Hunters who take deer in six towns in Herkimer and Otsego counties this season can submit the animals' heads for chronic wasting disease testing and enter a drawing for a lifetime New York State hunting license.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation's testing program covers Columbia, German Flatts, Litchfield, Warren and Winfield in Herkimer County and Richfield in Otsego County. DEC announced the incentive Wednesday as it continues to look for signs that the disease has spread beyond a captive deer herd where it was detected in 2024.
DEC said the disease has not been found in New York's wild deer population. Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease affecting deer, moose and related animals, and it can persist at low levels before spreading. The agency says early testing is important because the disease is difficult to eliminate once established.
Hunters who submit a head from a deer harvested in one of the six towns will be entered in the license drawing. The winner may keep the lifetime license or designate another hunter to receive it. DEC said it will notify participating hunters of their test results and the drawing outcome after the hunting season ends.
Where to leave a deer head
In Columbia, DEC bins are at 936 Jordanville Road, Ilion, left of the salt barn, and 147 County Route 259, Ilion, at the state Department of Transportation buildings. The Litchfield bin is at 804 Cedarville Road, Ilion, at the south end of the salt barn. Warren's bin is at 131 Hyde-Bell Lane, Jordanville, at the DOT buildings.
German Flatts has bins at 85 East Main St., Mohawk, behind the YMCA, and 106 West Main St., Mohawk, at the Herkimer County Sewer buildings. The Winfield site is at 306 Stone Road, West Winfield, across the road in the turnaround. In Richfield, hunters can use the bin at 1545 County Route 25, Richfield Springs, at the Boss Farm.
DEC says hunters should leave some neck attached to the head, keep it chilled or frozen until submission, place it in a plastic bag and label the bag with their name, address and phone number. At the drop-off site, they should complete the DEC tag, put it in the small bag provided, secure the larger bag and place it in the white metal container. Hunters may remove a buck's antlers before submitting the head.
Those who want to keep the head, cannot remove antlers or cannot use a bin can contact DEC at 315-866-6330, ext. 132, or cwd.response@dec.ny.gov to discuss testing options.
Why DEC is testing
The state Department of Agriculture and Markets detected chronic wasting disease in a captive Herkimer County deer herd in 2024. DEC is testing additional wild deer in the surrounding area to determine whether the disease has spread and to detect a possible outbreak early. The agency says monitoring protects New York's deer and moose populations and the future of hunting statewide.
DEC also advises hunters who harvest deer outside New York to follow state restrictions on bringing carcass parts back, avoid natural deer-urine lures and dispose of carcass remains where an animal was harvested or in a landfill. Its chronic wasting disease page provides the full prevention and import guidance.
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