A Word of Thanks from NYDEFA Member Dana Hoover

Saturday August 2nd, 2025, New York Deer and Elk Farmers Association members, friends and fellow deer farmers from Ohio and Pennsylvania gathered at MountainSide Whitetails in Penn Yan, New York for our annual summer picnic. We had a terrific time!! We enjoyed a delicious home cooked meal, homemade pies and the camaraderie of being together. In addition to welcoming new deer farmers, we enjoyed educational and informative presentations by Josh Newton of Pennsylvania, who spoke about regulations, and Dr. Beth Ann Shane-Holser from the New York Department of AG and Markets, who spoke about CWD resistance, GEBV’s as well as proper protocols for acquiring Moving Permits.

We also had a very good fundraiser in the form of a half-buck share, which is used gratefully to pay our lobbyists. We also enjoyed farm tours, networking and our antler exhibit. But perhaps the biggest focus of the picnic was to take official action on voting in new board members. With the enthusiasm here in New York for deer farming, we look forward to starting a nomination process in the future and filling board positions with eager leadership-minded individuals. Thank you, Dan Jennings, for leading this charge!

By the time this magazine reaches you, New York deer farmers and preserve owners will be just shy of the March 31^st deadline for renewal of your Captive Bred White-Tailed Class “A” Deer License as well as a Shooting Preserve License, the duration of which spans five years for both. Check to see if your licenses are up for renewal and catch the grace period while you can. By visiting the website of The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and searching under “Captive Bred Whitetail Class A License” all the information you need will be right there, including applying through The New York Department of AG and Markets to enroll in the CWD herd certification program or for fencing inspection for your property. Email for the DEC is specialLicenses@dec.ny.gov. Their phone number is 518-402-8985.

Staying abreast of compliance measures is first and foremost in the deer industry, followed by keeping our eyes peeled for potential business opportunities. As such, Marie and Fred Redmond, owners of Redmond’s Red Deer Farm in Holland Patent, New York, are selling off their substantial herd. Anyone interested in buying certified fawns, hinds or stags should email them at redmondsdeer@gmail.com or call them at 315-794-3970.

Overall, we have positive things happening within New York to help propel our industry forward. We are seeing in-roads by the Amish to create some very strong genetics. They are becoming more and more involved in our state association activities, and they are very motivated to reach out to other communities for networking. We hope our entire association remains motivated and connected as we move forward in 2025. I hope to see everyone at our annual picnic and perhaps at other events I hope to make it to. Until then…………………………………

AI-806 NYS Cervid TB Program Info rev 9-24.pdf

Dear Captive Cervid Producer,

This email is to notify you that section 60.2 of Title 1 NYCRR has been repealed, and sections 60.6(a) and 60.9 have been amended.

The repeal of 1 NYCRR Part 60.2 removes the requirement for tuberculosis (TB) testing of captive cervids prior to moving those cervids within the borders of New York. The amendments of Parts 60.6(a) and 60.9 remove cross-references to the repealed part. This will only affect the movements of captive cervids from CWD Certified and CWD Non-Susceptible herds within NYS. CWD Monitored herds are still unable to move live animals.

Be sure to know the TB status of the herd of destination before moving animals. Movements of cervids from lower TB status to higher TB status herds may result in the reduction of status for the receiving herd. Flow charts explain this in the attached, updated “AI-806 NYS Cervid TB Program Information” document. The export of captive cervids to other states may still require TB testing. Contact the state of destination to learn their requirements. The repeal of Part 60.2 does not remove or change the requirement for movement permits for captive cervids.

The Department will continue with other aspects of the captive cervid tuberculosis surveillance program including the requirement to test cervids prior to importation of eligible species (i.e. non-chronic wasting disease susceptible species). In addition, the Department will continue to do post-mortem exams and submit lymph nodes for acid fast testing.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or your field veterinarian.

Sincerely,

Dr Shane-Holser

AI-806 NYS Cervid TB Program Info rev 9-24.pdf

I say “Let’s Go New York!” What a fantastic turn out and day we had August 3^rd at my farm, Mountain Side Whitetails, in Penn Yan, New York at our annual NYDEFA picnic. The overall feeling at our event was very positive and filled with excitement for our future. We even managed a spur-of-the-moment auction lot and raised $4,000, thanks to Dan Jennings who donated a yearling doe that will be bred through A.I. from a buck owned by John Ervin Stoltzfus. The funds we raised will help cover costs involved with traveling to Washington D.C. to protect our rights as deer farmers.

Close to 50 people, including Shawn Schafer (who needs no introduction), our very own NYDEFA President Dave Vanderzee, John Ervin, Dan Jennings as well as many other dedicated NYDEFA members and their families attended the picnic. We enjoyed farm tours and a full course meal of lasagna, salad, bread and butter and desserts. Although we had planned to play Corn Hole and hold a dart gun competition, Shawn’s industry update, John Ervin’s talk on CWD resistance and Dave Vanderzee’s talk on ways to improve our organization had us so enthralled, we didn’t have time. We really appreciate that they were here!

Here in New York, we know that CWD resistance is the future of deer farming. Mark your calendars for August 15^th and 16^th, The Ohio Buck Auction! If you are CWD and brucellosis certified, you can sell to Ohio! Also, mark your calendars for August 2^nd, 2025, our next NYDEFA picnic at my farm again!! We plan on welcoming more auction lots and making an even bigger and better event! New York, I say we are one “happening state!”  Looking forward to seeing everyone again soon!

Dana Hoover

Mountain Side Whitetails