The Peru Gazette

Tree Stand Fall – Washington County
On November 24, ECO Krug responded to a call that went out over Washington County Fire and EMS radio regarding a 29-year-old hunter who fell from his tree stand about a mile into a wooded area in the Town of Salem. The individual, who was not wearing a safety harness at the time, fell approximately 12–15 feet to the ground when his tree stand gave way. Personnel from the Salem Fire Department had the victim in a neck brace and prepared for transport out of the woods when Officer Krug arrived, but they had difficulty getting a utility terrain vehicle to the location due to the hilly and wooded terrain. ECO Krug directed the packaging of the injured hunter in a litter and assisted with carrying the individual about a half mile out of the woods to a landing zone where he was airlifted to Burlington Medical Center for treatment. For more information on hunter safety, visit the DEC website.

Puppy Ice Water Rescue – Oneida County
On December 3, Oneida County Sheriffs requested assistance for an ice water rescue of a 10-month-old Great Pyrenees trapped in the middle of a pond off Fairchild Road in the Town of Remsen. ECO Gates, a member of DEC’s Flood Incident Response Team, and the Barneveld Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team responded to the location to assist. Officer Gates, along with a member of the Holland Patent Fire Department and a member of the Barneveld Fire Department, broke through the ice utilizing a boat and webbing. They also carried a piece of sharp cheddar cheese to help retrieve the dog, named Archie. They successfully rescued the dog after a few attempts and reunited him with his owner without incident. The Remsen Fire Department assisted with securing the scene and with traffic control.

ECO Gates assists with ice water rescue of puppy in Oneida County

Deer Poaching Leads to Felony Arrest – Washington County
On December 4, ECO Krug arrested and charged a 20-year-old man in connection with the illegal take of an antlerless deer in Washington County after a weeks-long investigation.

On November 16, Officer Krug received a call from a hunter who reported hearing a shot and locating a deceased antlerless deer in a field where he and his son were hunting in the Town of Greenwich. The complainant stated that no one else had permission to hunt on the property and that he and his son were unable to locate the shooter. ECO Krug arrived at the location and watched the deer for several hours without anyone retrieving it. The next day, the deer was gone. Officer Krug tracked the animal back to a residence in Greenwich and conducted interviews with several members of the same family over a two-week period, including one subject who originally stated the deer was roadkill that he picked up. Additionally, ECO Krug confiscated a rifle from the residence believed to be used to illegally harvest the deer.

Officer Krug later located the prime subject in Fort Edward and charged him with felony criminal contempt, criminal possession of a weapon, submitting a false written statement, and child endangerment, along with multiple violations of the ECL, including the illegal take of an antlerless deer and hunting without a license. All charges are pending in the Town of Greenwich court. The deer was donated to a venison donation program.

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 the first half of 2025, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement fielded an estimated 45,000 calls, resulting in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responding to more than 18,934 complaints and working on cases that resulted in 9,440 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

In 2024, the Division fielded more than 105,717 calls, resulting in ECOs and Investigators across the state responding to more than 30,109 complaints and working on cases that resulted in 15,755 tickets or arrests for violations.

“DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators protect New York’s air, water, wildlife, and public safety, while also working to connect New Yorkers with the outdoors,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “As we tackle environmental threats on all fronts, I applaud the critical work DEC’s ECOs and Investigators are undertaking to enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law and ensure a cleaner, greener, safer, and more resilient New York State.”