Deer University

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Deer University podcasts are all about deer biology and management. Drs. Bronson Strickland and Steve Demarais are both deer hunters, deer biologists, professors of wildlife management, and co-directors of the Mississippi State University Deer Lab. Steve and Bronson are so crazy about deer biology a…

Mississippi State University Deer Lab


    • Feb 6, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 57m AVG DURATION
    • 84 EPISODES

    4.9 from 474 ratings Listeners of Deer University that love the show mention: deer management, bronson, demarais, wildlife biology, best deer, colder, habitat, msu, whitetails, science based, hunters, managers, hunting, weather, property, backed, scientific, university, steve, data.


    Ivy Insights

    The Deer University podcast is a valuable resource for anyone interested in deer hunting and land management. Hosted by Dr. Bronson Strickland and Dr. Steve Demarais from the Mississippi State University Deer Lab, this podcast provides listeners with expert advice, scientific research, and practical tips for improving deer habitat and managing deer populations.

    One of the best aspects of The Deer University podcast is the wealth of knowledge that the hosts bring to each episode. As respected experts in the field of deer ecology, Bronson and Steve are able to provide listeners with accurate and up-to-date information that is based on scientific research. They cover a wide range of topics including deer biology, habitat management, hunting strategies, and more. The hosts are able to break down complex concepts into easily understandable language, making it accessible to both experienced hunters and beginners alike.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is the focus on southeastern deer populations. Many hunting podcasts tend to focus on regions like the northeast or the west, which may not be as applicable to listeners in the southeast. The Deer University podcast specifically addresses issues that are relevant to hunters in states like Mississippi and Alabama, where thick vegetation and different hunting conditions require different approaches. This regional focus makes the podcast highly relatable for hunters in these areas.

    While there aren't many negative aspects of The Deer University podcast, some listeners may find that certain episodes can be technical or detailed. The hosts do their best to explain complex concepts in a way that is understandable for non-experts, but some episodes delve deep into specific research studies or management practices that may not be as interesting for casual listeners.

    In conclusion, if you're looking for a comprehensive and informative podcast about all things related to deer hunting and land management, The Deer University podcast is an excellent choice. With its knowledgeable hosts, emphasis on scientific research, and focus on southeastern deer populations, this podcast offers valuable insights for hunters and land managers alike. Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just starting out, you're sure to learn something new and useful from each episode.



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    Latest episodes from Deer University

    Episode 082 – Effects of Weather on Buck Movements

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 104:48


    In this episode Natasha Neary, Luke Resop, Steve Demarais, and Bronson Strickland discuss the MSU Deer Lab's recent analyses that disentangle the intricate relationship between buck movement and weather conditions. They use various metrics of deer activity, like movement rates and bedding percentages, and control for time of day and rut phase to isolate any additive effects of weather conditions. Does a cold front get bucks on their feet and cause them to be more active during daylight hours? Enjoy! Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 081 - Lunar Table Fables - Does the Moon Affect Buck Activiy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 119:20


    Natasha Neary, Luke Resop, Steve Demarais, and Bronson Strickland delve into the relationships between moon phases, positions, and their potential effects on buck movement and bedding behavior. They review their research findings from a complex and exhaustive analysis of GPS-collared bucks to determine if moon phase and/or position has any relationship with buck movement behaviors.  They emphasize the importance of accounting for individual buck personalities and behaviors during the rut and highlight the challenges in drawing definitive conclusions. The discussion also includes insights from a survey of hunters to gauge beliefs and expectations of the moon's role in stimulating buck movement, and the implications of various lunar theories.  The conversation highlights the complexity of deer behavior and the importance of data-driven insights to understand these patterns. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 080 - Buck Antler Size and Landscape Context

