How NYS Hunters Can Help Prevent The Spread of Fatal Disease in Deer

Officials are hoping New York State hunters can help stop the spread of a fatal deer disease.

What is Chronic Wasting Disease?

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is working to prevent the spread a disease among animals like deer, moose and elk that poses a serious threat to the wild population.

It's called Chronic Wasting Disease and according to the DEC, "CWD is always fatal to deer."

They explain that when the disease is introduced into wild deer "it can spread rapidly" and is nearly impossible to eliminate."

The spread of CWD then threatens the "future deer populations and hunting opportunities." With that being said, the DEC is hoping that hunters can help prevent the spread by taking precautions during future hunts in New York.

How to Prevent the Spread of CWD in New York

The DEC has shared some tips in keeping yourself and the deer population safe and preventing the spread of CWD in  New York.

They recommend that if you harvest any type of deer (including elk, moose or caribou) outside of New York State that you "debone the venison before bringing it back" to NY.

The DEC warns:

DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported deer carcasses and parts.

If and when you harvest a deer from outside of NY that is known to have CWD, the DEC asks you submit samples to that states Department of Natural Resources for CWD testing before eating.

Additionally avoid using deer urine as a lure because it could contain CWD, hunt only wild deer, do not consume venison from deer that look sick or diseased and when you dispose of a deer carcass do so in a landfill, "not on the landscape."

Learn more about how to stop the spread of CWD at dec.ny.gov.

Deer Hunting Season 2025 in The Hudson Valley

Local hunters have been sharing their harvest with The Wolf during their Show Us Your Rack contest.

Take a look below at some of their photos in the Rack Gallery below: