ECO Fay Fuerch is National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wildlife Officer of the Year

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, Fuerch initiated an 18-month long investigation involving an individual with numerous charges related to serial deer jacking.  

In September 2023, 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 impair the vision of 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’s used at close range by serial deer jackers because 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.

Faced with scant evidence, 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. Fuerch’s investigation 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 $6,75 in fines and surcharges. Additionally, the subject’s hunting privileges were revoked for a period of five years. This defendant had a history of involvement with hunting, fishing, and penal law offenses committed prior to the case in September of 2023.

Evidence discovered by Fuerch during her investigation also led to the arrest of an accomplice in the headless deer case. That defendant 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 and I was not surprised when I learned Fuerch was selected as NWTF’s Wildlife Officer of the Year. She has enjoyed a stellar career as an ECO. Feurch is a veteran officer and the first female dog handler within DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement.  She is an outstanding 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!

Remember to report poaching violations by calling the 24-hour ECO Dispatch at 1-844-DEC-ECOS.

A resident of Durham, Larry is a retired captain with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.