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 41:43


    In this third episode with Dr. Mark Turner, we discuss Mark's research exploring the factors that contribute to the variation in population-level buck antler size. He explains that deer tend to be larger in areas further north due to heat retention and dissipation. He also highlights the importance of landscape characteristics, such as row crop agriculture, in influencing deer size. Additionally, he emphasizes the significance of managing forage availability on individual properties, including improving early successional plant communities and implementing holistic food plotting approaches. Overall, the key takeaways are the importance of considering the context of a property within the larger landscape, the potential for incremental improvements in deer management, and the need to manage both habitat and deer density to optimize deer quality. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here) Takeaways Deer tend to be larger in areas further north due to heat retention and dissipation. Row crop agriculture and early successional plant communities are positively associated with deer size. Managing forage availability on individual properties can lead to significant improvements in deer quality. Improving early successional plant communities and implementing holistic food plotting approaches are effective strategies for increasing forage availability. Managing both habitat and deer density is crucial for optimizing deer quality.

    Episode 079 - Estimating nutrient requirements for deer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 38:55


    In this episode, Dr. Mark Turner discusses his research on the nutrient requirements of deer and the availability of native plants to fulfill those requirements. He sampled common deer forages throughout the Eastern US and found that only 44% of the forages sampled met the minimum crude protein requirement, and only 19% met the minimum phosphorus requirement. This highlights the importance of providing a diverse range of forage options for deer. Mark also emphasizes the need to consider both the amount and quality of forage when estimating nutritional carrying capacity. He suggests that landowners consider incorporating native plants into their management strategies and diversify their food plots to provide a more balanced diet for deer.  And Steve may have rambled a little too. Takeaways Providing a diverse range of forage options is important for meeting the nutrient requirements of deer. Only 44% of the forages sampled met the minimum crude protein requirement, and only 19% met the minimum phosphorus requirement. Estimating nutritional carrying capacity requires considering both the amount and quality of forage available. Incorporating native plants into management strategies can help provide a more balanced diet for deer. Diversifying food plots can also contribute to meeting the nutritional needs of deer.   Sound Bites "Diversify your habitat and then let them do their job" "Deer have pretty high phosphorus requirements and a lot of the plants are not meeting that requirement" "Deer develop an aversion to forages that are very high in nutrients they already have"   Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Deer University Episode 078 – Predicting Antler Size from Doe Body Weight

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 41:42


    In this conversation, Bronson, Steve, and Mark Turner discuss the relationship between doe body weight and buck antler size. Mark's research at the University of Tennessee aimed to evaluate how deer body and antler size varied across the eastern US and what habitat characteristics were associated with bigger deer. The results showed a consistent relationship between doe body weight and buck antler size, with an 8.5-inch increase in antler size for every 10-pound increase in doe body mass. This relationship provides a predictive equation that can help property managers and hunters assess and improve buck antler size by focusing on increasing doe body weight. The conversation also includes topics like harvest bias, compositional bias, and monitoring techniques. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here) Takeaways: There is a consistent relationship between doe body weight and adult buck antler size, with an 8.5-inch increase in antler size for every 10-pound increase in doe body weight. Increasing doe body weight can lead to larger buck antler size, providing a predictive equation for property managers and hunters to assess and improve antler size. Harvest bias and compositional bias can affect the accuracy of data collected on deer populations, and monitoring techniques should account for these biases. Understanding the relationship between doe body weight and buck antler size can help property managers and hunters make informed decisions about deer management and habitat improvement. Further research is needed to explore the variation in doe body weight and antler size across different regions and climates. Sound Bites: "If you can produce 120-inch does, your average mature male is gonna be 139 inches." "When you give them food and manage the habitat, doe body weights respond, bucks respond, antlers respond." "If you're not seeing the size of deer that you think you should be seeing, it may be that pulling the trigger is the issue."

