Chronic Wasting Disease

HERKIMER, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking public help in monitoring Chronic Wasting Disease during this year’s hunting season.

The DEC, following the confirmation of CWD at a captive deer facility in Columbia, last fall, sampled 196 wild deer in the area and found no signs of the disease.

This season, DEC will focus on sampling deer in Columbia, German Flatts, Litchfield, Warren, and Winfield in Herkimer County, as well as Richfield in Otsego County.

Hunters can bring deer heads from these towns to one of eight designated drop-off locations for free testing.

From the DEC:

Deer Head Drop-Off Bin Locations: 

Town Of Columbia – 936 Jordanville Rd., Ilion (To the left of the salt barn).Town Of Columbia – 147 County Rt. 259, Ilion (At the DOT buildings). Town of Litchfield – 804 Cedarville Rd., Ilion (On the southern end of the salt barn). Town of Warren – 131 Hyde-Bell Ln., Jordanville (At the DOT buildings).Town of German Flatts – 85 East Main St., Mohawk (Behind the YMCA). Town of German Flatts – 106 West Main St., Mohawk (Herkimer County Sewer District Buildings). Town of Richfield – 154 County Rt. 25, Richfield Springs (Boss Farm). Town of Winfield – 306 Stone Rd., West Winfield (Across the road in the turnaround). 

Taxidermists can also collect samples from deer intended for mounting.

The DEC will test all samples at no cost and notify hunters of any positive results.

The DEC provided these instructions for deer head drop off: 

From the DEC:

Deer Head Drop-Off Instructions: 

Cut the deer 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;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 bag provided and place in the garbage bag with the head; andZip tie the bag closed and deposit the bagged head in the white metal container at one of the drop-off locations above.  

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking public help in monitoring Chronic Wasting Disease during this year’s hunting season.


Click here for more information on CWD. 

For more NEWSChannel 2 coverage of CWD in the area, click on the linked stories below. 


Latest on Chronic Wasting Disease Case in Town of Columbia

A case of Chronic Wasting Disease was discovered at a farm on Hayner Road in the Town of Columbia.


State Officials Respond to Chronic Wasting Disease at Deer Farm, Urge Hunters to Stay Alert

The New York State Agriculture and Markets, along with the Department of Environmental Conservation, is actively addressing a case of chronic wasting disease at a farm on Hayner Road in the Town of Columbia.

Local Hunters Asked to Help State DEC Test for Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking help from hunters in Herkimer County to monitor for chronic wasting disease in deer.


Deer at Columbia Farm Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease

As hunting season approaches in the Mohawk Valley, the New York State DEC is investigating how a case of chronic wasting disease appeared on a Hayner Road farm in the Town of Columbia.


DEC: Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Upstate New York

The New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation has confirmed a case of Chronic Wasting Disease in upstate New York.