2020-21 Illinois Deer Hunter Chronic Wasting Disease Survey

Walberg, Eric M. ; Miller, Craig A. ; Stephens, Lauren J.; Ashbrook , Alexa L.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/118111 Copy

Description

Title

2020-21 Illinois Deer Hunter Chronic Wasting Disease Survey

Author(s)

• Walberg, Eric M.
• Miller, Craig A.
• Stephens, Lauren J.
• Ashbrook , Alexa L.

Issue Date

2022-12-05

Keyword(s)

CWD, chronic wasting disease, Illinois, deer hunters, perceived risk, agency trust

Geographic Coverage

Illinois

Abstract

In 2021, the Human Dimensions Research Program at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) partnered with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to survey deer hunters in Illinois to determine their perceptions and attitudes toward the management of chronic wasting disease (CWD) among the deer population in the state. The 2020-21 Illinois Deer Hunter CWD Survey was mailed to a random sample of 3,000 Illinois residents who purchased a deer hunting permit in Illinois during the 2020-21 hunting season. The 12-page questionnaire was mailed up to four times between September 2021 and January 2022. A total of 1,237 Illinois deer hunters returned the questionnaire resulting in a 43% response rate. A limited number of participants lived (20%) or hunted (21%) in a county in which CWD has been found in deer, though over 40% were unsure if they lived (49%) or hunted (43%) in a county with CWD. Only 11% of participants have tested at least one deer for CWD that they harvested in Illinois, though testing was higher among participants who hunted in counties with CWD present (43%) than hunters in counties without CWD (5%). Only 2% of participants had a deer that they harvested in Illinois test positive for CWD. Less than half of participants (45%) indicated that they and their family ate meat from a CWD positive deer. Participants were most likely to process a deer that they harvest themselves (43%), use a commercial processor (39%), or use both a commercial processor and their own processing (33%). Knowledge about CWD in Illinois was greater among participants who hunted in a county with CWD present than other hunters, but many participants had limited knowledge about CWD. Participants who hunted in areas with CWD were more knowledgeable about actions taken by the IDNR in response to CWD in Illinois. Most participants knew that the IDNR tested deer harvested by hunters in CWD-affected counties (71%), banned the feeding of wild deer (66%), and hold special CWD management hunts in CWD-affected counties (54%). Most participants (56%) felt that the IDNR should use all methods necessary to manage CWD in the deer population in Illinois. Participants felt that holding special CWD management hunts in CWD-affected counties has been most effective in reducing CWD in the deer population. Most participants believe that the IDNR should continue testing deer harvested by hunters in CWDaffected counties (64%), hold special CWD management hunts in CWD-affected counties (64%), increase deer 2 harvest through hunting in CWD-affected counties (62%), and test deer harvested from counties with no cases of CWD (60%). Most participants believed that holding special CWD management hunts in CWD-affected counties (71%) and increasing deer harvest through hunting in CWD-affected counties (68%) were acceptable management actions. Over half of participants (53%) believed that reducing deer populations in CWD-affected counties would be an acceptable outcome from IDNR management actions, though participants who hunted in areas with CWD (55%) believed this potential outcome was more acceptable than participants who hunted in areas without CWD (40%). Participants indicated that they trust the IDNR to manage CWD in the deer population in Illinois. Trust in the IDNR was higher among participants who hunted in areas where CWD is not present than participants who hunted in an area with CWD. Participants agreed strongly with statements such as “I trust IDNR to provide truthful information on the number of CWD-positive deer discovered in Illinois” (74%), “I trust IDNR to provide truthful information about how CWD spreads” (74%), and “I trust IDNR to provide the best available information on CWD in Illinois” (73%). Most participants indicated they felt a slight risk (46%) or no risk (40%) of becoming ill from CWD. Participants were most concerned about the impact of CWD on the health of the deer population in Illinois, the potential for CWD to dramatically reduce the deer herd in Illinois, and CWD spreading throughout the entire deer herd in Illinois. Most participants (60%) were not concerned about the impact of CWD on their own personal health. Half of participants (51%) agreed that “CWD may pose a risk to humans, but not enough is known to be sure."

Publisher

Illinois Natural History Survey

Series/Report Name or Number

INHS Technical Report 2023 (36)

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Copyright and License Information

Illinois Natural History Survey

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