Jason Meekhof Joins NDA as Midwest Regional Director

July 6, 2023 – The National Deer Association (NDA) is thrilled to announce Jason Meekhof has joined the NDA team as Regional Director for the Midwest Region. Meekhof will be assisting with the planning and implementation of successful fundraising. He will also be working directly with volunteer-led branches, all to assist and grow NDA’s mission.

“Jason is a passionate hunter, who has a unique ability to connect well with nearly everyone he meets,” said Director of Grassroots Support Kristen Schnepp-Giger. “I am looking forward to watching his leadership guide meaningful growth in the Midwest for NDA.”

Meekhof arrives at NDA with a variety of experience in the outdoor arena, as well as extensive leadership and communication skills. In his role as Chapter Coordinator at Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Meekhof managed 80 plus chapter leaders and hundreds of volunteers across six states in the Great Lakes region. While there, he also served on their Events and Special Projects Team, where his fundraising campaigns built membership and engagement across the board. Meekhof’s work in the outdoors industry continues with his published writing on conservation issues on the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers blog.

“The mission of NDA is extremely important, and I’m excited to work with the amazing volunteers and leaders throughout the Midwest,” said Meekhof. “I look forward to helping branches and volunteers work toward their goals, and moving the mission of NDA forward–united for deer. These are exciting times and there is much good work to be done.”

Meekhof is a knowledgeable outdoorsman and a skilled communicator. He works hard to better conservation efforts, the outdoors industry, and relationships with all of those involved.

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.

Matt Wilkins Joins NDA as Southern Regional Director

June 22, 2023 – The National Deer Association (NDA) is pleased to announce Matt Wilkins has joined the NDA team as Regional Director for the South Region. Wilkins will be working directly with volunteer-led Branches, where he’ll plan and implement successful fundraising and conservation-related events—all to help further NDA’s mission.

“I am honored to have Matt Wilkins join the NDA team as our Regional Director in the south,” said Director of Grassroots Support Kristen Schnepp-Giger. “Matt has a passion for conservation, hunting and volunteerism. His enthusiasm is contagious and will resonate well with our volunteer base.”

Wilkins comes to the NDA with extensive experience in the outdoors industry, and a proven skillset in project and team management. Prior to joining the group at NDA, Wilkins worked as a Wildlife Specialist at Two Way Trading where he established the Wildlife Program to target food plots and habitat development. Additionally, Wilkins worked as Regional Director and Fundraising Coordinator with renowned conservation group, The National Wild Turkey Federation. While there, Wilkins developed the Mentored Hunt program and managed more than 32 chapters of volunteers.

“I am very excited to be a part of the number one deer conservation organization in the country,” said Wilkins. “I look forward to working with the great volunteers, partners and staff of NDA.”

Wilkins is a passionate outdoorsman and hunter who takes action to not only better conservation efforts, but spread knowledge of those best practices to others.

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.

NDA and MeatEater Hosting Three Upcoming Workdays on Public Hunting Land

June 15, 2023 – The National Deer Association is teaming up with Mark Kenyon of Wired to Hunt and MeatEater to host three Working for Wildlife Tour volunteer workdays on public hunting land. NDA will host workdays in Idaho on July 29, Mississippi on September 23 and Kentucky on October 14.

“The Working for Wildlife Tour helps elevate the need and opportunity for folks to come out and chip in on public lands,” said Matt Ross, NDA’s Director of Conservation. “The NDA is proud to be involved, and we look forward to getting our hands dirty right alongside a bunch of volunteers improving habitat for deer and other wildlife in three locations this year.”

The Working for Wildlife Tour brings attention to the critical work hunters and anglers are doing to create, conserve, and restore wildlife habitat through volunteer on-the-ground events/workdays. These events provide an opportunity for the public to volunteer on public land, and workday tasks include everything from creating brush piles, wildlife openings and early successional habitat, to cleaning up debris, improving deer forage, collecting acorns for native reforestation, and invasive species removal. In addition to MeatEater and Mark Kenyon, the National Deer Association is teaming up with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), three different state wildlife agencies, and numerous conservation partners to help host the Working for Wildlife Tour.

“Unbeknownst to many, there are hundreds of events put on across the country every year by conservation organizations bringing together hunters and anglers to volunteer their time to improve wildlife habitat, restore ecosystems, and clean up public lands and waters,” said Mark Kenyon. “Too many of these events slip by under the radar without the attention or participation they deserve. We want to help change that.”

The three workdays hosted by NDA include:

Idaho – Saturday, July 29; Idaho Panhandle National Forest

Activity: Removing encroaching conifers in aspen stands

Event Partners: USFS; Idaho Fish & Game, First Lite

Mississippi – Saturday, September 23; DeSoto National Forest and Leaf River WMA

Activity: Early successional habitat creation and enhancement

Event Partners: USFS; Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; Mississippi Power

Kentucky – Saturday, October 14; Daniel Boone National Forest

Activity: White oak acorn collection for local reforestation project

Event Partners: USFS; Kentucky Division of Forestry; Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; University of Kentucky; Independent Stave Company

Register now for these NDA Tour events: https://deerassociation.com/wfw/

Each event directly contributes to NDA’s national Public Lands Conservation initiative.

The first 50 people who register and attend will either receive a Working for Wildlife t-shirt or NDA trucker hat in First Lite camouflage. Anyone who signs up and participates in the three events listed above will automatically be enrolled in a Working for Wildlife – NDA-branded YETI Roadie® 24 drawing at the end of the Tour as a way to say “thank you” for giving back to our public lands and supporting the NDA’s Public Lands Conservation initiative!

“The NDA is dedicated to improving a million acres through the Public Lands Initiative because those lands belong to all of us and, frankly, our forests are constantly under attack by invasive plants, disease, insects, and wildfire, or too often an overall lack of management,” said Ross. “It’s truly a losing battle for our public land managers in many places, the threats outnumber their capacity. We’re fortunate that our members and deer hunters in general have a culture of giving back.”

For more information about all six events in the Working for Wildlife Tour and to register, visit:

https://www.themeateater.com/wired-to-hunt/whitetail-management/announcing-the-working-for-wildlife-tour

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.