Deer University artwork

Deer University

79 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 477 ratings

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 and management that they made it their career!

Our goal is to explain how you can use deer research to improve your hunting and management experiences. Don’t take for granted what your buddy says or what you read in a hunting magazine – we’ll train you to think like a deer biologist. As national leaders in deer research, we’ll keep you up to date on the latest and best information, and deliver episodes that cover every deer management topic you can imagine, and then add some that will surprise you.

If you are interested in deer hunting and management, this is your podcast! Every shot you take this fall is either a step forward or backward in your management program, so use our knowledge to make every shot count!

Hosts of Deer University:
Dr. Bronson Strickland, Professor of Wildlife Management, Mississippi State University Extension Service
Dr. Steve Demarais, Professor of Wildlife Management, Mississippi State University Forest and Wildlife Research Center

Wilderness Sports Science Natural Sciences deerbiology deermanagement hunting whitetaileddeer
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Episodes

Episode 076 - Buck Food Plot Use During the Hunting Season

April 10, 2024 20:11 - 1 hour - 63.4 MB

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....

Episode 075 - Pulling the Covers Off Buck Beds

March 13, 2024 20:54 - 1 hour - 66.7 MB

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 m...

Episode 074 – Understanding Buck Movement – Part 2

January 12, 2024 02:28 - 54 minutes - 45.1 MB

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 o...

Episode 073 – Understanding Buck Movement – Part 1

December 19, 2023 22:44 - 1 hour - 62.8 MB

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 o...

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

November 13, 2023 15:11 - 41 minutes - 36.3 MB

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 (...

Episode 071 - Rubs and Scrapes with Karl Miller

September 12, 2023 14:27 - 1 hour - 55.2 MB

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 o...

Episode 070 - Buck Breeding Value and Management Implications

July 14, 2023 16:57 - 1 hour - 98.5 MB

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 M...

Episode 069 – Burn baby burn!

May 31, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 123 MB

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.    Chec...

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

February 28, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 84.8 MB

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 ...

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

January 18, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 106 MB

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 t...

Episode 066 – South Texas Deer Management

November 28, 2022 14:31 - 1 hour - 130 MB

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) an...

Episode 065 - Buck Movement & Hunting Strategy

October 27, 2022 23:47 - 1 hour - 59.9 MB

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

October 04, 2022 13:34 - 1 hour - 108 MB

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

August 31, 2022 13:20 - 1 hour - 94.8 MB

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

July 20, 2022 17:30 - 49 minutes - 67.7 MB

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

June 21, 2022 20:30 - 49 minutes - 67.4 MB

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

May 14, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 57.9 MB

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 060 - All About Mineral stumps with Marcus Lashley

May 14, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 57.9 MB

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

April 07, 2022 18:00 - 55 minutes - 75.9 MB

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 mowin...

Episode 058 - Wait, so cull bucks do exist?

February 08, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 101 MB

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 [email protected] https:/...

Episode 057 – Using Science to Improve Deer Harvest Success

December 21, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 104 MB

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. Additionall...

Episode 056 - The 12-Month Food Plot System

November 24, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 36.9 MB

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

October 19, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 83.8 MB

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...

Episode 054 - What's So Special About Kansas?

September 28, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 57.6 MB

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

August 31, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 52.6 MB

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

August 03, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 71.3 MB

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 ...

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

July 28, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 72.6 MB

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?

June 30, 2021 18:28 - 54 minutes - 74.5 MB

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.   

Episode 049 – Can Supplemental Feeding Increase Disease Risk?

June 03, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 34.4 MB

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

May 04, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MB

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

April 09, 2021 10:00 - 49 minutes - 40 MB

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

March 09, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutes - 47.5 MB

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

February 09, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 55.1 MB

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 ...

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

January 05, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 58 MB

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...

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

December 15, 2020 11:00 - 47 minutes - 40.9 MB

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

December 15, 2020 10:00 - 24 minutes - 17.9 MB

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 h...

Episode 042 - When are Deer Attracted to Acorns?

December 08, 2020 12:00 - 55 minutes - 39.6 MB

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

December 01, 2020 12:00 - 52 minutes - 46.8 MB

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 ...

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

May 27, 2020 09:00 - 56 minutes - 34.8 MB

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...

Episode 039 - Deer Habitat Management with Craig Harper

February 23, 2020 10:00 - 58 minutes - 57.2 MB

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

February 19, 2020 03:28 - 1 hour - 68.6 MB

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

September 09, 2019 18:06 - 57 minutes - 51 MB

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

July 23, 2019 18:23 - 57 minutes - 78.3 MB

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 ...

Episode 035 - Forest Management for Food and Cover

May 18, 2019 15:00 - 1 hour - 39.1 MB

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?

March 22, 2019 22:27 - 55 minutes - 32.3 MB

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

February 06, 2019 23:11 - 55 minutes - 34.1 MB

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 biolog...

Episode 032 - Culling to Improve Genetics - Fact or Fiction

December 20, 2018 21:26 - 1 hour - 76.3 MB

Culling to improve genetics is likely one of the most hotly debated topics among deer hunters.  How often have you heard “that spike buck is genetically inferior.” Or, “I culled that buck to get him out of the gene pool”? Heck, you may have even said this yourself! In this episode we listen to deer biologist Donnie Draeger of the Comanche Ranch in South Texas as he describes the results from a landmark, 13-year study, designed to answer this question once and for all – to determine if cullin...

Episode 031 - Eating venison in a CWD world

November 03, 2018 04:00 - 40 minutes - 22.8 MB

Steve and Bronson discuss implications of the 2nd positive CWD sample in Mississippi and have a conversation about common questions surrounding eating venison.

Episode 030 - Buck Movement Patterns During the Rut

October 24, 2018 02:27 - 55 minutes - 29.3 MB

Today we visit with MSU Deer Lab graduate students Ashley Jones and Colby Henderson about their research project where they are tracking GPS-collared bucks and measuring their habitat preferences. We discuss buck movement patterns during the rut and what particular cover types bucks are selecting. We talk about focal areas and how often bucks are moving to and from different focal areas. Cover is critical for bucks, but cover that simultaneously provides food is the best! We will also hear f...

Episode 029 - Midwest Deer Habitat Management

October 09, 2018 12:31 - 49 minutes - 24.5 MB

Jarred Brooke and Adam Janke are Professors and Extension Wildlife Specialists at Purdue and Iowa State Universities, respectively. Today we will discuss the most common habitat management strategies used for deer in the agriculture-dominated landscapes of the Midwest.

Twitter Mentions

@nr_university 3 Episodes
@msudeerlab 1 Episode
@ufdeerlab 1 Episode
@natwildlifecoop 1 Episode