By: Kip Adams

Kip Adams of Knoxville, Pennsylvania, is a certified wildlife biologist and NDA's Chief Conservation Officer. He has a bachelor's degree in wildlife and fisheries science from Penn State University and a master's in wildlife from the University of New Hampshire. He's also a certified taxidermist. Before joining NDA, Kip was the deer and bear biologist for the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department. Kip and his wife Amy have a daughter, Katie, and a son, Bo.

This Alternative to Summer Food Plots for Deer Makes More Sense

May 6, 2026 Kip Adams

I’m a huge food plot fan. I grew up on a farm, and food plots have always been a tie to my childhood. I like growing food for deer, the connection to the land, and…

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Hunters Aren’t Eating Enough Deer to Manage Populations. Here Are The Solutions.

Mar 18, 2026 Kip Adams

Hunters are enjoying near record-high deer populations across much of the whitetail’s range. The antlered buck harvest has only topped 3 million three times this century, and they’ve all been since 2020. However, the national…

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How Do Whitetails Survive Harsh Winters? The Answer Might Surprise You.

Feb 25, 2026 Kip Adams

February is the perfect month for ice fishing, winter habitat work, and watching a highly-anticipated football game. It’s also the month that after a few hours of good outdoor exercise my dogs sleep more soundly…

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The Benefits of Balancing Deer With the Carrying Capacity of Their Habitat

Nov 17, 2025 Kip Adams

“Carrying capacity” is an often-used concept in deer management discussions. Biologists, managers and hunters routinely refer to the carrying capacity of an area, or whether a deer herd is above or below this magical point….

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5 Forest Wildlife Species That Benefit When Hunters Improve Deer Habitat

Nov 11, 2025 Kip Adams

Deer are valuable for many reasons. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates big game hunting provides over 250,000 jobs and nearly $70 billion in federal, state and local taxes annually. Whitetails provide American families…

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NDA Field Staff May Be Coming to Your State Soon

Sep 24, 2025 Kip Adams

Partnerships with state wildlife agencies are enabling the National Deer Association to place field staff and achieve our mission work in a growing number of states. Some of these staff have regional or national responsibilities…

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3 Habitat Strategies That Produced 3 Mature Bucks in One Season

Sep 24, 2025 Kip Adams

The number 16 conjures positive images and memories for nearly everyone. However, in this case I’m not referring to a special birthday party or select round of hoops during March Madness. Rather, 16 is a…

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The 10 Best States for Mature Buck Harvest Have a New Leader

Aug 27, 2025 Kip Adams

Deer hunters are taking historically high numbers of bucks in recent years, but amazingly the age structure of those bucks just keeps getting older. In the 2023 season, the most recent with complete harvest data…

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What Makes Those Holes in Deer Antlers? And Other Odd Antler FAQs.

Jun 4, 2025 Kip Adams

They grow for about 150 days a year. They can grow nearly 1 inch per day, making them the fastest normal growing tissue known to man. Humans have cherished them for thousands of years, and…

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4 Reasons Mature Bucks Are Critical to Deer Herd Health and Hunting

Jan 8, 2025 Kip Adams

Mature bucks can take your breath away. Whether it’s a frosty fall morning in the woods or a summer evening in an alfalfa field, the mere glimpse of a mature buck will make your heart…

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