When you think of the National Deer Association, it is natural to think first of the extensive habitat management education and resources offered by the organization. The National Deer Association is the go-to source for information on food plots, forest stand improvement, prescribed fire, and much more. It has earned that designation through decades of reliable leadership by qualified staff in the conservation space.
But the National Deer Association is more than that. It is also an organization humming with the steady heartbeat of a grassroots network of volunteers working tirelessly to keep the flame lit.
Much of the success of the National Deer Association and its predecessor organizations is due to the powerhouse force of the people who believe in, and stand up for, something bigger than themselves. Their commitment to and passion for the National Deer Association’s mission to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat, and hunting keeps moving the work forward.
Sean Burdick, President of the Upper Genessee River Branch of New York, the current NDA Branch of the Year, has witnessed firsthand the effect his Branch has had in his community.
“We’ve seen a highly positive impact,” Sean said. “People have learned they can come to one of our members with questions and to get help and support for just about anything deer or conservation related.”
It is impactful work. Wildlife of all kinds, not just deer, benefit from the habitat restoration and enhancement done across the landscape. And it’s not just wildlife. Thousands of people throughout the country leave NDA Branch events with fresh education and skills that they can apply immediately.
The New Smith River Branch of Virginia, led by president Mike Arden, recently hosted its first event, an online webinar held jointly with Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources. The webinar provided more than 40 participants the nuts and bolts of tailored, localized information to get them started deer hunting this fall.
In New York’s Long Island, the Long Island Branch, led by President Canio Pace, held an online intro to deer hunting webinar and an in-person hunting educational skills day. Branches are actively doing this work all over the nation. In far Western New York, the Upper Genessee River Branch regularly hosts seminars at no cost to help educate people on several aspects of hunting, conservation, and deer biology.
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In the Midwest, the Ozark Mountain Mark Twain Branch, led by President Nick Belles, directly impacts the local community in several ways as well, including public-land cleanups, food drives, venison donations, scholarship awards, and big buck contests.
“On the conservation front, we consistently raise the bar, seeking new ways to engage both new hunters and non-hunters. In alignment with the R3 movement, we are focusing on recruiting, retaining, and reactivating hunters,” Nick said. “Through Field to Fork, we make a direct impact by introducing new adult hunters to the field. Additionally, we support national-level Field to Fork events, such as the senior citizen hunts, helping to rekindle a love for hunting in individuals.”
When it all comes together, the mission truly sparkles.
“My favorite moments as a volunteer for the NDA are when a new hunter harvests their first deer,” Nick said. “The raw emotions, the camaraderie built between the hunter and mentor, and the shared love for whitetails make it truly special.”
In South Carolina, volunteer Jennifer McLain of the Lake Murray Branch spends a lot of her volunteer hours focusing on new hunters by providing them with resources they need to succeed. Through her Camo Closet she regularly accepts donations of gently used gear that is used to outfit new hunters.
“The biggest part of being a volunteer is opening doors for people that maybe thought the outdoors wasn’t for them,” Jennifer said. “I’ve introduced a lot of women to hunting who were very skeptical but they get out in nature and they love it and become adult onset hunters.”
According to Census.gov, more than 23% of people, or 60.7 million in America, formally volunteer through an organization. People volunteer for so many different reasons, including connecting with others, contributing to a worthy cause, to tap into a greater purpose, and more. National Deer Association volunteers all have their own motivating factors.
“I think that everyone should be involved in their community and give some level of their time to help in one way or another and one of my passions is hunting, so this makes sense.” Sean Burdick said. “I also want to make a difference, and this gives me the opportunity to, even if it’s on a small local scale. I’m helping to bring people together under a common passion and interest in making things better for all conservation-minded people and hunters, not just deer hunters.”