking them up or sending a request to the Department of Natural Resources.
Last year, more than 500 deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease. Nearly every county in northern Illinois was affected.
Hunters can sign up for the notification system through ExploreMoreIL.com