NDA’s Deer Season 365

Many deer hunters and the public at large are unaware of the critical work university affiliated state and regional wildlife health organizations do for the betterment of wildlife and human health. Deer are no exception, and in many cases, they dominate the workload due to their abundance, impact on broad wildlife conservation, and popularity.

In this episode, we sit down wi...

Through the Wildlife Futures Program, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is conducting a study to explore leading causes of mortality in deer with and without CWD within a CWD-endemic area. The study team outfitted deer with GPS-collars programmed to emit a mortality signal to promptly retrieve carcasses for a complete necropsy with associated ancillary tests to determine the cause of death. Ear...

In our latest episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we talk with Michael Burns of Wisconsin all about his career as a Conservation Warden. Michael dives into the job's responsibilities, dispels some common misconceptions, covers some of the most common deer hunting violations, and outlines what is involved in becoming a conservation warden. Regardless of whether you’ve ever dreamed of being a conservation warden or not, this is a...

On this episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, host Brian Grossman is joined by NDA CEO Nick Pinizzotto, NDA Chief Conservation Officer Kip Adams, and special guest Jeb Burton, of Crossroads with the Burtons, to discuss a variety of deer and habitat management topics. The group met at the recent 2025 Archery Trade Association (ATA) Show in Indianapolis to record this unique episode.

Bass Pro Shops & C...

In this week's episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we discuss rut-hunting strategies with Michael Perry of Alabama as he follows the rut across his home state and beyond. Michael has killed some tremendous public land bucks over the years, including the Alabama state record muzzleloader buck, on some of the toughest public lands in the country. Hear how he consistently finds success, whether hunting his home state of Alabama or...

In this episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we talk with wildlife photographer Tes Randle Jolly all about her observations of various buck (and doe) behavior leading up to and during the rut. Tes spends more time in the field than anyone I know, which has given her the opportunity to witness a lot of interesting and unique deer behavior over the years. She also ties in how those observations can make you a better, more successf...

In this week's episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we tap into over three years worth of episodes to provide you with the best deer hunting advice we've received along the way. We cover the entire scouting and hunting process with some of the best deer hunters we know, like Dan Infalt, Andy May, Beau Martonik, Parker McDonald, Jeremy Aron, and Daniel Lemmon. With the rut right around the corner, this is one you won't want to mi...

In this week's episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, Kip Adams and I dive into the fallacy of the October lull and how to get back in the game when that buck you’ve been watching all summer suddenly disappears. We also discuss the rut, diving into what triggers it, how things like weather and the moon have no impact on the timing, and why some rut hunts are much better than others. This is a great episode you won't ...

In this week's Deer Season 365 podcast episode, we talk with Shawn Lumsden of the Flint River Plantation about how their intensive habitat management and deer harvest strategies are paying off big time. We dive into everything from food plots to forest stand improvement and prescribed fire. Shawn also discusses how they are harvesting over 100 does per season and being very selective with their buck harvest. If you have a hunting p...

Every year, around this same time, stories start showing up in my news feed about hunters who have fallen from a deer stand. Some only result in minor injuries, while others end with a family burying a loved one. On this week's episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we talk with treestand fall survivor, Justin Lanclos, about his harrowing ordeal, along with Glen Mayhew of the Treestand Safety Awareness Foundation about fall statis...

In this week's Deer Season 365 podcast episode, we're talking with Terry Kerns of Edgewood Meat Locker all about deer processing. Not so much how to process your deer, but more about how to handle your deer in the field prior to having it processed. We also dive into common questions hunters have about deer processing, like whether the meat they get is actually their deer, and why it may seem like you're not getting as much venison...

In this week's episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we're talking with Jacob Emery of the DO3 Outdoors YouTube channel all about using water access to improve your odds on mature bucks. Jacob dives into how he got started with water access, equipment needs, tips and tactics, and a few challenges he's faced along the way. If you've ever considered using a kayak or jon boat to access remote hunting spots, this episode is for you!

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In this episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we look at the increasing popularity of mobile deer hunting and how it can make you a better, more consistent hunter. Our guest is Christopher Leppert, of the Mobile Hunters Expo, who has turned his passion for mobile hunting into a successful business. Christopher dives into what it means to be a mobile deer hunter, how it's improved his success rate on mature bucks, and how that pas...

In this episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we talk with Mark Turner all about herbicides for deer habitat. We discuss some of the most common food plot and native habitat scenarios, and which herbicides are best suited for each scenario. If you enjoy planting food plots or managing native habitat for deer, then you'll definitely want to check this episode out!

Episode Sponsor: Vortex Optics

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In this week's episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we're talking with University of Delaware student, Matthew McBride, all about Maryland's sika deer population. Matthew gives us some basic biology and ecology of sika deer, along with the results of his research on how the expanding sika deer population may be impacting local whitetails. 

Episode Sponsors: LandTrust and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela's

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In this week's episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we talk to Michigan hunter Andy May about how he consistently kills big, mature bucks on short DIY public land hunts. Andy dives deep into his entire process from choosing potential public land tracts, how he e-scouts properties, his boots-on-the-ground scouting process, and how he executes a successful hunt.

Whether yo...

In this week's episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we talk with Matt Ross about NDA's Public Lands Initiative, where we have set a goal to impact 1 million acres of public hunting land by 2026. Hear all about where we are with that goal, how we're accomplishing the work with such a lean workforce, and what the future holds for the program.

Episode Sponsors: QuietKat and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela's

Impor...

In this week's Deer Season 365 podcast episode, we talk with Matt Wilkins and Megan Plete Postol, of NDA's Grassroots Program, about how local Branches help deliver NDA’s mission and impact their local communities, and how you can get involved with NDA as a volunteer.

If you’re a passionate deer hunter, you should consider giving back to the species and that passion by giving some of your time to help ensure the future of wild dee...

On this episode of the Deer Season 365 podcast, we talk with Kyle Hedges, of Land & Legacy, about fawning cover. We dive into why good cover is important for whitetail fawns, along with five ways to create it based on your current habitat conditions. It’s an often overlooked aspect of managing a property for white-tailed deer, but an important one to consider, so be sure to give this episode a listen.

Episode Sponsor: Tethrd

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