Articles

Learn all about wild deer behavior, habitat improvement, food plots, hunting techniques, and much more with over 500 free articles available on our website. If you enjoy our content, we'd love to have you as an NDA member!

Deer Science

This “Frosty” Silver Buck Has Biologists Stumped. See the Photos.

Dec 10, 2025 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

For three seasons now, Kevin O’Brien and his uncle and cousins, who all hunt in the same area of northwest Wisconsin, have been seeing and photographing a ghostly deer. Lots of whitetail bucks “ghost” us,…

read more
Deer Science

Bucks, Does, and Dewclaws: Clearing Up One of Hunting’s Biggest Myths

Dec 3, 2025 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

At NDA, we frequently share emerging science that sometimes shatters old beliefs about deer, so we’re accustomed to hearing from skeptical hunters who are reluctant to let go of time-honored ideas. Lots of hunters have…

read more
Hunting

Two Does, One Lesson: The Value of CWD Testing

Dec 1, 2025 Nick Pinizzotto

It was one of those evenings when you just feel like something good is about to happen. While I would have obviously taken a shot opportunity on a mature buck if presented, my focus was…

read more
Deer Science

What Deer Research Really Says About the Rut (Most Hunters Get This Wrong)

Nov 19, 2025 Brian Grossman

While there’s still much to be learned about the whitetail rut, decades of deer research has taught us a lot about this special time of year. And much of this information will not only improve…

read more
All Articles
  • All Articles
  • Policy & Advocacy
  • Deer Science
  • Habitat
  • Hunting
  • News
  • Uncategorized
  • Venison

Can Deer See Blaze Orange?

Dec 5, 2012 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

It’s a question as old as blaze-orange vests and caps. Hunters worry that their required safety-orange apparel will give them away to the sharp eyes of deer. After much research into deer vision capabilities and…

read more

Stay Warm in the Stand, Stay in the Game

Nov 27, 2012 Jennifer Pudenz

Hunting is unpredictable, but that’s what we love about it. You can go from being bummed and not seeing a thing one minute, to harvesting your biggest buck ever the next! Unfortunately, weather can be…

read more

Food Plot Species Profile: Sugar Beets

Nov 21, 2012 Bob Westerfield

For a unique addition to your whitetail food plot smorgasbord, try adding sugar beets. Sugar beets are actually an agricultural crop that is commonly grown for sucrose production. Farmers grow this large root-producing plant and…

read more

Tips For Using Tree Shelter Tubes

Nov 14, 2012 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

I’ve planted a lot of tree seedlings over the last 25 years, and almost all of them were protected by plastic “tree tubes” or shelters in the seedling stage. I highly recommend you use a…

read more

When Do Bucks Visit Scrapes?

Nov 1, 2012 Matt Ross

Have you ever set up on a fresh scrape, only to sit for hours and not see a thing? Well, wildlife researchers have shown that most scraping activity (nearly 85 percent) occurs at night. So,…

read more

Hunt Does to Find Bucks in November

Oct 30, 2012 Matt Pudenz

When November arrives, everyone is on the lookout for that big buck. However, it’s easy to overlook the main factor controlling buck movements in November – does. As the rut kicks in, bucks will be…

read more

Spike On One Side: Genetics or Injury?

Oct 15, 2012 Gabe Karns

Among hunters, few topics stir discussion like hunting over bait or hunting deer with dogs – but the dispute over “cull bucks” comes close. While ethics play a major role in other debates, the dispute…

read more

Estimating Deer Age with Cementum Annuli

Oct 12, 2012 NDA Staff

The cementum annuli (CA) aging technique is based on the annual addition of cementum, a specialized calcified substance deposited on the roots of teeth in many mammals. Layers of cementum produce “rings” similar to those…

read more