Dave Edwards
Dave Edwards manages a team of wildlife biologists at Westervelt Wildlife Services who provide wildlife consulting, hunting lease management, and recreational property development on over one million acres across the Southeast. He is a certified wildlife biologist, prescribed fire manager, and herbicide applicator. He has been involved in research and management projects on numerous species including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, wood duck, black bear, coyotes, Florida panther and alligators.
Dr. Grant Woods
Dr. Grant Woods of Woods & Associates is a wildlife biologist and consultant specializing in deer management and research. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Southwest Missouri State University and a Ph.D. from Clemson University. He has conducted research or management projects in more than 25 states, Canada and New Zealand. He has been instrumental in the development of many modern deer management practices and a pioneer in the Quality Deer Management movement. Grant recently launched an innovative deer management Web site, Growingdeer.tv.
Dr. Steve Demarais
Dr. Steve Demarais is professor of wildlife management in the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries at Mississippi State University. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Massachusetts and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Mississippi State University. He specializes in deer population ecology and land management effects on habitat quality. He has published over 100 technical articles in peer-reviewed journals and authored numerous deer management articles in popular magazines including Quality Whitetails.
Dr. James Earl Kennamer
More than 25 years ago, Dr. James Earl Kennamer went to work for a fledgling conservation organization dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of the hunting tradition. Today, Kennamer continues to guide the conservation efforts of the National Wild Turkey Federation as the senior vice president for conservation programs.
Dr. Rick Kaminski
Dr. Rick Kaminski received his Ph.D. in wildlife biology and management from Michigan State University and currently serves as professor, associate dean, and James C. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation at Mississippi State University. He specializes in waterfowl and wetland ecology and the human dimensions of waterfowl hunting. In 2006, Rick received the Lifetime Achievement Award in wetlands conservation from Ducks Unlimited.
Dr. Wes Burger
Dr. Loren “Wes” Burger is a professor of wildlife management within the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries at Mississippi State University and a national project coordinator for the USDA Northern Bobwhite Restoration Project. He received his B.S. in biology and mathematics from Murray State and his M.S. and Ph.D. in wildlife biology from the University of Missouri. Wes specializes in habitat influences on quail abundance, distribution and survival and is widely regarded as a leading expert on the northern bobwhite quail.
Hank Parker
Hank Parker has been described as the “the rod-n-reel answer to Michael Jordan in popularity and talent." Hank has enjoyed a storied professional bass fishing and outdoor television host career. His accomplishments on the tournament trail combined with his in-depth knowledge of fish behavior as it relates to structure make him one of the greatest bass fishermen and most knowledgeable fish behavior experts in America.
Rick Taylor
Rick Taylor is a registered forester and a member of the REALTORS Land Institute, having achieved the coveted "Accredited Land Consultant" (ALC) designation. Rick holds a degree in forestry from Louisiana Tech University and has 30 years of experience in timber and land procurement, forest management, logging, wildlife management and oil and gas leasing. He received his real estate license in 1988 and started Mossy Oak Properties Forest Investments in 1998.
Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland
Ronnie "Cuz" Strickland is Senior Vice President of Media Services for Mossy Oak with decades of experience in wildlife videography and the outdoor business. Cuz is responsible for producing North America's highest-rated, traditional outdoors television show, "Mossy Oak’s Hunting the County” and numerous other titles including "American Hunter," "Second Season," "Mossy Oak Classics" and “Step Outside.” Cuz also recently became a landowner and has spent the past few years improving his property for wildlife and learning many valuable lessons along the way.
Barry Smith
Barry Smith is a certified fisheries scientist with more than 35 years experience managing bass/bluegill populations. He is a former Chief of Fisheries for the Alabama Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. He has authored numerous publications and has been a featured speaker at many national seminars on bass management.
Don Keller
Don Keller has more than 35 years experience stocking and managing sport fishing lakes throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a certified fisheries scientist and founder and President of American Sport Fish Hatchery in Montgomery, AL. He has authored numerous publications regarding all aspects of bass and lake management.
Bobby Watkins
Bobby Watkins is a private landowner and property consultant. Previously, Bobby was a technical specialist for BASF Field Development Group where he conducted research using herbicides to improve wildlife habitat and silvicultural practices. During his 32-year career, Bobby has co-authored several influential research reports and has received numerous industry awards and U.S. patents. Bobby holds a B.S. degree in animal science and a M.S. degree in agronomy from Mississippi State University.
Brian Murphy
Brian Murphy is a wildlife biologist and the Chief Executive Officer of the Quality Deer Management Association. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in wildlife management and has been involved in deer research and management throughout the U.S. and the South Pacific for more than 20 years. Brian has written more than 100 popular and scientific articles and given more than 500 lectures on deer biology and management.
Dave Marrone
David is the Assistant General Counsel for Ducks Unlimited at their National Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. He handles legal matters related to conservation work/wetland restoration, non-profit fundraising and board governance, litigation and insurance/employment. Prior to joining DU in 1999, David worked for a private law firm where he was involved in the areas of real estate, business, estate planning and construction law. David has significant experience directing land conservation, including several hundred conservation easement and conservation land transactions nationwide.
Dr. Craig Harper
Dr. Craig Harper is a wildlife biologist, professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist at the University of Tennessee. Craig is responsible for developing wildlife management programs for UT Extension. He remains active in research with numerous ongoing projects relating to deer and habitat management. Craig has authored or co-authored numerous popular and scientific articles, technical publications and book chapters on food plots, timber management, weed control, native warm season grasses and more. He is widely considered one of the nation’s leading experts on land management practices for wildlife.
Dr. Karl Miller
Dr. Karl Miller is a professor of wildlife ecology and management at the University of Georgia. He received his B.S. degree from Penn State University, his M.S. from Ohio State, and his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. He is co-editor of the books, Quality Whitetails - The Why and How of Quality Deer Management and Quality Food Plots – Your Guide to Better Deer and Better Deer Hunting and co-author of Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses. He has published more than 200 professional papers, reports, and book chapters and is widely regarded as one of the leading experts on white-tailed deer in North America.
Joe Hamilton
Joe Hamilton is a wildlife biologist and the founder of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). During his nearly 20 years with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Joe helped implement Quality Deer Management practices on more than two million acres of private land. Joe has received numerous awards including the 2000 Deer Management Career Achievement Award from The Wildlife Society and the 2009 Conservationist of the Year Award from the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. Joe currently serves as QDMA’s Director of Education and Outreach for the southern United States.
Kip Adams
Kip Adams is a certified wildlife biologist and Director of Education and Outreach for the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) in the northern United States. He has a B.S. degree in wildlife and fisheries science from Penn State University and an M.S. degree in wildlife from the University of New Hampshire. He’s also a certified taxidermist. Before joining QDMA, Kip was the deer and bear biologist for the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department.