Establishing specific strategies, timelines, and measurable goals for the recently created National Deer Alliance (NDA) was the focus of the second annual North American Deer Summit, according to the Wildlife Management Institute. The Summit, held May 6-8, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky, brought together biologists, managers, researchers, non-profit conservation organizations, hunters, and others with an interest in our endemic deer species. Participants worked collaboratively to flesh out the NDA's mission of ensuring the future of North America's wild deer, wildlife habitat, and our hunting heritage.

The NDA was formed in 2014 after the inaugural North American Deer Summit. The consensus of that meeting was that there was no central group representing the "voice" of deer hunters. While the Mule Deer Foundation, Quality Deer Management Association, and Whitetails Unlimited (all founding fathers of the NDA) do an outstanding job on science, biology, and management, there was still a need for an advocacy group for deer. This led to the creation of the NDA that has representation and engagement from the established deer conservation organizations as well as many others in the outdoor industry and wildlife management arena.

In the 14 months since its inception, the NDA has developed a significant social media presence, a website, and the beginnings of what could be a strong (and free) membership roster. However, it was at this year's meeting that interested parties began to put flesh on the bones of the mission of the fledgling organization. Not surprisingly, the consensus was that deer hunters have their work cut out for them. After informative presentations, panel discussions, and vigorous debate, the participants at the 2015 North American Deer Summit focused on five areas of primary concern facing deer hunters today. The culmination of the Summit required attendees to whittle down roughly 100 potential action items to a manageable chunk of 15. These focus areas and associated action items will form the bulk of the NDA's agenda for the next few years.

The five focus areas and 15 action items are listed below in descending order of importance, as ranked by participants:

Hunter Recruitment & Retention

1. Petition the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports for NDA to join their Board.
2. Capitalize on the positive image of hunters feeding the hungry.
3. Summarize and disseminate contributions of hunters into big-picture conservation.

Political Influences on Hunting

1. Advocate for scientific (rather than political) decision-making and advocate for wildlife agencies to maintain jurisdictional authority.
2. Integrate grassroots action; develop a mechanism to easily contact legislators, as well as email alerts for hot issues.
3. Get some political allies involved in the NDA; review successful models for advocacy (i.e. Sportsman's Caucus and United States Sportsmen's Alliance), and possibly align with them and other similar organizations.

Landscape Change/Habitat Loss?

1. Better explain how habitat improvement for deer benefits other natural resources.
2. Participate actively in Farm Bill development.
3. Work with state/federal agencies and private landowners to encourage active habitat and fire management.

Public Perception of Hunting

1. Promote the food attributes and healthy lifestyle benefits of hunting.
2. Start advertising campaigns to promote true values of hunting; make sure messages are tailored and delivered by and to traditional and non-traditional hunters.
3. Develop hunter code of conduct that builds a positive popular image (i.e. respectful photography, especially on social media).

Captive Deer Industry?

1. Advocate to ensure deer are classified as wildlife and not livestock.
2. Encourage elected officials to pay more attention to science-based information.
3. Advocate/partner for more funding, re: disease research.

While the NDA certainly seems to be off to a good start, its challenges ahead are daunting. Preventing excessive overlap between the advocacy-based NDA and the management based parent organizations (QDMA, MDF, WU) will be key. Developing and refining an active and involved member base that is willing to contribute money and, more importantly, time and political influence, is also critical. Finally, as NDA matures, it will have to further define, resolve, and adapt its laundry list of priorities in order to focus on the immediate political needs of our native deer in order to effectively partner with the state fish and wildlife agencies that are charged with their management. (jwg)