CWD sampling in some N. Illinois counties

Deer hunters in select counties in northern Illinois are encouraged to allow samples to be taken for chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling from adult deer they harvest.

This sampling is a very important part of Illinois’ effort to monitor and combat CWD in wild deer.  IDNR is asking deer hunters in Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle and Winnebago counties to participate.  Hunters should first check in their harvest through the IDNR web site or toll-free phone system as indicated on their permit.  The following locations are serving as CWD sampling stations, taking samples from entire deer or deer heads from October 1, 2009 thru Jan. 17, 2010:

County
Location
Hours
JoDaviess
Old Orchard Market, 12000 US 20 West, Lena, IL 815/369-9091
M, Th, F 9am-5pm. T,W 9am-1pm. Sat-Sun 9am-3pm.
Kane
John’s Elgin Market, 1620 Gilten, South Elgin,
847/741-6374
Archery Season M-Sun 8am-4pm,
Firearm Season M-Sun 8am-7pm
LaSalle
1Dave Bicket Processing, 915 Warren St., Earlville, IL, 815/246-9395
Archery & Firearm Seasons: 7am – 9pm
McHenry
Jones Locker Service, 204 N Seminary Ave, Woodstock, 815/338-1016
M-F 8am-6pm
Sat. 9am-4pm, Sun 10am-4pm
McHenry
Dave’s Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy,
4419 Rt. 176, Crystal Lake,  815/455-2040
M-F 7am-7pm, Sat 6am-7pm
Sun 6am-5pm, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas, New Years Eve 6am-3pm
McHenry
Wayne’s Country Market, 801 W. Grant Hwy. (Rt. 20), Marengo, 815/568-2728
M-Th 8am-6pm, F 8am-8pm,
Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 8am-8pm (during shotgun season only)
Ogle
Headons, 103 Main, Creston, IL
T-F 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-4pm
Stephenson
Harbach Meats, 6444 US 20 W, Freeport, IL 815/232-7807
M-F 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-noon
Winnebago
Smokehouse Processing, 5735 S. 9th St., Rockford, IL 915/378-8641
Daily 9am – 5pm
Winnebago
Pinnons Meats, 2324 N. Court, Rockford, IL 815/962-0131
M-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm
Winnebago
Eickmans Processing, Grant St, Seward, IL 815/247-8451
M-F 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-noon
Wisconsin
Authentic Taxidermy, 1849 Yates Ave, Beloit, WI 608/362-8323
Call 608/362-8323 to make an appointment.

Several additional drop-off sites have been established where hunters may leave the heads from adult deer for testing.  Hunters should remove the deer head, leaving the two vertebrae nearest the skull attached.  The head should be placed in a heavy-grade plastic bag and kept cool until the hunter delivers it to the drop-off site.  The head should be stored on ice or refrigerated, but not frozen.  (Tissue samples cannot be taken from deer heads refrigerated more than three days).  The following sites are serving as self-serve drop-off sites where hunters can fill out a sample submission card and leave adult deer heads:

County
Location
Hours
Boone
Boone County Conservation District-Maintenance Bldg, 655 N. Appleton Rd., Loves Park, IL
M-Sun 8am-5pm
Dekalb
Shabbona Lake State Park, 4201 Shabbona Grove Rd., Shabbona, IL
M-Sun
Ogle
Castle Rock State Park, 1365 W. Castle Rd., Oregon, IL
M-Sun
Winnebago
Rock Cut State Park, 7318 Harlem Rd., Loves Park, IL
M-Sun
Winnebago
Sugar River Forest Preserve, 10127 Forest Preserve Rd, Durand, IL
M-Sun

Test results will be posted on the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/cwd/  For .more information, contact IDNR at 815/675-2386 ext. 316 (Lake, Kane, Cook, Kendall, Grundy, DuPage and McHenry counties) or 815/535-2875 (Boone, DeKalb, LaSalle, Ogle and Winnebago counties).