New York Hunters Asked to Submit Deer for CWD Testing

By Blake Jackson

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is urging hunters in designated areas of Herkimer and Otsego counties to submit harvested white-tailed deer heads for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing during the current hunting season.

Hunters who participate will be entered into a drawing for a lifetime New York State hunting license for themselves or another hunter of their choice.

“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 affecting white-tailed deer, moose, and other deer species. Once established, the disease is extremely difficult to eliminate, making early detection and prevention essential to protecting wildlife populations and preserving New York's hunting tradition.

In 2024, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets detected CWD in a captive deer herd in Herkimer County.

Since then, DEC has continued testing deer in nearby areas to determine whether the disease has spread to the wild population and identify potential outbreaks early.

Hunters harvesting deer in the towns of Columbia, German Flatts, Litchfield, Warren and Winfield in Herkimer County, or Richfield in Otsego County, are encouraged to drop off deer heads at designated collection bins. Hunters may remove antlers from bucks before submitting the heads.

Designated deer head collection locations include:

Herkimer County

• Columbia: 936 Jordanville Road, Ilion, near the salt barn; and 147 County Route 259, Ilion, at the Department of Transportation buildings.
• Litchfield: 804 Cedarville Road, Ilion, at the southern end of the salt barn.
• Warren: 131 Hyde-Bell Lane, Jordanville, at the DOT buildings.
• German Flatts: 85 East Main Street, Mohawk, behind the YMCA; and 106 West Main Street, Mohawk, at the Herkimer County Sewer buildings.
• Winfield: 306 Stone Road, West Winfield, across the road in the turnaround.

Otsego County

• Richfield: 1545 County Route 25, Richfield Springs, at Boss Farm.

DEC will inform participating hunters of their test results and announce the lifetime license drawing winner after the hunting season concludes.

Hunters who wish to keep their deer heads or cannot access the designated collection sites can contact DEC at 315-866-6330, extension 132, or email cwd.response@dec.ny.gov to discuss alternative testing arrangements.

DEC emphasizes that hunter participation is important for monitoring CWD and helping protect New York's wild deer population for future generations.

Photo Credit: pexels-aaron-j-hill