    Episode 077 - Your Summer To-Do List

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 54:44


    In this conversation, Bronson and Steve discuss various topics related to deer management during the summertime. They start by addressing recent concerns about hunters contracting CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) from consuming deer with CWD and emphasize the importance of following public health guidelines and not eating venison from CWD-positive deer. They then move on to discuss deer management tasks for the summer, including getting soil tests and adjusting pH for food plots, moving hunting blinds off food plots to reduce disturbance, controlling ryegrass in food plots, and using prescribed fire for habitat management. They highlight the benefits of burning during the growing season and the importance of providing high-quality forage for deer. Bronson and Steve emphasize the importance of analyzing harvest data and deer observations to make informed decisions about deer population and harvest strategies. Additionally, they discuss the benefits of forest management, improving road access, and diversifying food sources. The conversation concludes with a reminder to start planning larger-scale projects, such as timber harvest, well in advance. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 076 - Buck Food Plot Use During the Hunting Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 72:26


    In this episode we visit with Dr. Natasha Ellison to review her findings relative to buck use of food plots during the hunting season.  How often are bucks visiting food plots pre-rut, peak-rut, and post-rut?  When are bucks spending more time on food plots?  How does hunting pressure affect these relationships?  Natasha is a Mathematical Ecologist and is helping the MSU Deer Lab dig deeper in the buck movement dataset to answer questions about buck behavior relevant to hunters and managers. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 075 - Pulling the Covers Off Buck Beds

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 79:30


    In this episode we visit with Luke Resop to discuss buck beds and bedding areas.  How often are they bedding?  What's their affinity to certain bedding areas?  What's the circuit time for returning to a bedding area?  Day beds and night beds are all discussed.  We also introduce our newest member to the MSU Deer Lab, Dr. Natasha Ellison.  She is a Mathematical Ecologist and is helping us dig deeper in the buck movement dataset to answer questions about buck behavior relevant to hunters and managers. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 074 – Understanding Buck Movement – Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 54:02


    The latest Extension publication from the MSU Deer Lab is “Understanding Buck Movement: How, When, and Why Bucks Navigate the Landscape” is now available for viewing and download.  You can find the publication here: https://www.msudeer.msstate.edu/results.php?q=deer%20movement In Part 2, Steve and Bronson discuss more of the findings presented in the publication and explain how you can interpret the data and use the information for management and hunting. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 073 – Understanding Buck Movement – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 77:09


    The latest Extension publication from the MSU Deer Lab is “Understanding Buck Movement: How, When, and Why Bucks Navigate the Landscape” is now available for viewing and download.  You can find the publication here: https://www.msudeer.msstate.edu/results.php?q=deer%20movement In Part 1, Steve and Bronson discuss some of the findings presented in the publication and explain how you can interpret the data and use the information for management and hunting. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 072 – Fall food plots, how late is too late?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 41:20


    The Deep South and other parts of the whitetail's range are experiencing severe drought and many cool-season food plots are struggling or failing.  In this episode we visit with Dr. Erick Larson, an Agronomist and Extension Specialist at Mississippi State University, that works with many of the forages hunters and managers plant for deer.  Erick will discuss when is too late and what steps we can take to make the best of a bad situation. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 071 - Rubs and Scrapes with Karl Miller

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2023 67:14


    What is a deer signpost?  In this episode Steve and Bronson visit with Dr. Karl Miller, the former professor and researcher of deer biology and management at the University of Georgia. Karl and his students and colleagues have studied white-tailed deer signposting behavior for decades and he shares key findings regarding the biology and ecology of this research, and how you can apply it to hunting. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 70 - Buck Breeding Value and Management Implications

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2023 71:45


    What the heck is buck breeding value?  In this episode Steve and Bronson visit with Dr. Randy DeYoung, a professor and researcher at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Randy and his colleagues and students have worked for many years analyzing genetics data related to maternity and paternity assignment in South Texas deer herds.  Randy will share results from the buck side of the equation and tell us how they impact management. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 069 – Burn baby burn!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 66:55


    There's no doubt that prescribed fire is good for wildlife habitat, but what's the best time of year to burn?  What are the pros and cons of burning during the dormant season (winter) and the growing season (spring and summer)?  In this episode Bronson and Steve visit with MSU Deer Lab graduate student Luke Resop and discuss the findings from his research where he examined the response of vegetation to dormant and growing season fire.  Which is the best?  You guessed it…IT DEPENDS.    Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 068 – Just how bad is dog hunting on deer?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 61:44


