Illinois Will Offer Free Deer Disease Test Kits
The state program provides hunters with tools to sample harvested deer for chronic wasting disease beginning this fall.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Hunting
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will provide free chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling kits to deer hunters starting in the fall 2026 season. Hunters can request up to two kits at a time to test for the fatal nervous system disease.
Why it matters
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal condition affecting the central nervous system of elk and deer populations. Providing accessible testing allows the IDNR to track the prevalence of the disease across the state.
The IDNR identified 662 positive cases between July 2025 and June 2026. Testing results for samples submitted by hunters are typically available online within two to four weeks.
The players
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
This state agency manages the conservation and protection of Illinois' natural resources, including the state's wildlife populations.
The details
Hunters can obtain the kits by contacting a local wildlife biologist or making a request online. Once received, participants must follow provided instructions to collect lymph node samples from their harvested deer for laboratory analysis.
Timeline
Chronic wasting disease was first detected in Illinois in 2002.
The IDNR identified 662 positive deer cases between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
Sampling kits will be available to hunters for the fall 2026 deer hunting season.
Culture Shift
This program continues the long-standing management effort initiated after the 2002 chronic wasting disease detection in Boone County. It represents a shift toward hunter-led surveillance to track the spread of the disease across 28 affected counties.
Hunters planning for the fall 2026 season can now prepare to use these kits to monitor the health of their harvest. By participating, individuals contribute to statewide data collection efforts without incurring costs for laboratory testing.
The takeaway
Hunters should proactively contact local wildlife biologists to secure their test kits before heading into the field. This simple step helps the state maintain accurate records on wildlife disease spread throughout the season.
Further reading
For more information on state regulations and wildlife health, visit Hunting.
Live Poll
Do you support voluntary participation in state wildlife disease surveillance programs?
