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.

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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Weak Excuses and Legitimate Concerns of Late-Season Doe Harvest

Dec 11, 2024 Kip Adams

During my career as a deer biologist, I’ve heard many weak excuses for why hunters pass up opportunities at antlerless deer late in the hunting season. I’m sure you’ve heard some of them, too. Conversely,…

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Top-10 States in Mature Buck Harvest

Nov 13, 2024 Kip Adams

Deer hunters in the United States are taking more mature bucks than ever in modern history. That’s true both as a percentage of the antlered buck harvest and in actual numbers of bucks harvested. This…

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Deer Are King, But Deer Habitat is Great for Another Monarch

Oct 21, 2024 Kip Adams

As hunters who manage wildlife habitat, one of the biggest satisfactions we get is seeing deer and other animals using it. Well, one species that uses it and can really use our help is the…

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Video: 19 Fascinating Deer Behaviors Explained

Oct 9, 2024 Kip Adams

White-tailed deer are fascinating animals. Wildlife enthusiasts pursue deer with rifles, bows, cameras and more. Their beauty and grace are well known, and much has been written about super cool deer facts like antler growth…

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