CWD found in a Sparta deer
Trending
New York’s big game hunting season has long offered more than the excitement of pursuing whitetails. For thousands of hunters, it represents an opportunity to put healthy, locally harvested venison in the freezer, helping supplement grocery bills while carrying on a deeply rooted outdoor tradition. One of New York’s biggest selling points for hunters, including those traveling hundreds of miles from other states and Canada, has been its long-standing success in keeping Chronic Wasting Disease out of the wild deer population.
That distinction now faces a new challenge.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recently confirmed CWD in a wild white-tailed deer harvested in the town of Sparta, Livingston County. It marks the first detection in a wild deer in New York since 2005 and has prompted DEC to activate its CWD Response Plan to determine how widespread the disease may be and take steps to prevent further spread.
The news is certainly concerning, but it is also an opportunity to recognize the tremendous effort that has gone into protecting New York’s deer herd over the past two decades.
CWD first appeared in New York in 2005, when the disease was discovered in captive deer facilities in Oneida County. Subsequent testing identified two infected wild deer nearby. DEC, working with the Department of Agriculture and Markets, launched an intensive response involving testing, containment, and the removal of affected deer. The effort ultimately eliminated that outbreak, making New York a notable success story in CWD management. Since then, tens of thousands of deer have been tested through ongoing surveillance without another positive wild-deer detection until now.
That vigilance matters. In 2025 alone, DEC tested more than 3,000 deer for CWD as part of its statewide monitoring program. Although a captive deer herd in Herkimer County tested positive in 2024, targeted testing did not identify the disease in surrounding wild deer. The Livingston County finding remains the only newly identified positive wild-deer detection in the state.
CWD is a highly contagious, always-fatal disease affecting the brain and nervous system of deer, elk, and moose. While there is no evidence that it can infect humans or domestic livestock, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against consuming venison from an animal known to have CWD.
For hunters in the newly established containment area, which includes Conesus, Groveland, North Dansville, Sparta, Springwater and West Sparta, additional precautions are now required. All harvested deer must be submitted for tissue sampling, and whole deer cannot be transported outside the containment area without following DEC’s transport requirements. Collection locations and instructions are available through DEC’s CWD information resources.
Hunters and interested members of the public can also participate in a virtual DEC information session (online) on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m., where officials will discuss the disease and potential management and containment actions.
New York has a long history of taking CWD seriously, and that commitment has served its wildlife and hunting traditions well. One positive test is a reason for heightened awareness, not a reason to abandon confidence in the state’s wildlife management efforts.
For now, hunters can do their part by following DEC guidelines, submitting required samples, and remaining informed. Protecting the health of New York’s deer herd is a shared responsibility, and the state’s successful history provides good reason to believe that a strong, science-based response can make a difference once again.
Gotta love the outdoors.
CALENDAR
Nov. 12: Erie County Federation of Sportsmen, monthly meeting, 6:30-9 p.m., Southtowns Walleye Association Club, 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.
Nov. 15: Ripley Rod & Gun Club, Turkey Shoot, noon start, shotgun, rifle, pistol, open to all; 9820 Rod & Gun Road, Ripley.
Nov. 17: Children in the Stream Youth Fly Fishing/4-H Program, Fly tying/fly fishing classes, 7-8:30 p.m., free, Costello Room, Rockefeller Art Center at SUNY Fredonia, For info: email Alberto@albertorey.com.
Nov. 18: Fly Tying Class, 6-8 p.m., free, Falconer Rod & Gun Club, 329 Falconer St., Jamestown; info: 716-467-0782.
Nov. 21: Opening Day of NYS Southern Zone big game regular firearm season, runs through Dec. 13.