New deer hunting bill OK'd

By SARAH ROBERTS, Rockford Register Star
Click here for more about Sarah

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation Tuesday that
creates special deer hunting seasons to combat the spread of chronic
wasting disease, a neurological malady responsible for the demise of
at least a dozen deer in the Rock River Valley.

The bill gives the Department of Natural Resources the authority to
establish separate harvest periods to control or eliminate the
disease. Hunting dates will be at the department's discretion, as will
hunting locations. The legislation, which takes effect immediately,
makes the special seasons open to gun and bow hunters.

At the bill signing in Mercer County, just south of the Quad Cities,
Blagojevich touted the measure as a way to preserve the state's
"long-standing deer hunting tradition."

"As we have seen with the recent spread of other diseases involving
native and exotic wildlife, we need laws and regulations that allow us
to act quickly to contain them," Blagojevich said in a statement.
"This law does that and will help secure the future of deer hunting in
Illinois."

Chronic wasting disease affects deer and elk but is not a known threat
to humans or livestock. The incurable disease is spread from one
animal to another and causes infected animals to become emaciated,
display abnormal behavior, lose coordination and eventually die.

Illinois began testing for CWD last year after the disease was
discovered in neighboring Wisconsin. The first CWD deer was found last
fall in an area near Roscoe on the border of Winnebago and Boone
counties. Eleven more diseased deer have since been found in that
area, along with two in McHenry County, bringing the state's recorded
number to 14.

http://www.rrstar.com/localnews/your...625-9765.shtml

---

I believe CWD is more established in Illinois. Is CWD new in the NC
population? That would be quite worrisome if it is.

nick