Deer Science

It’s Time to Worry About Our National Doe Harvest, Especially in These States

Sep 27, 2023 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

In 1988, faced with declining hunter numbers and too many deer, our founders and leaders called deer hunters to action: reduce pressure on bucks and increase harvest pressure on does. Deer hunters responded and led…

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Which Deer Aging Technique is More Accurate, Jawbone or Cementum?

Sep 20, 2023 Kip Adams

There are two methods hunters can use to estimate the age of harvested deer, and both rely on deer teeth. There is a lot of misunderstanding, misapplication, and misinformation shared about these valuable deer management…

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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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CWD Roundup – September 2023

Sep 5, 2023 Torin Miller

CWD Roundup is the National Deer Association’s (NDA) bi-monthly update on all things chronic wasting disease (CWD). We’ll provide the latest updates on CWD spread, research and policy from across North America. Updates are provided…

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Which Deer Catch and Spread CWD Fastest, and Why?

Aug 30, 2023 Kip Adams

Chronic wasting disease in deer has emerged over the last 20 years as one of the most significant issues in deer hunting in modern times. The fact the disease is complex and difficult to manage…

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You Could See 60% More Bucks on Camera in Hunting Season, UGA Study Shows

Aug 16, 2023 Dr. James Johnson

Trail cameras provide us with a great way to survey deer populations, identify bucks and scout deer movement before hunting season begins. There’s even a pre-season baited trail-camera survey method to analyze the structure of…

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Can Baiting and Feeding Really Spread Deer Diseases Faster?

Aug 9, 2023 Kip Adams

Baiting and supplemental feeding are contentious topics in hunting camps, wildlife agency headquarters and legislative halls across North America. They come with cultural, ethical and ecological considerations. These are all worthy of discussion, but I’ll…

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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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GPS Tracking Collars Are Amazing, but Do They Change Deer Behavior?

Jul 12, 2023 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

In the past 23 years, GPS tracking collars have revealed a ton of new information about deer behavior and biology. But a few hunters, skeptical of science or doubtful of the conclusions of specific studies,…

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No Patterns of Prion Disease Among Hunters in CWD Zones, New Data Shows

Jul 10, 2023 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

Can eating the venison of a deer with chronic wasting disease cause a person to acquire a related, fatal prion disease? There’s no evidence it has ever happened, but prion diseases also have notoriously long…

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