    Seems like you either love dog hunting, or hate it. There's no in between.  But what does the research say about the effects of dog hunting on deer herds? In this episode we visit with Dr. Gino D'Angelo, a professor at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia.  Gino is one of the few biologists that has studied a deer population routinely hunted with dogs. Gino will fill us in on the effects of dog hunting and best management practices if dog hunters hunt a property adjacent to you.     Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

    Episode 067 - Is habitat management for deer and turkey the same?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 77:27


    Do all the habitat recommendations that deer biologists make also benefit turkey?  In this episode, Bronson and Steve visit with Marcus Lashley and Will Gulsby to discuss habitat limiting factors for turkey, and how to incorporate habitat management techniques that benefit both deer and turkey. Stay tuned until the end for a big announcement… Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu. You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit the MSU Deer Lab YouTube channel (here). For more, follow NRU on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

    Episode 066 – South Texas Deer Management

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 70:54


    This is a crossover episode with A Talk On The Wild Side podcast, hosted by Dr. Sandra Rideout-Hanzak. Dr. Mike Cherry is the Stuart W. Stedman Chair for White-tailed Deer Research at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and has experience researching and managing deer from Texas to Florida to Virginia.  Mike and Bronson talk about deer management and habitat management in the Southeastern US as compared to South Texas. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu.  You will have to create an account to view the seminars.  The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here) Subscribe to the newest addition of the NRU network: Working Wild University

    Episode 065 - Buck Movement & Hunting Strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2022 77:20


    We're back with another Q & A, this time with questions focused on buck movement and hunting strategy. Enjoy! Be sure to follow us on social media @MSUDeerLab and subscribe to our YouTube channel MSU Deer Lab TV.

    Episode 064 - Deer Biology & Behavior

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 78:17


    We asked and y'all delivered…Bronson and Steve sit down to answer your questions from social media on deer biology. Stay tuned for the following two Deer University episodes where more of your questions get answered! Be sure to follow us on social media @MSUDeerLab.

    Episode 063 - Dr. Harry Jacobson, Founding Father of the MSU Deer Lab

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 69:02


    Bronson and Steve are joined by a special guest and founding father of the MSU Deer Lab, Dr. Harry Jacobson. Travel back to the early Deer Lab days and learn of the pioneering research conducted, achievements gained throughout the years, and lessons learned along the way.

    Episode 062 – Harvesting Does

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 49:16


    This episode is devoted to doe harvest.  Steve and Bronson spend a lot of time talking about which bucks to harvest, but in this episode, they discuss the need for doe harvest, when to harvest, and what does to select. Enroll now in our free wildland fire course! For more information, follow us on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter How has our outreach affect you? (survey) https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9ZdpHVy5wwkAt4q

    Episode 061 - Deer Nutritional Demands During Summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2022 49:04


    It's summertime - bucks are growing antlers, does are lactating, and Steve has returned from Europe just in time to sit down with Bronson to inform listeners on what they can be doing now to help meet nutritional demands for deer this summer and following seasons to come. Get the overview of tools, resources, and science behind deer nutritional timelines in this episode you don't want to miss.

    Epissode 060 - All about mineral stumps with Marcus Lashley

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2022 63:13


    This episode is devoted to mineral stumps.  Marcus Lashley joins the podcast and reviews all the details. How to make them, when to make them, where to make them.

    Episode 059 - Effective Warm-Season Food Plots for Deer

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2022 55:15


    Summer can be a nutritionally stressful period for deer. When bucks are growing antlers and does are gestating or lactating, there should be abundant high-quality food for them. In this episode we visit with Dr. Craig Harper from the University of Tennessee and discuss the important role of habitat and warm-season food plots during summer. Craig talks about the best summer food plot forages, and strategies to ensure their success. He also discusses his recent research on the effects of mowing perennial plots during summer.

