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Deer Hunter Participation and Chronic Wasting Disease in Illinois: An Assessment at Time Zero

The discovery of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Illinois at the beginning of November 2002 preceded the firearm deer hunting season by two weeks. The single case was found in Boone County near the Wisconsin border. A mail survey of Illinois deer hunters was conducted during spring 2003 to examine the impact of CWD on their attitudes and behavior. The goal was to provide baseline information for future studies should the prevalence and distribution of the disease increase in the state. At the time of this writing, more than 60 deer had tested positive for CWD in 4 counties in north central Illinois. The mail survey obtained data from a random sample of Illinois deer hunters. Participants were mailed a 15-page survey, cover letter, and stamped return envelope. Three survey mailings were conducted. Responses were stratified by the county in which each participant hunted and were categorized into one of four groups: (1) counties in which deer tested positive for CWD (i.e., CWD counties), (2) counties adjacent (i.e., shared border) to CWD counties, (3) two counties away from CWD counties, and (4) all other areas of the state. In total, 2,683 surveys were completed and returned (79% response rate). Most hunters (89%) reported that they participated in the 2002 Illinois firearm deer season; 61% indicated that they hunted during the archery season and 20% hunted during the muzzleloader season. A slightly higher proportion (14%) of hunters in the CWD counties reported that they did not hunt during the 2002 firearm deer season. A majority of hunters (54%) believed that a degree of uncertainty exists in the possibility of humans contracting CWD. About one in five hunters felt that CWD was a risk to deer, but not to humans. Only 17% of hunters believed that CWD could potentially infect humans who consumed meat from infected animals and 10% felt that the threat of CWD had been exaggerated.