The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement enforces the 71 chapters of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York. In 1880, the first eight Game Protectors proudly began serving to protect the natural resources and people of New York State.
In 2025, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement fielded an estimated 101,169 calls, resulting in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responding to more than 35,575 complaints and working on cases that resulted in 15,673 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.
“DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law to ensure the protection of public safety and our vast natural resources including air, water, wildlife, and New York’s one-of-a-kind outdoor spaces,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “This highly specialized and rewarding work is instrumental to upholding our stringent laws and making the great outdoors safe and enjoyable for everyone.”
Illegal Deer Hunt – Schoharie County
On November 20, ECOs responded to reports of a hunter shooting a deer from his vehicle in the Town of Conesville and then getting stuck on the side of the road. Officers arrived and interviewed the subject, who claimed he was hunting nearby that morning, left the woods at approximately 4:30 p.m., and was traveling along the roadway when he spotted a buck in fields off Wood Drive. The subject stated he then pulled off the road, exited his vehicle, loaded his rifle, and shot a 10-point buck. ECOs ticketed the hunter for discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling and the illegal take of a protected animal. They also confiscated the deer as evidence. The charges are pending in Conesville Town Court.
Illegal Deer Take – Otsego County
On November 30, ECO Fetterman observed evidence that suggested a deer was taken illegally while on patrol near Basswood Pond State Forest in Otsego County. Officer Fetterman discovered blood and drag marks from a wood line to the road and a fresh gut pile approximately 30 yards into the woods. He continued to canvass the area and observed a pickup truck driving slowly down the road as he searched for evidence. ECO Fetterman and Lieutenant Grogan, who also responded to the location, approached the vehicle on foot and observed the driver fumbling with a rifle on his lap while unloading it. The Officers instructed the driver and other occupants of the pickup truck to exit the vehicle while they secured the rifle and began interviewing the driver.
During the interview, the Officers observed blood and gloves in the bed of the truck. The driver initially claimed he shot a deer in a separate county the previous day, but eventually admitted to illegally taking a deer, as suspected, and led the Officers to the deer carcass at his hunting camp approximately 5 miles away from Basswood Pond State Forest.
The subject received tickets for possessing a loaded gun in a motor vehicle, the illegal take of protected wildlife, and the improper tagging of deer. ECOs confiscated the deer as evidence.
Illegal Deer Take – Jefferson County
On December 5, ECO Seabury received a complaint regarding a hunter believed to have shot more than the legal limit of bucks in the Town of Wilna, Jefferson County, during the deer hunting season, including a 10-point buck actively watched and sought after by hunters in the area. ECO Seabury began his investigation by checking with local deer processing stations and discovered three bucks and three does were dropped off at one station by the accused poacher. The 10-point buck was dropped off at a different deer processor, properly tagged and reported as required by law in New York State.
On December 12, ECO Seabury and Investigator Jackson interviewed the subject at his residence in the Hamlet of Natural Bridge. He admitted to taking two three-point bucks, a seven-point buck, the closely watched 10-point buck, and three does during the regular rifle season. Hunters are only allowed one antlered deer during the regular season.
The subject received 11 tickets, including six misdemeanor charges, for the illegal take of big game, taking over the limit of deer, and several deer tagging-related offenses. ECOs confiscated the antlers of the four bucks as evidence. The charges are pending in the Town of Wilna Court.
ECO Seabury with deer antlers confiscated as evidence in Jefferson County
Illegal Deer Hunt – Wyoming County
On December 9, ECO Koepf received a call from a concerned hunter regarding a large antlered deer he found deceased on December 6 on property he hunts in the Town of Arcade. The hunter contacted ECOs after hearing rumors that the individual who shot the deer did not have a hunting license.
ECO Koepf investigated and confirmed that the subject in question did not have a valid New York State hunting license when he shot the buck and had previously had his license revoked for a deer poaching conviction six years earlier. That revocation period ended, but the subject failed to complete the required hunter education course following the revocation to purchase a current hunting license.
ECO Koepf interviewed the subject, who denied any involvement in the incident and claimed he did not hunt all season. However, Officer Koepf confronted him with the evidence against him, including a photo he obtained of the subject posing with the buck. The subject eventually admitted to illegally harvesting the deer and received tickets for the illegal take of big game and hunting deer without a license. Charges are pending in Arcade Town Court. ECO Muchow assisted with the investigation.
Trophy Deer Poached at Night – Tioga County
Three hunters from Cortland County recently pleaded guilty and received penalties for illegally taking a massive deer in Tioga County.
On the night of November 7, the trio drove through fields in the Town of Richford, Tioga County, spotlighting for deer. They eventually shot an 11-point buck from their vehicle as it stood in their spotlight. A resident saw the spotlight, heard the shot, and contacted ECO Krueger from Tompkins County, who responded immediately to try and catch the poachers in the act, but the hunters had already fled the area by the time he arrived.
The next day, ECO Wilson responded to the area where the deer was shot, and the landowner found the deer still alive but not moving. The Officer determined the deer was shot with a medium-caliber rifle and then humanely euthanized the deer. The landowner took to social media to spread the word, and feedback from the public led ECOs to Cortland County, where they interviewed the individuals who admitted to illegally taking the buck. The driver, who was also the shooter, received five tickets for the illegal take of deer, taking deer from a motor vehicle, taking deer from a public highway, hunting deer with an artificial light, and possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. The two other subjects received four tickets each for the illegal take of deer, taking deer from a motor vehicle, taking deer from a public highway, and hunting deer with an artificial light. Under New York State’s ECL, accessories are just as guilty as principals.
All three defendants pleaded guilty in the Town of Richford Court. The driver was fined $3,000 and his two hunting partners were each fined $2,000. Additionally, the individuals were ordered to surrender the firearm used in the crime.
The large deer was later given an unofficial antler score (measurement) of approximately 163 inches. The score is unofficial because the deer was taken unlawfully.
Eleven-point buck taken illegally in Tioga County
Training and Education – Oswego County
On December 11, DEC Region 1 ECOs Anderson and Francis received formal training to become first aid instructors at the DEC Training Academy in Pulaski. The Officers became proficient in basic lifesaving techniques, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) usage, and the critical actions required when someone is choking. The course is certified by the American Heart Association and allows ECOs to educate others about the importance of first aid in saving lives and the correct ways to utilize those lifesaving methods.
To contact an ECO to report an environmental crime or incident, call 1-844-DEC-ECOS for 24-hour dispatch.
