Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - ECO Fay Fuerch is NWTF’s Wildlife Officer of the Year

Above photo: National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Co-CEO Kurt Dyroff (l) and New York NWTF NWTF Chapter President Eric Davis (c) present the 2025 New York Wildlife Officer of the Year to ECO Fay Fuerch. Lt. Tim Fay (r) was on hand in support of Officer Fuerch's well-deserved recognition.

The New York State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has awarded New York State Environmental Conservation Officer, (ECO) Fay Fuerch, with the 2025 New York Wildlife Officer of the Year Award. “The award honors her dedication to protecting New York's natural resources and her efforts in enforcing hunting laws.” 

Representing the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s Region 8, in western NY, Officer Fuerch initiated an 18-month long investigation involving an individual with numerous charges related to serial deer jacking.  

 In September 2023, ECO Fuerch was called to investigate a complaint of a headless deer found in a field shot at night with a small caliber firearm. The case had all the telltale signs of a classic deer jacking carried out by an unscrupulous, but experienced deer jacker. Deer jacking is the shooting of deer at night using a light to temporarily blind the light-sensitive deer. A powerful beam freezes deer in-place making for an easy kill. The jacker in this case used a small caliber rifle. It has a much quieter report than big bore firearms to avoid alerting anyone. The fact that the head was removed with the body of the deer left to rot shows the callous nature of deer jacking where bucks are shot solely for their antlers. 

 Given such scant evidence, ECO Fuerch remained vigilant, determined to solve the case. Over the next two years, she uncovered enough evidence to secure the necessary warrants to arrest the defendant on February 27, 2025. The evidence determined not one, but four deer were jacked. The subject was charged with four counts of illegally taking wildlife, two counts of taking big game after legal hours, one count of taking deer out of season, one count of taking deer over the limit, and nine counts of criminal mischief. On July 14, 2025, the defendant pled guilty and paid $6,750.00 in fines and surcharges. Additionally, the subject’s hunting privileges were revoked for a period of five years. This subject had a history of involvement with hunting, fishing, and penal law offenses committed prior to the case in September of 2023.

 The evidence uncovered by ECO Fuerch in her investigation also led to the arrest of an accomplice who is awaiting final adjudication after being charged with similar offenses. 

 The NWTF values the apprehension of those who illegally take wildlife in NY and across the nation. I was not surprised when I learned Officer Fuerch was selected as NWTF’s Wildlife Officer of the Year. She has enjoyed a stellar career as an ECO. Fay is the first female dog handler officer within DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement and remains a law enforcement professional dedicated to combatting wildlife crime. Please join me in congratulating Officer Fuerch for a job-well-done!

Happy hunting, ice fishing, and trapping until next time!

News and Notes

Ducks Unlimited Greene County Chapter Banquet is Coming Up on March 7th  

The Greene County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is holding its annual banquet, dinner and auction on Saturday, March 7th at Anthony’s Banquet Hall located at 746 County Route 23B in Leeds. Doors open at 3:30 pm with buffet dinner starting at 5:00 pm, followed by a live auction. Tickets are available online at www.ducks.org/newyork/events. For more information, call Dana Hanusik at 518-821-1773 or Jeff Holiday at 965-6105. 

Remember to report poaching violations by calling the 24-hour ECO Dispatch at: 

1-844-DEC-ECOS.