National Deer Association Presents 2021 Conservation Awards

January 6, 2021 – The National Deer Association (NDA) is pleased to present its 2021 Conservation Awards recognizing significant contributions to the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Winners have been named in the six following categories.

Hunting Heritage Award

Recognizing significant contributions to our hunting heritage with the potential to make lasting impacts for current and future generations of hunters, NDA is proud to name First Lite as the recipient of the 2021 Hunting Heritage Award. First Lite has demonstrated strong support for NDA, especially in the area of hunter recruitment and NDA’s Field to Fork program. Read more about this award here.

Professional Deer Manager of the Year

For making significant strides in the fight against chronic wasting disease (CWD), NDA named Dr. Krysten Schuler of New York as its 2021 Professional Deer Manager of the Year. Schuler is a wildlife disease ecologist and assistant research professor at Cornell University’s Wildlife Health Lab, and she serves on NDA’s Science and Research Advisory Committee.

Read more about this award here.

Deer Manager of the Year

This award is presented to an amateur deer manager who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to sound management of deer habitat and wildlife populations. Mike Hinkle of Flower Mound, Texas, is the 2021 NDA Deer Manager of the Year. Read more about this award winner here.

Agency of the Year

Wildlife agencies that receive this award boast a record of innovative and progressive deer management, initiating positive change through science, regulation and hunter involvement. This year’s recipient is no different. NDA is pleased to recognize the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) as its 2021 Agency of the Year. Read more about the agency’s work here.

Signpost Communicator of the Year Award

Named after the organization’s first newsletter, the Signpost award goes to an outdoor communicator who shares accurate information with deer hunters, works to ensure a strong future for whitetails, and supports the NDA and its mission. Josh Honeycutt of Kentucky is the 2021 recipient. Learn more about Honeycutt and the award here.

Joe Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award

NDA is pleased to announce that Dr. Craig Harper of the University of Tennessee is the recipient of the 2021 NDA Joe Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of deer research, contributions to habitat management knowledge, and unwavering support for NDA for many years. Learn more about this award here.

Join NDA and support their mission today, or sign up for their free e-newsletter to receive the latest on deer hunting and management at DeerAssociation.com 

About the National Deer Association

Formally launched on November 10, 2020, the National Deer Association is a non-profit deer conservation group that leads efforts to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Formed by combining the strengths of two long-serving, successful organizations, the National Deer Association has a combined 38 years of action that has changed deer management for the betterment of hunting and protected North America’s most vital and admired game species for future generations. Visit DeerAssociation.com or follow @deerassociation on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act Passed by House of Representatives

December 8, 2021 – The National Deer Association (NDA) applauds yesterday’s passage of the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act in the House of Representatives. The NDA is proud to endorse the legislation, joining a strong group of conservation and industry organizations. The Act will support management efforts and research to combat chronic wasting disease (CWD), which is a contagious, neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose that is always fatal. 

“The NDA is incredibly thankful for the hard work and dedication of Reps. Ron Kind and GT Thompson in writing and introducing comprehensive CWD legislation that will support state and federal research and management of the disease,” said Torin Miller, the NDA’s Director of Policy. “CWD is the biggest threat to deer and deer hunting we’ve encountered, and Reps. Kind and Thompson fully recognize that threat and the need to combat it.”

The bill authorizes $70 million annually from Fiscal Year 2022 through Fiscal Year 2028 for research and management of CWD, with the money to be split evenly between research and management. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will administer the funds through cooperative agreements. The bill also includes authorization for USDA and state and tribal agencies to develop educational materials to inform the public on CWD and directs USDA to review its herd certification program (HCP) within 18 months of the bill’s passage.

The NDA is dedicated to ensuring the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. The NDA outlines deer diseases as a critical focus area and slowing the spread of CWD is of primary concern. CWD is one of the largest threats to wildlife conservation that we have encountered over the last century. Through our extensive work on this issue across North America, we know that proactive research and monitoring is critically important to the management of the disease and wild deer herds. Undoubtedly, federal leadership and coordination in research and testing efforts is necessary.

The passage of the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act in the House is a huge step towards increasing federal leadership and assistance in combating CWD. The bill’s passage out of committee was followed quickly by it’s hearing and passage on the House floor – proof of the importance of wild deer to the American people and the direness of this always-fatal disease. The NDA will continue advocate for the bill’s passage in the Senate and signing by the President. 

About the National Deer Association

Formally launched on November 10, 2020, the National Deer Association is a non-profit deer conservation group that leads efforts to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Formed by combining the strengths of two long-serving, successful organizations, the National Deer Association has a combined 38 years of action that has changed deer management for the betterment of hunting and protected North America’s most vital and admired game species for future generations. Visit DeerAssociation.com or follow @deerassociation on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

National Deer Association’s Host Dr. Gino D’Angelo for December Beer and Deer Webinar

December 8, 2021 – The National Deer Association (NDA) November Beer and Deer Webinar will feature Dr. Gino D’Angelo, Assistant Professor of Deer Ecology and Management at University of Georgia. Supporters can tune in today, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. EST for this month’s episode – Drugs and Tasers: Research to Train the Next Class of Deer Managers. To register for this, and other NDA Beer & Deer webinars, please visit the Beer & Deer webpage at DeerAssociation.com. 

“Dr. D’Angelo is a wealth of information and seriously heavy hitter when it comes to everything deer knowledge and the science behind it,” said NDA President and CEO, Nick Pinizzotto. “He has been there and done that in the world of deer and we are thrilled to host him for this episode. As always, we encourage our supporters and listeners to tune in and not miss out on this great information.”

Dr. D’Angelo earned his B.S. degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the Pennsylvania State University. He served as a biological aide with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and with the Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit working on various white-tailed deer research projects. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Wildlife Ecology and Management from the University of Georgia examining multiple aspects of white-tailed deer biology.

D’Angelo is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and worked for five years with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services where he assisted government agencies, communities and private landowners to resolve conflicts with wildlife. For four years, D’Angelo served as the Deer Project Leader for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources where he was responsible for conducting management and research of white-tailed deer and elk statewide. His research focuses on the ecology and management of deer species. He and his students conduct studies aimed at improving deer population management, guiding science-driven management by state and federal agencies, mitigation of deer-human conflicts and enhancing knowledge of deer anatomy and physiology.

Join NDA the second Wednesday of every month to sit in with NDA’s staff and guests as they cover a topic related to deer hunting, habitat management, or the latest in deer research. Additionally, each episode includes a message from Nick Pinizzotto where he discusses everything from behind-the-scenes business at NDA, to important updates in grassroots conservation, advocacy and hunter recruitment efforts.

To catch up or watch previous episodes, please visit the Beer & Deer playlist on NDA’s YouTube channel. 

Join NDA and support their mission today, or sign up for their free e-newsletter to receive the latest on deer hunting and management at DeerAssociation.com

About the National Deer Association

Formally launched on November 10, 2020, the National Deer Association is a non-profit deer conservation group that leads efforts to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Formed by combining the strengths of two long-serving, successful organizations, the National Deer Association has a combined 38 years of action that has changed deer management for the betterment of hunting and protected North America’s most vital and admired game species for future generations. Visit DeerAssociation.com or follow @deerassociation on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.