By: Cheyne Matzenbacher

Cheyne Matzenbacher is an NDA Deer Outreach Specialist in Missouri. A Missouri native and lifelong deer hunter, Cheyne works with private landowners to establish and support Wildlife Management Cooperatives in the southern half of the state.

How to Clean a Deer Skull for a European Mount

Oct 9, 2024 Cheyne Matzenbacher

Skull mounts, also known as a European mount or Euro mount, have long been a great way to preserve and display a memorable deer harvest. Back in a time when it was difficult to preserve…

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Find Hidden Public Hunting Lands Near You

Jul 10, 2024 Cheyne Matzenbacher

Hunters are always looking for a great place to hunt, but many hunters don’t have access to private land or don’t know where to start when it comes to public land hunting. Most hunters are…

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How to Feather Field Edges for Deer Attraction and Habitat Improvement

Mar 27, 2024 Cheyne Matzenbacher

This article is about feathering edges to improve deer habitat, not feathering hair. I remember the feathered hairstyle fad back in the 80s, but I don’t think feathered edges are a fad because this is…

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NDA Participates in Missouri Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt

Oct 17, 2023 Cheyne Matzenbacher

On the first weekend of October in Missouri, NDA Deer Outreach Specialists Cheyne Matzenbacher and Cole Gander had the opportunity to cooperate with multiple organizations and partners to participate in the Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt. …

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My Birthday Buck Had Upper Canine Teeth. Yes, Deer Fangs!

Sep 13, 2023 Cheyne Matzenbacher

Fangs on a whitetail? Yes, both whitetails and mule deer can sometimes grow small, upper canine teeth. I was aware of this rare phenomenon in deer, but I got some hands-on experience in fall 2022…

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The Many Coat Colors of White-tailed Deer: Albino, Piebald, Melanistic and More

Aug 2, 2023 Cheyne Matzenbacher

Deer come in a wide variety of colors. Though most are brown or gray, you also see shades or red, coats of silver, and there are several rare color phases that include white and even…

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Deer Hunters Should be Weed Farmers

Apr 19, 2023 Cheyne Matzenbacher

Deer hunters should be weed farmers. Wait, not that kind of weed! I’m talking about forbs – all those non-grass, broad-leaved, herbaceous plants that most people call “weeds” and most deer consider food. Common ragweed,…

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Creating Deer Food Plots With Minimal Equipment

Mar 1, 2023 Cheyne Matzenbacher

Many hunters want to maximize their hunting success by planting a food plot but might not think they have the equipment to do so. However, if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and…

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Top Soft Mast Species for Early Season Deer Attraction by Region

Aug 3, 2022 Cheyne Matzenbacher

Early hunting season can be a bountiful time in the deer woods if you do your homework, scout, and know where to place your stand or blind for a better shot opportunity. One of the…

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The Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP): What It Is and Why You Should Enroll

Jul 12, 2022 Cheyne Matzenbacher

What is DMAP? Better known as DMAP, a Deer Management Assistance Program is offered by many state wildlife agencies to help manage deer populations when management can’t otherwise be accomplished solely through regularly issued hunting…

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