| | Description: | A study of 2,683 (79% response) Illinois deer hunters attitudes toward and understanding of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer in Illinois was conducted during spring 2003. Most hunters (96%) were aware of CWD, but fewer could state they were aware of CWD in a particular state, including Illinois (77%). Higher risk ratings were given to West Nile Disease (7%), Lyme Disease (5%), or having a heart attack while hunting (5%) than CWD (3%). Hunters did perceive CWD to be a threat to the Illinois deer herd (33% were very concerned). Most hunters (63%) did not foresee any change in their hunting participation for the 2003 firearm season due to CWD, 15% planned to make sure they were hunting deer in a CWD-free county. A majority of hunters (54%) expressed a degree of uncertainty as to the potential risk of CWD to humans, and 18% felt it could be contracted by eating meat from infected animals. Hunters expressed potential changes in behavior with increased infection rates of CWD in deer in the county where they hunted. Based on the responses to this study, approximately 5% of hunters can be expected to drop out of deer hunting if CWD is found in the county next to or in the county where they hunt. | |
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