Deer University

Latest Episodes:

Episode 087 - Late Summer Stressors Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, hosts Jacob and Eric dive into the challenges of the late summer stress period for deer. They explore key topics, including the declining nutritional quality of plants, the demands of antler growth, late gestation, and lactation. They also share insights on how strategic habitat management and food plots can help alleviate the summer stress period.

Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need 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 086 – Taking the Reins and New World Screwworm Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, the new co-directors of the MSU Deer Lab, Drs. Jacob Dykes and Eric Michel, share their plans for the deer lab and their vision for research and outreach. They discuss hosting in-person events and the construction of the new captive deer facility and outreach building at Mississippi State University. The discussion then shifts to a pressing issue that could affect deer: New World Screwworm.

Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

Episode 085 - The New MSU Deer Lab Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Bronson and Steve introduce the new Co-Directors of the MSU Deer Lab. Dr. Eric Michel succeeds Steve and now serves as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Taylor Chair in Applied Big Game Research and Instruction. Replacing Bronson is Dr. Jacob Dykes, the new Coordinator of the St. John Family Endowed Professorship of Wildlife Management and Extension Wildlife Specialist.

We'll spend some time getting to know Eric and Jacob, discuss their backgrounds, and hear about their vision and future plans for the MSU Deer Lab.

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 084 - Steve's Dispersal Event Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

In this bittersweet episode Bronson visits with Steve as he reflects on his retirement from the MSU Deer Lab after a long and impactful career in wildlife management. Steve discusses some of the research that he considered very important in his career that impacted resource management. He reviews his research on forest management, prescribed fire, DMAP data, environment vs genetics, females choose antlers, antler restrictions, selective harvest, and CWD sampling. We hope you enjoy Steve's stroll down memory lane.

Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

Episode 083 - When You Can't Hunt: Fertility Control as a Deer Management Tool May 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Stephanie Boyles-Griffin, Jessica Tegt, Steve Demarais, and Bronson Strickland discuss the complexities of urban deer management, exploring the challenges posed by growing deer populations in urban areas. While recreational hunting remains the most effective and practical tool for population control in most settings, an increasing number of circumstances—especially in urban and suburban areas—render it unfeasible. Stephanie and Jessica, both from the Botstiber Institute, outline non-lethal and alternative methods commonly used to manage deer in these environments and walk through the series of decisions required to evaluate which techniques are appropriate and how likely they are to succeed.

Below, Stephanie and Jessica have provided resources if you are interested in learning more.

Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

Resources:

Contact information

Stephanie Boyles-Griffin: boylesgriffinadvisor@botstiber.org

Jessica Tegt: jtegt@botstiber.org

Urban Deer Conflict Management Planning Resources

BIWFC

- https://wildlifefertilitycontrol.org/

- https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1871&context=hwi

- https://wildlifefertilitycontrol.org/webinars/webinar-surgical-solutions-innovations-in-nonlethal-deer-management/

- https://wildlifefertilitycontrol.org/webinar-11-blacktail-deer/

- https://wildlifefertilitycontrol.org/webinar-denicola/

Surgical

- https://www.whitebuffaloinc.org/

- DeNicola, A. J., and V. L. DeNicola. 2021. Ovariectomy as a management technique for suburban deer populations. Wildlife Society Bulletin 45:445–455.

https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/wsb.1218

- Staten Island Story Map https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e3a5f6d544594690a313693d1e88d9ef

- DeNicola, V., Mezzini, S., Bursać, P. et al. Effects of vasectomy on breeding-related movement and activity in free-ranging white-tailed deer. Mov Ecol 13, 34 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-025-00554-5

Nonsurgical

Naugle, R. E., A. T. Rutberg, H. B. Underwood, J. W. Turner, Jr., and I. K. M. Liu. 2002. Field testing of immunocontraception on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Fire Island National Seashore, New York, USA. Reproduction Supplement 60:143–153.

https://wildlifefertilitycontrol.org/wp-content/uploads/2002/01/Naugle-et-al-2002-Field-testing-of-immunocontraception-at-Fire-Island.pdf

Rutberg, A. T., R. E. Naugle, L. A. Thiele, and I. K. M. Liu. 2004. Effects of immunocontraception on a suburban population of white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus. Biological Conservation 116:243–250.

https://www.wildlifefertilitycontrol.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Rutberg-et-al-2004-Biol-Cons-NIST.pdf

Gionfriddo. J. P., A. J. DeNicola, L. Miller, and K. A. Fagerstone. 2011. Efficacy of GnRH immunocontraception of wild white-tailed deer in New Jersey. Wildlife Society Bulletin 35(3):149–160.

Rutberg, A. T., R. E. Naugle, J. W. Turner, Jr., M. Fraker, D. Flanagan, and I. K. M. Liu. 2013. Tests of one-treatment immunocontraceptive vaccines on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on Fripp Island, SC. Wildlife Research 40:281–288. https://wildlifefertilitycontrol.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Rutberg-et-al-2013-Wildlife-Research.pdf

Walker, M.J., Shank, G.C., Stoskopf, M.K., Minter, L.J. and DePerno, C.S. (2021), Efficacy and Cost of GonaCon™ for Population Control in a Free-ranging White-tailed Deer Population. Wildl. Soc. Bull., 45: 589-596. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1237

https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/wsb.1237

Episode 082 – Effects of Weather on Buck Movements Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

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!

Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

Episode 081 - Lunar Table Fables - Does the Moon Affect Buck Activiy? Nov 15, 2024

Show notes

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.

Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

Episode 080 - Buck Antler Size and Landscape Context Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

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.

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 Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

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"

Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

Episode 078 – Predicting Antler Size from Doe Body Weight Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

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.

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."

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