Two pieces of wildlife/hunting legislation meant to control the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) among Illinois’ deer population were signed into law on August 1 by the Governor. State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) served as a Chief Co-Sponsor of both measures.
“Chronic wasting disease is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease that affects deer, elk, moose, and other members of the deer family, and confirmed cases have recently been reported in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson, Will, and several other counties in Northern Illinois,” said Chesney. “While there is no known transmission of CWD from deer to human, best practice is to eliminate infected animals to prevent the spreading of the disease to healthy deer populations.”
House Bill 2340, requires the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to issue a landowner deer permit to any property owner with at least 20 acres of property in an area with confirmed cases of CWD.
“The idea for this legislation was brought forward by sportsmen who felt hunters should have the ability to help control the spread of CWD in Illinois,” added Chesney. “Previously the ability to eliminate affected deer was only granted to IDNR.”
House Bill 2339, which also addresses CWD, requires IDNR to end the use of its sharpshooting program three years after the last confirmed case of wildlife CWD within monitored herds. It also allows for the reinstitution of the program if CWD is identified in a county.
“Sadly, the prevalence of CWD in the deer population is increasing in the State of Illinois, with more counties reporting confirmed cases each year,” said Chesney. “These two bills represent common sense solutions that will hopefully eventually remove the problem.”