    Episode 058 - Wait, so cull bucks do exist?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 73:21


    A topic of much debate and argument is cull bucks. Do cull bucks exist?  Are they different from management bucks?  All good questions.  In this episode we review this terminology and discuss scenarios where harvesting cull bucks, or management bucks, makes a lot of sense. At the beginning of the episode we revealed a new Deer Management Online Seminar Series.  Below is the link to this program, and if you have questions, please reach out to Bill Hamrick at w.hamrick@msstate.edu https://reg.extension.msstate.edu/view/cal10a.aspx?ek=&ref=&aa=&sid1=&sid2=&as=81&wp=324&tz=&ms=&nav=&cc=&cat1=&cat2=&cat3=&aid=MSU&rf=&pn= On this page, you will find 8 courses related to Deer Biology and Management. Buck Selective Harvest Strategies Deer Management Concepts: Management Approaches and Population Dynamics Food Plot Principles Cool-Season Food Plots Pine Management Affects Deer Habitat Quality Regional Variation in Body and Antler Size: Is it Nutrition or Genetics? Reproductive Ecology: Seasonal Breeding and Reproductive Success Understanding Nutrition and Life Stage Requirements   Last, we mentioned a book we wrote that goes into great detail about culling or harvesting management bucks.  We call the process the Strategic Harvest System and we titled the book “Strategic Harvest System: How to Break Through the Buck Management Glass Ceiling” https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Harvest-System-Through-Management-ebook/dp/B076VXY475

    Episode 057 – Using Science to Improve Deer Harvest Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 75:31


    In this episode we discuss the anatomy and physiology of deer relative to making effective shots that result in a rapid recovery. Our guest is Dr. Joe R. Bumgardner who is a retired surgeon.  Dr. Bumgardner practiced abdominal and chest surgery in Starkville, MS for 28 years and took his expertise from the operating room and applied it to white-tailed deer.  Dr. Bumgardner explains how broadheads and bullets disrupt the primary physiological systems of deer and cause their death. Additionally, he provides real-world examples with advice for optimal shot placement and what to do after the shot to increase your odds of recovering your deer.

    Episode 056 - The 12 month food plot system

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 39:36


    In this episode we discuss a food plot system that integrates both cool season and warm season food plot forages in the same plot.  Mitt Wardlaw has been using this system for over 5 years with great success. During the hunting season, Mitt has both high-energy grains (soybean or corn) along with high-protein clovers in his food plots. Join us for this episode to learn how to make this food plot planting system work on your property.

    Episode 055 - The Value of Co-Ops: Meeting Management Goals

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 60:59


    We've all heard time and time again that the biggest problem a landowner faces is their neighbor. But what if instead of competing with your neighbor, you joined forces? Join Dr. Marcus Lashley and Dr. Bronson Strickland, hosts of Fire University and Deer University, as they sit down to discuss the benefits co-ops provide and how working with your neighbor can give you a tangible return on investment. In this episode they interview Hunter Pruitt - founder of the National Wildlife Cooperative, an industry-wide project that quantifies wildlife co-ops across the U.S., connects landowners with nearby cooperatives, and supplies knowledge and resources to aid cooperatives across the U.S. landscape. National Wildlife Cooperative: Website: https://www.nationalwildlifecoop.com/national-wildlife-cooperative Twitter: https://twitter.com/natwildlifecoop Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalwildlifecooperative Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalwildlifecooperative/?hl=en   Deer University: Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSUDeerLab​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msu.deerlab​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msudeerlab/​ Podcast: https://deeruniversity.libsyn.com/​   Fire University: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UFDEERLab​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ufdeerlab​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ufdeerlab/​ Podcast: https://fireuniversity.libsyn.com/​   Natural Resources University: Twitter: https://twitter.com/NR_University​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NRUniversity​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nr_university/ Podcast: https://naturalresourcesuniversity.libsyn.com

    Episode 054 - What's So Special About Kansas?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 67:26


    Over the past couple decades Kansas has turned into a destination state for deer hunters chasing big whitetails. But what exactly about the Kansas landscape promotes the growth of large antlers?  Dr. Drew Ricketts is an Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist for Kansas State University and is an expert on habitat management in Kansas.  In this episode Drew, Steve, and Bronson crack the code on why Kansas produces so many record-book bucks.

