NDA

National Deer Association to Host Habitat Enhancement In-Person Module Missouri

May 26, 2023 – The National Deer Association (NDA) has announced an exciting Deer Steward Module scheduled for July 14-16, 2023 in Jamestown, Missouri. The Module will feature experts like Dr. Craig Harper from the University of Tennessee and Kip Adams from NDA and will benefit new and veteran landowners alike. The module will provide attendees with a foundation of skill covering everything from the management of ground level vegetation to meeting wildlife management goals. The course also focuses on mechanical and chemical treatment methods in forests, fields and food plots.

“This is an amazing opportunity for landowners and managers to gain access to valuable expertise and hands-on training from some of the best brains in wildlife and habitat management,” said Ben Westfall, NDA Conservation Coordinator. “Since 2015, we have been hosting these modules as a way to give landowners access to the valuable information they need to generate a positive impact on their local habitats and wildlife. This event is a one stop shop for attendees to take any property to the next level and create a noticeable impact on deer populations.”

The Habitat Enhancement Module at Clay Farms will be led by Dr Craig Harper, Kip Adams, and Ben Westfall. Attendees will learn everything about habitat including early succession management, forest stand improvement, prescribed fire, plant identification and much more.

The program costs $750 for NDA members, $800 for non-members and $700 for Life or Sponsor members. This rate includes instruction, course guide, certificate, some meals/snacks, and a NDA membership for non-member price.

About the National Deer Association

The National Deer Association is the leading non-profit deer conservation group and works 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 40 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, YouTube and TikTok.

National Deer Association Awarded $200,000 Grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to Improve Public Hunting Land

May 17, 2023 – The National Deer Association’s Public Lands Conservation Initiative has received a significant boost in the form of a $200,000 grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. The Fund has now contributed a total of $350,000 to the effort, which NDA launched in 2021 and which is ahead of pace to reach the goal of improving 1 million acres of public hunting land by 2026.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the generous support of Johnny Morris and the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, which will help us accomplish important work on the ground for deer and hunters,” said Nick Pinizzotto, President and CEO of NDA. “The Fund and the organizations it has helped over the years have had immeasurable positive impacts on fish and wildlife conservation, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

NDA’s initiative – entitled Improving Access, Habitat and Deer Hunting on Public Lands – addresses landscape-level access and forest health issues nationally. By the end of 2022, NDA and our conservation partners, including the Outdoor Fund, had invested $2,164,206 into the initiative. In addition, NDA matched $335,000 in funding against the original $150,000 Outdoor Fund grant, as well as secured an additional $1.5 million in federal funding through stewardship agreements and appropriated funds, creating a total funding leverage of 12-to-1 for conservation.

By the end of 2022, NDA had initiated access and forest health projects in six states, on six National Forests in three U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Regions, ultimately improving 316,218 acres of public land.

“Thanks to the visionary leadership of our founder Johnny Morris, alongside the generous support of passionate customers, we are incredibly proud to partner with NDA to continue investing in the deer habitats on our public lands,” said Bob Ziehmer, Bass Pro Shops Senior Director of Conservation. “Bass Pro Shops is committed to protecting the rich American heritage of spending time in the woods with our families.”

The Outdoor Fund encourages more than 200 million Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s customers to round up purchases to support conservation partners and projects that advocate for sportsmen’s rights, connect new audiences to the outdoors, and protect and conserve wildlife habitat across North America.

About the National Deer Association

The National Deer Association is the leading non-profit deer conservation group and works 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 40 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, YouTube and TikTok.

About Bass Pro Shops

Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.”

Today is the National Deer Association’s 2nd Annual Giving Day

 

May 10, 2023 – Today, May 10, is the National Deer Association’s 2nd Annual Giving Day. All gifts to NDA on this day will be matched by donors who made previous pledges up to a total of $50,000. Visit deerassociation.com/donate to make your gift.

NDA is a “4-star charity” according to an independent review by Charity Navigator, the highest ranking given to charities that spend donations efficiently toward their stated mission. Donors can be confident all gifts will support NDA’s mission of ensuring the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat, and hunting.

In 2022 for NDA’s first Giving Day, more than 230 individual donors made contributions in 24 hours amounting to more than $120,000 for deer conservation, a record for the organization. That boost helped NDA achieve its most productive year ever in mission delivery. Some highlights from 2022 include:

  • Had a significant impact on policy that impacts deer, hunting and conservation by sending 60 action alerts, authoring or signing 95 letters of support or opposition, and encouraging more than 3,000 letters from NDA constituants.  

  • Addressed landscape-level access and forest health issues through the Public Lands Initiative by helping to improve 316,218 acres of public land in six states at a total value of $2,164,206.

  • Continued to provide some of the best deer and habitat educational content in the world by publishing more than 100 combined articles and videos across various platforms. More than six million people were reached through NDA’s social media channels alone.

  • Held 54 Field to Fork events across 19 states to introduce new people to hunting as part of NDA’s R3 initiatives while also graduating 300 new Deer Steward participants at various levels.

  • Held 45 educational events, 67 fundraising events, 13 youth hunts and 10 Field to Fork hunts at the local volunteer level through NDA Branches and donated more than 12,000 pounds of venison to families in need.

  • Finished another strong financial year, helped by securing a record number of corporate sponsors and conducting the organization’s first ever Giving Day.

“Your generosity will continue to fuel the success of our organization and help us ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting,” said Lauren Varner, NDA’s Chief Development Officer. “Thank you on behalf of our Board of Directors and Staff for answering the call.”

About the National Deer Association

The National Deer Association is the leading non-profit deer conservation group and works 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 40 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, YouTube and TikTok.