Deer Science The latest in deer research

The NDA prides itself in keeping up with the latest in deer research and management and presenting that information to our members in easy-to-understand articles, videos, and podcast interviews.

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Three Reliable Ways to Test Deer for CWD

Oct 28, 2024 Dr. Jenn Ballard

While the full impact of chronic wasting disease (CWD) on wildlife populations, hunting culture and conservation continues to come to light, it is already clear that this disease will be part of a new normal…

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6 Facts You Really Need to Know About Buck Home Ranges, and 1 You Don’t

Oct 16, 2024 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

We know a lot about whitetail buck home ranges, those phantom zones on the landscape where bucks spend most of their lives. We may even know too much about them. In a review of the…

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Cryptorchid Bucks, Antlered Does, And Other Rare Deer Defy the Ordinary

Oct 16, 2024 Cole Gander

Every year a lucky few deer hunters are fortunate enough to encounter rare deer that defy the usual patterns of antler growth and reproductive biology. These include cryptorchid bucks, does with antlers, and other unusual…

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Video: 19 Fascinating Deer Behaviors Explained

Oct 9, 2024 Kip Adams

White-tailed deer are fascinating animals. Wildlife enthusiasts pursue deer with rifles, bows, cameras and more. Their beauty and grace are well known, and much has been written about super cool deer facts like antler growth…

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Can You Tell Bucks From Does by Their Tracks?

Sep 11, 2024 Matt Ross

A lot can be learned from investigating deer tracks where you hunt. I’ll even go as far as saying that deer tracks could be the number one type of deer sign to look for when…

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12 Signs You Should Harvest More Does

Aug 21, 2024 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

How many does should you harvest? It’s a perennial question for our organization and many deer hunters. Here are 12 signs to look for that indicate you need to take more than you have been….

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What We Know About a Strange Deer With Droopy Ears

Aug 7, 2024 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

In November 2022, 14-year-old Cooper Courtright of Louisiana killed a 5½-year-old buck whose ears were his most prominent and memorable feature. Both drooped to the sides of the buck’s head as if they were pinned…

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North Carolina’s CWD News is Actually Good

Jul 22, 2024 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

Learning about chronic wasting disease is a challenge. Even when we’re receiving accurate information, it can be misleading simply due to the complexity of this deer disease. Conveying new information in a brief headline can…

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