    Episode 053 - Timber Harvesting & Wildlife Management, Part 2: Hardwoods

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 60:31


    Dr. Brady Self rejoins the Deer University team for their second installment of timber harvesting, this time focusing on hardwoods. Tune into today's episode to discover what you need to know for successful hardwood management on your land.

    Episode 052 - Armyworms and Food Plots

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 78:43


    Dr. Angus Catchot and Dr. Bronson Strickland visit the Mossy Oak GameKeepers Podcast team to discuss management of armyworms in wildlife food plots and duck holes.  In this episode, you'll learn exactly what armyworms are, what you can do about them. Special thanks to Bobby Cole, Lannie Wallace, Dudley Phelps, and Toxey Haas for sharing this episode of GameKeepers with the Deer University podcast and helping us get the word out.  Find this episode and others at the Mossy Oak GameKeepers Podcast page. mossyoakgamekeeper.com/podcasts Also, visit the Mississippi Crop Situation blog. www.mississippi-crops.com

    Episode 051 - Timber Harvesting & Wildlife Management, Part 1: Pine Stands

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 82:40


    Dr. Brady Self is an Extension Forestry Specialist at Mississippi State University. In this episode of Deer University, Dr. Strickland and Dr. Demaris chat with Brady on the ins and outs of pine management and how it may impact management of wildlife species.

    Episode 050 - Can Supplemental Feeding Impact the Plant Community?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 54:13


    Supplemental feeding has become a common practice, but deer biologists are often concerned about the indirect effects and how the practice could degrade habitat quality and impact the native plant community.  In this episode we interview Beau Navarre, a graduate student in the MSU Deer Lab, about his research where he measured all sorts of plant data around feeders that concentrated deer.  So, does feeding affect the native plant community?  Well, it depends.   

    feeding supplemental msu deer lab plant community
    Episode 049 – Can Supplemental Feeding Increase Disease Risk?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2021 51:08


    Supplemental feeding of deer has become a common practice throughout most of the white-tailed deer’s range. Deer biologists often warn of the potential risks of supplemental feeding related to transfer of disease among deer, other wildlife, and people.  In this episode we interview Miranda Huang, a graduate student in the MSU Deer Lab, about her research where she quantified disease risk from parasites and aflatoxins.  The results were surprising!  

    Episode 048 – Deer Management Advice from William McKinley

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 76:16


    William McKinley is a deer biologist and coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks and has been assisting hunters, managers, and landowners with deer management strategies for 20 years.  William has seen a lot of mistakes, but also has many success stories.  Join us for a fun and informative conversation with William.

    Episode 047 - Most common habitat management mistakes with John Gruchy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2021 49:10


    John Gruchy is a Private Lands Biologist for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks and has been assisting landowners with habitat management for deer and other wildlife for over a decade.  During that time, John has compiled a list of habitat management mistakes he sees over and over again. Join us as we review these mistakes with John and discuss how you can avoid these pitfalls.

    Episode 046 - Contrasting Deer Management in South Texas and the Midwest with Mick Hellickson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 54:41


    Dr. Mick Hellickson joins Deer University again to compare deer management in South Texas and the Midwest.  Mick was born and raised in Iowa and grew up hunting in that agricultural environment, but then moved to South Texas for graduate school and now works there managing deer herds.  Mick will review the most important limitations he faces managing deer in these very different environments.

