The National Deer Association’s mission is to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Declines in deer hunter numbers, habitat quality and access are all having significant negative impacts on wildlife conservation. Recent trends suggest declining deer harvests on some federal lands is likely the result of diminishing acreage in active management, and access is continually listed as a major barrier for new and veteran hunters alike. Thus, NDA launched a national initiative entitled Improving Access, Habitat and Deer Hunting on Public Lands, with a goal of improving one million acres by 2026.
What has been accomplished so far toward this project? To-date and along with valuable conservation partners like the USDA Forest Service, NDA has invested $4.9 million, addressed landscape-level access and forest health issues in 18 states, and has helped improve over 745,000 acres of public land - well above pace to reach the five-year goal. In 2023 alone NDA received a $200,000 grant from Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to directly support the public lands initiative, matched $360,043 in cash and in-kind contributions, and secured an additional $2.2 million in federal funding, creating a total funding leverage of nearly 13-to-1 for conservation.
Follow along in this video to see examples of projects occurring on National Forests in Idaho, Mississippi and Kentucky, to hear why this critical work is so important in each community, and what it means for the people that use and enjoy our Nation’s public lands.
For more information visit: deerassociation.com
Partners: USDA Forest Service, Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, National Deer Association
Film by: Strategic Digital Services