Whether you're planting your first food plot, working on forest stand improvement, or preparing for a prescribed burn, the NDA has the information you need to help you be successful. We rely on the latest research and experts in their field to bring you the most reliable, up-to-date information on managing your land for the benefit of white-tailed deer and other wildlife.
Habitat
What is Forest Stand Improvement? A Starting Guide for Deer Habitat
Feb 11, 2026Lindsay Thomas Jr.
On a drive home from Thanksgiving with family, a trip that took me through several eastern states, I spent a lot of time looking out the window at bad deer habitat. Acre after acre in…
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Habitat
The Best Timing and Frequency of Prescribed Fire for Deer Habitat
Jan 28, 2026Mark Turner and Craig Harper
Prescribed fire is the most effective and efficient tool to manage and improve deer habitat in most areas. Fire can be used to improve food and cover in ways that other practices cannot, and fire…
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All Articles
All Articles
Habitat
Create Living Thicket Cover by Hinge-Cutting
Mar 21, 2012Jeff Jackson
Timber stand improvement (TSI) involves removing unwanted trees that are competing with desirable trees. What is the best thing to do with the unwanted trees? Cutting them off at the ground line is a standard…
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Know Your Deer Plants: Partridge Pea
Mar 20, 2012Matt Ross
A member of the pea family, partridge pea is best known as a producer of valuable cover and food for upland game birds, waterfowl, and various small mammals. However, it also happens to be found…
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Know Your Native Deer Foods
Mar 9, 2012Kip Adams
Food studies have identified several hundred plant species that deer will consume during the course of a year. Some are used seasonally, some only when little else is available, and some are preferred regardless of…
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Food Plot Species Profile: Arrowleaf Clover
Mar 9, 2012Bob Westerfield
Arrowleaf clover is a cool-season annual that is highly productive in fall and spring and a top-choice forage for whitetails, especially when does are carrying fawns and bucks are about to begin antler growth. Though it’s…
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Food Species Profile: Wheat
Mar 9, 2012Bob Westerfield
Wheat is a cool-season cereal grain that is easy to establish, quick to germinate, and a great choice for fall hunting plots, whether you plant it in a pure stand or in a mix with…
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What Are Hybrid Oaks?
Mar 8, 2012Lindsay Thomas Jr.
In fall 2005, QDMA received a house-warming gift for our newly constructed National Headquarters in Georgia – four containerized hybrid oak seedlings from Charlie Morse of Morse Nurseries in Michigan. Charlie admitted he wasn’t sure…
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How to Build a Food Plot Browse Exclosure
Mar 8, 2012Lindsay Thomas Jr.
Often, food-plot farmers complain about crop failure because nothing seemed to grow in the field they planted, especially in small plots. The plants germinated fine but never grew more than an inch or two. While…