    Episode 045 - Deer Food Plot Forage Selection with Jacob Dykes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 59:59


    We get asked all the time “what’s the best food plot forage to plant for deer?”  Well, as hunters and managers, we were interested in that question too. Bronson, Steve, and Marcus discuss a food plot forage selection project conducted by former graduate student, Jacob Dykes. Cereal grains, clovers, and brassicas all have different growth rates and maturation dates, making their quality and nutrient profile change over the hunting season. What’s more, the availability of certain nutrients in the naturally occurring plants affect which food plot forages deer may favor, or avoid, and this depends on the time of year, and from place to place. So, what may be the most selected forage on your property, may be different a on property a few miles away. Just like there's no magic bullet, there's no magic food plot forage either. And, check out this short video about the research upon release at 2:30 PM (EST) today https://youtu.be/WUKEAtW6pqs

    Episode 044 - Timing of Prescribed Fire Impacts Deer Forage Quality and Selection

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 70:41


    Most hunters and managers are aware of the benefits of prescribed fire on deer habitat.  Fire can be used to set back plant succession (reduce the woody vegetation) and stimulate the growth of forbs (increase the herbaceous vegetation). In the Southeastern US, deer nutrition is often limited during the summer when bucks are growing antlers and does are producing fawns and lactating. Often limitations in summer nutrition is addressed with warm-season food plots, but what about addressing this need with prescribed fire? Today we visit with former MSU Deer Lab graduate student, Rainer Nichols, and discuss his project where he compared plant quality and biomass response to dormant-season and growing season prescribed fire.  Rainer examined the impacts of prescribed fire timing and mechanical stump sprouting have on summer nutritional carrying capacity for deer. Diversifying the timing of prescribed fire between the dormant and growing seasons led to increased summer nutrient availability at the landscape level, and mechanically creating stump sprouts from woody plants led to increased available nutrition on a localized level. Combining these two management actions to target summer nutritional limitations can better help deer meet nutritional demands and reach their full potential.

    Episode 043 - Chronic Wasting Disease from a State Wildlife Agency Perspective

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 47:56


    Some hunters think Chronic Wasting Disease is no big deal, some hunters even think CWD is good for a state wildlife agency because the disease will bring with it an abundance of federal funding. Our interview with Jason Sumners of the Missouri Department of Conservation, and Cory Gray of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will fully explain the issues this disease brings to wildlife management agencies.

    Introducing the Natural Resources University Podcast Network

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 24:31


    Want to hear more science-based information regarding natural resources? We have you covered. We are introducing the Natural Resources University Podcast Network which is much like the Deer University podcast, but we have expanded to cover other critical natural resource management topics. Habitat, Prescribed Fire, and Pond management are all covered.  Just search for Natural Resources University in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or your favorite podcatcher service. We hope you enjoy!

    Episode 042 - When are Deer Attracted to Acorns?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 55:41


    Just when are deer most attracted to acorns?  You might think – all the time! And hey, you may be right. In this episode with former MSU Deer Lab graduate student Moriah Boggess we review his research where he monitored deer acorn use throughout the year and see that deer can be attracted to acorns much later in the year than you might expect. This can have important implications when hunting during the post rut.

    Episode 041 - Buck Habitat Selection During Hunting Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 52:43


    Where do bucks go during hunting season?  Does hunting pressure change where bucks spend time? In this episode Bronson, Steve, and former MSU Deer Lab graduate student Colby Henderson, review research findings from a 2-year study where about 50 bucks were marked with GPS-enabled collars and we monitored their movements throughout a hunted landscape over the hunting season. First, what is habitat “selection”? Selection is a measure of how much time an animal spends in a particular vegetation type relative to how much of that vegetation type exists on the landscape.  For example, if hardwood forest is only 5% of a property and deer spend 50% of their time there, then selection for hardwood forest would be very high – deer are differentially selecting for hardwood forest relative to the amount available to them on the landscape.  We compared not only what vegetation types bucks selected, but also what hunters selected, and how that changed over the hunting season.

