DEC Announces Opening of Deer Check Station as Part of Chronic Wasting Disease Response

Check Station Located at Livingston County Center for Emergency Operations

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the opening of a deer check station in response to the recent Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) detection in a wild deer in Livingston County. The DEC check station is located at the Livingston County Center for Emergency Operations building at 3360 Gypsy Lane in Mount Morris and will be open seven days a week.  

The check station will be open from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm until November 20, 2026. Starting on Saturday, November 21, 2026, the check station will be open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm through December 13, 2026. The check station will be closed on Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving Day), December 23 through 25, and on Friday, January 1, 2027 (New Years Day).   

If needed, additional hours will be posted on DEC’s website.  

Hunters who harvest deer in the towns of Conesus, Groveland, North Dansville, Sparta, Springwater, and West Sparta must bring their deer to the check station so that DEC can collect a tissue sample that will then be tested for CWD. Hunters will be notified by DEC if their deer tests positive for CWD.  

Hunters must obtain a transport permit from the DEC check station to take their deer to a cooperating meat processor or taxidermist, or to move their deer outside of the containment area. Visit DEC’s website for a list of participating sites.  

DEC encourages all hunters and processors to tag deer harvested from the containment area with paper carcass tags or change of possession tags to confirm the location of harvest.  

Public Information Opportunities 

DEC will host a virtual informational session to inform stakeholders and deer enthusiasts on the disease and to discuss future management and containment plans. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 7:00 pm. Register for the webinar online.  

Members of the public who have questions about the check station or other CWD-related topics are encouraged to contact DEC at [email protected]. 

About Chronic Wasting Disease   

CWD is an always fatal transmissible disease that affects the brain and central nervous system of deer, moose, and elk.   

DEC began CWD monitoring efforts in 2002. In 2005, CWD was confirmed in both captive and wild deer in Oneida County – the first incidents of the disease in New York State. In 2024, CWD was confirmed in a captive red deer herd in southern Herkimer County. Since 2002, DEC has tested over 70,000 wild deer statewide with no additional cases being discovered.   

There is no evidence that CWD is linked to disease in humans, domestic dogs or cats, or domestic livestock other than deer, moose and elk. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends not consuming the venison from any deer known to have CWD. Visit the CDC website for additional details on CWD. To protect domestic animals from any disease, keep them from scavenging or coming into contact with sick or dead wildlife and report suspected exposures to your veterinarian.   

Hunters that harvest a deer in New York outside of the containment area can pay to have their deer tested. To learn more, visit the Cornell University Wildlife Health Lab website. 

More information on CWD in New York State can be found on DEC’s website.

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