DEC Encourages Hunters to Help Keep New York Chronic Wasting Disease Free
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is encouraging hunters in targeted areas of Herkimer and Otsego counties to help protect New York’s wild white-tailed deer population from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) this hunting season. By submitting harvested deer heads for CWD testing, hunters will be entered into a drawing for a lifetime New York State hunting license for themselves or another hunter of their choosing.
“CWD is a serious threat to the wild deer herd and New York’s hunting tradition,” Director of DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife Jacqueline Lendrum said. “This disease is persistent and can exist at low levels before it spreads rapidly, making it more important than ever that hunters remain vigilant and help monitor for its presence.”
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, moose, and other deer species. Once introduced, CWD is almost impossible to eliminate. Preventing its introduction and spread is critical to protecting New York’s wild deer and moose populations and the future of deer hunting in the state.
In 2024, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets detected CWD in a captive deer herd in Herkimer County. DEC continues to test additional white-tailed deer in the surrounding area to determine whether CWD has spread to the wild deer population and to detect a potential outbreak as early as possible.
DEC is asking hunters who harvest deer in the towns of Columbia, German Flatts, Litchfield, Warren, or Winfield in Herkimer County, or Richfield in Otsego County, to submit the deer’s head for CWD testing at one of the designated head bin locations below.
Hunters may remove antlers from bucks before dropping off the head. Hunters who submit a deer head will be entered into a drawing for a lifetime hunting license. DEC will notify participating hunters of their CWD test results and whether they won the lifetime license after the hunting season ends.
Deer Head Bin Locations
Herkimer County
Town of Columbia
- 936 Jordanville Road, Ilion, left of the salt barn
- 147 County Route 259, Ilion, at the DOT buildings
Town of Litchfield
- 804 Cedarville Road, Ilion, at the southern end of the salt barn
Town of Warren
- 131 Hyde-Bell Lane, Jordanville, at the DOT buildings
Town of German Flatts
- 85 East Main Street, Mohawk, behind the YMCA
- 106 West Main Street, Mohawk, at the Herkimer County Sewer buildings
Town of Winfield
- 306 Stone Road, West Winfield, across the road in the turnaround
Otsego County
Town of Richfield
- 1545 County Route 25, Richfield Springs — at the Boss Farm
Hunters who want to keep the deer head or are unable to use one of the head bin locations can contact DEC at 315-866-6330, ext. 132, or [email protected] to discuss testing options.
For more information about CWD, DEC surveillance efforts, and ways hunters can help keep New York CWD-free, visit DEC’s Chronic Wasting Disease webpage.
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