    Episode 040 - When is it appropriate to cull? The purpose makes all the difference

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2020 56:40


    Bronson and Steve have a conversation with Donnie Draeger to discuss the topic of culling. Two concepts are discussed in our conversation 1) culling to improve genetics, and 2) culling to manage the buck population to maintain a proper density and conserve food.  In free-ranging deer herds, culling to improve genetics simply does not work for several reasons explained in the podcast. However, if you are in an area where deer density must be controlled, and high-quality foods are limited, you should harvest does and consider strategically harvesting some middle-aged bucks with below average antlers. For more information on culling, consider checking out the book "Strategic Harvest System: How to Break Through the Buck Management Glass Ceiling" that can be found at the link below. https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Harvest-System-Through-Management/dp/1973235609/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DJ2JTUML7P9Q&dchild=1&keywords=strategic+harvest+system&qid=1590544060&sprefix=strategic+harv%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1  

    Episode 039 - Deer Habitat Management with Craig Harper

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2020 58:10


    What are the most common habitat management mistakes? In this episode we visit with Deer Habitat guru, Dr. Craig Harper, of the University of Tennessee. Over his 20+ year career, Craig has worked all over the US helping hunters and managers create habitat for deer in forests and old fields. He is also the author of several books on food plots for deer and other wildlife.  Craig will share his insight into the most common mistakes he encounters, as well as strategies for success.  Enjoy!

    Episode 038 - CWD Management Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2020 84:17


    Bryan Richards and Paul Shelton have been studying and managing Chronic Wasting Disease for almost 20 years. Bryan provides information on CWD in his home state of Wisconsin, and Paul describes how the Illinois DNR has managed the disease. These two biologists are a wealth of information and they describe the disparity in how their states are managing CWD.

    Episode 037 - Deer Summer Nutrition

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2019 57:43


    Steve, Marcus, and Bronson discuss the importance of summer nutrition for deer. We review some research on seasonal fluctuations in plant quality, nutritional requirements of bucks and does, and some of the most common warm-season food plot forages. Also, Marcus has an announcement to make.

    Episode 036 – Impacts of flooding on deer – the good, the bad, the ugly

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2019 57:02


    The deer herd located in southern portion of the Mississippi Delta region is undergoing an unprecedented flood event.  Some experts estimate that about ¾ of a million acres are currently flooded, and many of these areas have been flooded for months. Deer are undergoing extreme nutritional stress as they are confined to the high ground and their food supply has been exhausted. In this episode, Steve and Bronson review the effects of floods on deer herds adjacent to the Mississippi River, and discuss the potential impacts of the current flood.

    Episode 035 - Forest Management for Food and Cover

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2019 65:37


    Forest management matters! Steve, Marcus, and Bronson discuss how forest management affects where deer spend time. Want to draw more deer to your property? Want deer to spend more time on your property? Manage the forest on your property to produce food and cover. 

    Episode 034 - Want to start a supplemental feeding program?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2019 55:29


    So you want to start a supplemental feeding program? You better listen to this episode. We again visit with deer biologist, Donnie Draeger, and discuss the pros and cons of supplemental feeding. Donnie and colleagues designed a study to determine exactly what impact a supplemental feeding program would have on antler size and body weight of free-ranging bucks. If you are expecting immediate results, and/or you only have a few feeders…don’t waste your time and money.

    Episode 033 - How Jeremy Flinn uses biology and technology to scout and hunt

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2019 55:43


    Jeremy Flinn is graduate of the MSU Deer Lab and is now the Chief Marketing Officer for Stone Road Media, a company that represents many of the well-known brands in the hunting industry. We talk about the influence "brand-name" hunters have on the education of the hunting public and how Jeremy is working to insure accurate, biologically sound information is being distributed. We also talk about habitat management differences in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest, and how Jeremy uses biological knowledge about buck movements, complimented with camera technology, to most effectively scout and harvest deer.  If you would like to reach out to Jeremy, you can find him at jeremy@stoneroadmedia.com.

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