ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – With the fall season rearing towards its closing weeks – hunters across the state prepare to welcome this year's gun season for whitetail deer. New York States most popular big game hunting season begins on November 16 and ending on December 8 in most areas of the state. DEC says an estimated 470,000 licensed hunters will be participating in this year's season, taking care of nearly 60% of the state's deer harvest. To find out when the gun and muzzleloadar season starts and ends on your area, you can check this map provided by the DEC. Upcoming CWD concerns With the recent discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease found in New York, the DEC is responding in a captive deer facility in southern Herkimer County. While the DEC says there is no evidence that CWD is present in wild deer at this time, they are enhancing surveillance in the area and are asking hunters in the area to submit the deer's head to the DEC for CWD testing. When CWD can spread rapidly and is nearly impossible to eliminate, and can threaten future deer hunting opportunities. Although impossible to eliminate, hunters can help prevent the introduction of CWD by following precautions. Precautions to know when hunting outside of New York: If you harvest any type of deer, elk, moose or caribou, debone the venison before bringing it back to New York. DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported deer carcasses and parts. If you harvest a deer outside of the state known to have CWD, submit samples to the state's Department of Natural Resources for DWD testing before consuming the venison. If the venison tests positive, contact the DEC for proper disposal. Precautions to know when hunting in New York: Avoid using deer urine-based lures or attractant scents, as those could contain CWD. DEC asks that you use synthetic products instead. Dispose of deer carcass waste in a landfill not on the landscape. Hunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principles. The DEC is asking any hunters in the towns of Columbia, German Flatts, Litchfield, Warren, or Winfield in Herkimer County and the town of Richfield in Otsego County to submit their deer's head for testing at one of seven drop off locations. When dropping off a deer's head: Cut the deer head off with some neck remaining Keep the head chilled or frozen until submission to DEC Remove the skull place and antlers on bucks before submission Place the head in a plastic garbage bag Label the bad with your name, address, and phone number and complete the DEC tag at the drop-off location Deposit the bagged head in the white metal container at one of the drop-off locations below The following are the seven 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 The DEC has not noted instructions for head drop off when considering taxidermy or 'mounting' options for deer. Safety precautions: Strap Up Before You Go Up The DEC is also encouraging hunters to continue to take the steps to remain safe while out hunting. Most hunting related injuries occur when hunters are climbing in and out of a tree stand. Daily hunting hours for deer includes the full daylight period, beginning 30-minutes before sunrise and continuing 30 minutes after sunset. These hours ensure that there is enough light for hunters to identify their target and what is beyond. All hunters are required to wear fluorescent orange or pink clothing on wither a hate, vest, or jacket which are visible in all directions. Let young bucks go and watch them grow The DEC also is encouraging hunters to let young bucks go and watch them grow. New York continues to document a steady increase in the percentage of yearling bucks (1.5 years old) in buck harvest, with the percentage of older bucks (at least 2.5 years old) in the harvest continuing to increase. This educational campaign encourages hunters to voluntarily pass up opportunities at young bucks to allow more bucks to reach older age classes, while protecting the freedom of hunters to harvest any buck they desire. 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. Youth hunting opportunities This year, hunters ages 12 and 13 can hunt with a firearm during the regular season when they hunt with a licensed, experienced adult mentor. The program was established in 2021 and extended through 2025 for upstate counties that chose to participate. The program does not apply to Suffolk and Westchester Counties, and Erie and Rockland counties have not opted in to the program. New tag printing regulations As of August 1, the DEC changed the material for hunting and trapping tags as well as fishing licenses from synthetic paper to plain paper. This gives NYS hunters and trappers the ability to print hunting tags right from the comfort of their home. The change was made in effort to lower the states carbon footprint and lower costs. New paper means hunters in New York State no longer are required to wear back tags when hunting. All tags ordered online can be printed at the end of your transaction and will also be delivered to you through email as well as available in you online DECALS account under your ‘Active Licenses, Permits and Privileges.’ Tags ordered online will no longer be mailed to your home. Licenses ordered over the phone will also be delivered by email. You can request to have your licenses and tags mailed when ordering over the phone, but you will need to allow up to 14 business days to receive them. As of November 13, the DEC announced printing fee that will be associated with printing and mailing licenses. The fee, starting at $1, covers License Issuing Agents printing costs and covers their materials. The DEC notes that some vendors may ask for up to $2 for this fee. This is the result of a regulation that enables License Issuing Agents to recover costs associated with printing and mailing paper sporting licenses and other items sold through the DEC's Automated Licensing System. To avoid the fee, hunters and trappers can purchase licenses online, by phone or on the DEC's HuntFishNY mobile app, or by opting to receive the tags through email for free printing at home. Children ages 15 and under must have a legal parent or guardian assist with tag or license purchases. Despite the recent changes, people can still buy licenses and tags in person or by the phone at select local stores or at a local Town Clerks Office. For proof of licensure, you can use the HuntFishNY application. 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. For more information on the changes made to purchasing tags or how to create a DECALS online account, you can visit the DEC website. If you are still looking to purchase your annual or lifetime hunting or fishing license and need more information license requirements, rules, regulations and prices, you can visit this website. Hunters can also donate venison to help those less fortunate while contributing to deer management, and for the first time this season, big game hunters can use rifles in Niagara County! For specific descriptions of regulations and open hunting areas, hunters should refer to the 2024-2025 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Hunters are urged to review all regulations and safety tips contained in the guide before going afield