DEC Seeks Hunter Cooperation For CWD Detection in Herkimer and Otsego Counties
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 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing. By submitting the heads from their harvested deer, hunters will be entered into a drawing for a lifetime New York State hunting license for themselves or another hunter of their choosing.
In 2024, DEC and the Department of Agriculture and Markets detected CWD, a fatal disease of deer, in a captive deer facility located in southern Herkimer County. DEC needs to test additional white-tailed deer in the area to ensure CWD hasn’t spread to the wild deer population and to detect an outbreak as soon as possible.
Hunters can bring their deer heads to one of DEC’s eight head bin locations (see below). Taxidermists in the area may also be able to collect samples from deer intended for mounting. DEC will notify hunters of CWD results and if they won the lifetime hunting license once hunting season ends.
Deer head submission instructions
- Cut the head off with some neck remaining.
- Keep the head chilled or frozen until submission to DEC.
- Remove the skull plate and antlers on bucks before submission. If you’re getting the buck mounted or cannot remove the antlers, contact DEC (see contact information below). DEC staff or the taxidermist you are using may be able to collect a sample for you.
- Place the head in a plastic garbage bag.
- Label the bag with your name, address, and phone number and complete the DEC tag at the drop-off location.
- Place the DEC tag in the small ziplock bag provided and place in the garbage bag with the head.
- Zip-tie the bag closed and deposit the bagged head in the white metal container at one of the head bin locations below.
Deer head drop-off bin locations
- Columbia – 936 Jordanville Road, Ilion (left of the salt barn)
- Columbia – 147 County Route 259, Ilion (DOT buildings)
- Litchfield – 804 Cedarville Road, Ilion (southern end of the salt barn)
- Warren – 131 Hyde-Bell Lane, Jordanville (DOT buildings)
- German Flatts – 85 East Main Street, Mohawk (Behind YMCA)
- German Flatts – 106 West Main Street, Mohawk (Herkimer County Sewer buildings)
- Richfield – 1545 County Route 25, Richfield Springs (Boss Farm)
- Winfield – 306 Stone Road, West Winfield (Across road in turnaround)
Keeping the head or unable to drop it off? Contact DEC at 315-866-6330, ext. 132, or cwd.response@dec.ny.gov.
Hunters play a vital role in helping keep New York’s wild deer herd CWD-free. For more information, visit DEC’s CWD webpage.