The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that hunters in New York harvested an estimated 223,304 deer during the 2024-25 hunting seasons. In addition, DEC announced the release of a report noting agency actions in response to the Herkimer County chronic wasting disease (CWD) incident and the State’s plans for continued, intensified disease surveillance.
"New York hunters had another safe and productive hunting season, providing a sustainable food source for themselves and their families and helping DEC manage the state’s deer herd," said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. "By engaging in safe and ethical hunting practices and reporting their harvest, hunters continued the tradition of being conservation stewards. We also thank hunters and responsible landowners for assisting in actions to reduce the spread of CWD to New York’s white-tailed deer and moose populations to help protect the future of deer hunting and support the sustainable use of venison.”
The 2024-25 estimated deer harvest included 122,427 antlered bucks (i.e., adult males) and 100,877 antlerless deer (i.e., adult females and fawns of either sex). Statewide, this represents a nine percent increase in antlered buck harvest and a three percent increase in antlerless deer harvest from last season. However, the total deer harvest was slightly below the five-year average. The Western Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario Plains regions had the highest deer harvest densities, with more than 10 deer harvested per square mile in WMUs 8G, 8H, 8M, 8N, 8R, 8S, 8T, and 8X.
Notable Numbers
- 15.7 and 0.6 --- number of deer harvested per square mile in the units with the highest (WMU 8R) and lowest (WMU 5F) harvest density.
- 66.9% --- portion of the adult buck harvest that was 2.5 years or older statewide, up from 52% a decade ago, and 30% in the 1990s.
- 53.6% --- portion of successful deer hunters that reported their harvest as required by law. This is greater than the five-year average of 48.2%.
- 13,488 --- number of hunter-harvested deer checked by DEC staff in 2024 to determine hunter reporting rate and collect biological data (e.g., age, sex, antler data). This represents 6% of the total 2024-25 deer harvest.
- 18,372 --- number of deer harvested using a crossbow, less than half as many as were taken with a vertical bow.
Deer harvest data are gathered from two main sources: harvest reports required within seven days of harvest of all successful deer hunters and DEC’s examination of harvested deer at meat processors and check stations across the state. Harvest estimates are made by cross-referencing these two data sources and calculating the total harvest from the reporting rate for each zone and tag type.
DEC’s 2024-25 Deer Harvest Summary report provides tables, figures, and maps detailing the deer harvest and CWD surveillance efforts around the state. Past harvest summaries are also available on DEC’s Deer and Bear Hunting webpage. Appendix two of DEC’s Management Plan for White-tailed Deer provides information on how DEC sets deer population objectives throughout the state.
Chronic Wasting Disease Not Detected in Wild Deer
Last fall, a case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was confirmed in a captive red deer herd in the town of Columbia, Herkimer County. In coordination with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), all captive red deer at the facility were tested. DEC also increased its sampling efforts for wild white-tailed deer. With the assistance of local hunters, landowners, and USDA Wildlife Services, DEC collected samples from more than 200 wild deer within the six towns surrounding the captive deer facility where CWD was confirmed in 2024; none tested positive, providing hope that CWD may not have spread into the wild deer herd.
A report of agency actions in response to the Herkimer County CWD incident and plans for continued intensified disease surveillance in the area are available on DEC’s website.
Statewide, DEC collected samples from and tested 3,189 deer for CWD in 2024, the largest sampling effort since 2008. Since 2002, DEC has collected and tested more than 69,000 deer for CWD. No positive cases of CWD have been detected in wild deer since 2005.
It is important that hunters remain vigilant to prevent the spread of CWD and practice the following guidelines:
- If hunting any type of deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of New York, debone the harvest before bringing it back to the state. DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported carcasses and parts;
- Avoid deer urine-based lures or attractant scents, as these could contain infectious material. If using lures, use synthetics;
- Dispose of carcass waste in a landfill, not out on the landscape;
- Hunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principles;
- Do not consume game that appears sick or diseased; and
- Contact the nearest DEC regional wildlife office or Environmental Conservation Police Officer to report a deer that appears sick, unusually thin, or behaves abnormally.
