IDNR to Hold Public Meetings on Chronic Wasting Disease - Deer hunters urge to go

IDNR to Hold Public Meetings on Chronic Wasting Disease - Deer Hunters Urge to Go

Capitol Outdoors urges Illinois deer hunters and outdoor enthusiast to attend a 40 minute presentation being held by the Illinois Department of Natural Resource staff. IDNR has scheduled a series of public meetings to provide information about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The CWD debate is widely known in Illinois and surrounding states.  As of July 1, 2015 Illinois has already seen 538 cases of CWD with 71 in 2015 alone.  

CWD is an always fatal neurological disease that is threatening the long-term health of white-tailed deer in Illinois. First documented in Illinois in 2002 near Roscoe, IL, CWD has spread across the northern edge and northeastern portions of Illinois as far south as the Illinois River Valley. CWD has become established in areas near the Fox and Illinois rivers, including portions of Kendall, LaSalle, Grundy, and Will counties. Last year, CWD-positive deer were detected for the first time in Kankakee and Livingston counties. CWD was also detected in new areas in Stephenson and western Ogle counties in northern Illinois.

Read more information about CWD on page 19 - 20 of the 2015 -2016 Hunters and Trappers Digest

All Meetings start at 7:00 with a 40 minute presentation with discussion to follow.  See meeting schedule below.

Sept. 30 – Pontiac High School, Auditorium, 1100 E. Indiana Ave, Pontiac, IL

Oct. 5 – Starved Rock Lodge, LaSalle Room, Starved Rock State Park, 2668 East 875th Road, Oglesby, IL

Oct. 6 – Meadowhawk Lodge, Hoover Forest Preserve, 11285 Fox Road, Yorkville, IL

Oct. 7 – Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 W. Walnut Lane, Channahon, IL

Oct. 8 – Illinois State Rifle Association Shooting Range, 1589 N. 7000W Rd., Bonfield, IL (approximately 7 miles west of Kankakee)

Oct. 21 – Stephenson Co Farm Bureau Building, 210 W. Spring St., #3, Freeport, IL

For more information about the meetings, or CWD, please contact Doug Dufford, Wildlife Disease Program Manager at 815-369-2414 or by email at doug.dufford@illinois.gov.

This information was provided by a Illinois Department of Natural Resources Press Release.