By: Matt Ross

Matt Ross of Saratoga Springs, New York, is a certified wildlife biologist and licensed forester and NDA's Director of Conservation. He received his bachelor's in wildlife conservation from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and his master's in wildlife management from the University of New Hampshire. Before joining the NDA staff, Matt worked for a natural resource consulting firm in southern New Hampshire, and he was an NDA volunteer and Branch officer. He and his wife Sadie have two daughters, Josephine and Sabrina.

Best Trail Camera Setups for Summer Based on Deer Biology

May 30, 2023 Matt Ross

Scouting for deer with a trail-camera leads to quality intel that can ultimately increase your hunting success. However, whitetails drastically change their behavior over the seasons based on fluctuations in habitat needs and resource availability,…

How Far Can a Deer Swim?

May 17, 2023 Matt Ross

We’ve all seen at least one of numerous amateur video clips floating around the Internet in which a boater or fisherman captures a deer doggy-paddling its four little hooves off so far from shore it…

NDA is Working to Improve Public Hunting Land

May 12, 2023 Matt Ross

The first year of a National Deer Association program has seen improvements on more than 300,000 acres of public hunting land in six states that will increase hunting access, improve wildlife habitat, and aid hunter…

Can Deer Freeze to Death?

Feb 15, 2023 Matt Ross

Can deer freeze to death when severe cold weather, such as dangerously low temperatures, deep snow and crushing winds, set in? Although this winter has been warmer than average for much of the country, many…

PFAS Pollution Causes Venison Consumption Advisories in Four States

Jan 18, 2023 Matt Ross

One of the primary reasons we hunt is for the meat. So, what would you do if you knew you couldn’t consume the venison from a successful harvest? What would happen to the public support…

The Two Best Times to See Deer, Every Day of the Year

Sep 7, 2022 Matt Ross

It was inevitable. The mature buck stepped into my shooting lane, broadside, within easy bow range – and I just couldn’t bring myself to draw back and shoot. Up until the 2021 season, I routinely…

Deer Diet Breakdown: What Do Deer Eat?

Mar 30, 2022 Matt Ross

White-tailed deer are absolute plant-eating machines, but understanding what foods they prefer to eat will vastly improve your knowledge and effectiveness in both managing and hunting them. A deer needs to consume about 6% to…

Anatomy of a Whitetail Tarsal Gland

Nov 17, 2021 Matt Ross

Of the seven glands that deer use to communicate with one another, hunters are probably most familiar with the tarsal gland and its role when deer make a scrape. But have you ever wondered exactly…

Why Science Matters in Deer Hunting

Sep 22, 2021 Matt Ross

“Bull$h1t!!!” That was one person’s response when we recently posted a video on NDA social channels about how wildlife agencies use science to calculate deer harvest estimates every year. For whatever reason, this individual adamantly…

Shaken, Not Stirred: Science Gets Closer to CWD Field Testing

Jun 1, 2021 Matt Ross

I’m not a huge 007 fan. However, like the heart of every Bond heroine, I downright “stole” the title for this post from my colleague and NDA’s Deer Outreach Specialist, Cheyne Matzenbacher. Why would I do…