Southern Zone Firearms Hunting Season Opens Nov. 16: DEC Urges CWD Testing for Deer in Herkimer and Otsego Counties

(WNY News Now) – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation kicks off the highly anticipated regular firearms season for deer and bear hunting in the Southern Zone urging hunters to participate in critical Chronic Wasting Diseas testing in select counties.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that the state’s most popular big game hunting season begins on Saturday, Nov. 16, and continues through Dec. 8. With an estimated 470,000 licensed hunters participating, approximately 60 percent of the total statewide deer harvest and 30 to 60 percent of the statewide bear harvest occurs during this season.

DEC is simultaneously responding to an isolated detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a captive deer facility in southern Herkimer County. While there is no evidence that CWD is present in wild deer at this time, DEC is enhancing CWD surveillance in the area and requesting successful deer hunters in the area submit the deer’s head to DEC for CWD testing. 

Hunters Can Help Prevent the Introduction of CWD into Wild Deer

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is an always fatal deer disease that threatens New York’s wild white-tailed deer and moose populations. When introduced into wild deer, CWD can spread rapidly, is nearly impossible to eliminate, and threatens future deer hunting opportunities. Hunters can help prevent the introduction of CWD into New York’s wild deer populations by taking the following precautions:

Hunting Outside of New York

• If you harvest any type of deer, elk, moose, or caribou while hunting outside of New York, debone the venison before bringing it back into New York. DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported deer carcasses and parts;
• If you harvest a deer from an area outside of New York known to have CWD, submit samples to that state’s Department of Natural Resources for CWD testing before consuming the venison. If the test is positive for CWD, contact DEC for proper disposal of the venison.

Hunting in New York

• Avoid using deer urine-based lures or attractant scents, as these could contain CWD. Use synthetic products instead;
• Dispose of deer carcass waste in a landfill, not on the landscape; and
• Hunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principles.

DEC is requesting that successful deer hunters in the towns of Columbia, German Flatts, Litchfield, Warren, or Winfield in Herkimer County, and the town of Richfield in Otsego County submit the deer’s head for CWD testing at one of seven drop-off locations (instructions and addresses below). Taxidermists can sample deer intended to be mounted.

Deer head drop-off instructions:

1. Cut the deer head off with some neck remaining.
2. Keep the head chilled or frozen until submission to DEC.
3. Remove the skull plate and antlers on bucks before submission.
4. Place the head in a plastic garbage bag.
5. Label the bag with your name, address, and phone number and complete the DEC tag at the drop-off location.
6. Deposit the bagged head in the white metal container at one of the drop-off locations below.

Deer head drop-off locations:

Town of Warren

• 131 Hyde-Bell Lane, Jordanville NY 13361 (highway department)

Town of Columbia

• 936 Jordanville Road, Ilion NY 13367 (sand building)
• 147 County Route 259, Ilion NY 13357 (town hall)

Town of Litchfield

• 804 Cedarville Road, Ilion NY 13357 (highway department)

Town of Winfield

• 306 Stone Road, West Winfield NY 13491(highway department)

Town of Herkimer

• 225 North Main Street, Herkimer NY 13350 (Herkimer NYSDEC Office)

Town of Richfield

• Boss Farm, 1545 County Route 25, Richfield Springs 13439

Continuing New York’s Record of Safe Hunting

DEC is encouraging all hunters to continue to take steps to remain safe while afield. Most hunting-related injuries occur when hunters are climbing in and out of a tree stand. Hunters should Strap Up Before You Go Up to stay connected from the time leaving the ground to the time they get back down, read the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings before using a tree stand, check all stands (including straps and chains) before every season, and replace any worn or missing parts. Never climb in or out of a tree stand with a loaded firearm.

Daily hunting hours for deer and bear include the full daylight period, beginning 30 minutes before sunrise and continuing until 30 minutes after sunset. These hunting hours ensure there is enough light for hunters to identify their target and what’s beyond, while maximizing opportunities to harvest deer and bear in the early morning and late afternoon when these species are most active. Hunters should check the sunrise and sunset times before hunting each day.

Hunters must wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing (either a hat, vest, or jacket which are visible in all directions) when pursuing deer or bear with a firearm, and should always follow the basic rules of firearm safety:

• Point your gun in a safe direction.
• Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
• Be sure of your target and beyond.
• Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

Let Young Bucks Go and Watch Them Grow – Harvest a Doe

As a result of DEC’s Let Young Bucks Go and Watch Them Grow campaign and hunters’ willingness to voluntarily pass up opportunities to harvest young bucks, New York continues to document a steady decrease in the percentage of yearling bucks (1.5 years old) in the buck harvest, with the percentage of older bucks (at least 2.5 years old) in the harvest continuing to increase. As a result, more older bucks are being harvested in New York than ever before. By harvesting does instead of young bucks, hunters help keep deer populations in balance with available habitat which allows deer to meet their nutritional requirements for body and antler growth and fawn production. Hunters can help manage New York’s deer herd by continuing to let young bucks go and harvesting at least one doe this hunting season.

Opportunities for Youth Hunters

Once again this year, 12- and 13-year-old hunters may hunt deer with a firearm during the regular firearms season when accompanied by a licensed, experienced adult mentor. This pilot program was established in 2021 and extended through 2025 for upstate counties that choose to participate. The program does not apply to Westchester or Suffolk counties; Erie and Rockland counties have not opted in to the program.

Take It – Tag It – Report It

It has never been easier for hunters to report their deer, bear, or turkey harvest using DEC’s HuntFishNY mobile app. Through the mobile app, hunters can access an electronic version of their hunting license and tags and report their harvests immediately using their mobile device. Hunters can also report their harvest by calling (1-866-GAME-RPT) or through DEC’s website. Reporting your harvest within seven days is required by law and provides critical data to inform DEC’s management of deer, bear, and turkey populations. 

Other Reminders for the 2024-25 Southern Zone Regular Hunting Season

• Choose non-lead ammunition for reduced risk of lead exposure to you and non-target wildlife.
• Hunters can donate venison to help those less fortunate while contributing to deer management.
• For the first time this season, big game hunters can use rifles in Niagara County.
• Back tags no longer need to be worn by hunters anywhere in the state. 
• Hunting licenses and tags are being printed on plain paper. It is the hunter’s responsibility to protect their license and tags. Carcass tags must still be filled out, dated, signed, and attached to the animal as required by regulation. DEC suggests storing licenses and tags in a waterproof bag or container while hunting and placing the completed carcass tag in a zip-top bag or other reusable waterproof protector and securely fastening it to the deer, bear, or turkey to ensure the tag remains protected and legible.
• For specific descriptions of regulations and open hunting areas, hunters should refer to the 2024-2025 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide (PDF). Hunters are urged to review all regulations and safety tips contained in the guide before going afield.
• New York State is currently experiencing active wildfires – be sure to check fire danger maps before heading afield and take steps to reduce wildfire risks.