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Deer University

Dr. Jacob Dykes & Dr. Eric Michel

The Deer University podcast focuses on deer biology and management, featuring Drs. Jacob Dykes and Eric Michel, co-directors of the Mississippi State University Deer Lab. As hunters, deer biologists, and wildlife professors, they're passionate about bridging the gap between research and management.

In each episode, they discuss the latest deer research from around the country, breaking it down to show how it can improve wildlife and habitat management on your land. Whether you're a hunter, a land steward, or simply interested in deer biology, Deer University is for you.

Hosts of Deer University:
Dr. Jacob Dykes, Assistant Professor of Wildlife Management, Mississippi State University Extension Service
Dr. Eric Michel, Assistant Professor of Wildlife Management, Mississippi State University Forest and Wildlife Research Center

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  • 24 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 1 hr 7 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • S1 · E108
    October 26 · 1 hr 24 min

    Episode 108 – Cactus Bucks and Antlered Does

    Jim Heffelfinger, aka Cervidnut, joins Jacob and Eric on the podcast to talk about cactus bucks and antlered does. They chat about some of the weirdest things seen in the whitetail world. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E107
    October 7 · 1 hr 15 min

    The Largest Whitetail Culling Study Ever Conducted

    Jacob and Eric discuss the largest whitetail culling study ever conducted with Dr. Randy DeYoung. They talk about the monster project and the unexpected findings. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E106
    September 24 · 58 min

    Episode 106 – Deer Biomechanics and Deer-Friendly Fencing

    In this episode, Dr. Gino D'Angelo and Lisa Jorge from the UGA Deer Lab join Jacob and Eric to discuss innovative research on deer fencing and urban deer management. They share insights into how fences affect deer behavior and how science is informing fence design. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E105
    September 8 · 1 hr 11 min

    Episode 105 – Adaptive Strategies to Manage CWD in Missouri

    Jacob and Eric sit down with Jason Sumners, Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, to discuss deer management, landowner collaboration, and adaptive strategies to address CWD. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E104
    August 26 · 1 hr 12 min

    Episode 104 – Cool-Season Food Plots

    Jacob and Eric catch up with Luke Resop, PhD student in the MSU Deer Lab, to discuss food plots. They cover the basics of cool-season food plots and what you can do to increase your chances of success. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E103
    August 4 · 1 hr 17 min

    Episode 103 – Summer Recap

    Jacob and Eric chat about what summer looked like for the Deer Lab and some of the less discussed aspects of academia. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E102
    July 14 · 1 hr 5 min

    Episode 102 – How Fawns Avoid Predators

    Jacob and Eric sit down with Sam Overfors, a recent Deer Lab graduate, to discuss his work evaluating antipredator behavior in fawns. Sam used thermal drones and GPS collars to investigate how fawns move across the landscape. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E101
    June 25 · 1 hr 24 min

    Episode 101 – The Impact of Hunters on Deer Movement

    Dr. Andy Little, Associate Professor of Landscape Ecology and Habitat Management and Extension Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, stops by to discuss how deer alter their behavior in response to hunters. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E100
    June 8 · 1 hr 1 min

    Episode 100 – 100 Episodes: A Trip Down Memory Lane

    Bronson and Steve take time out of their busy schedules to jump back on the podcast. They chat with Jacob and Eric about everything from how they created the Deer University Podcast to what it's been like to work together for decades. They also fill the guys in on what they're up to now, including how they're still working together to help landowners and what they're up to in their free time. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E99
    May 21 · 1 hr 26 min

    Episode 099 – Prescribed Fire for Landowners

    Mr. Rainer Nichols, National Training Academy Instructor and Founder of Five Cents Fire and Land Management, joins Jacob and Eric to discuss working with landowners to achieve their habitat management goals. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E98
    May 4 · 1 hr 22 min

    Episode 098 – Deer Management from MS to TX

    Jacob and Eric catch up with Dr. Marcus Blum, Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist at Texas A&M University, to discuss deer management in TX. They cover everything from the work he is doing to get students involved with deer management to how management varies across regions of TX. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E97
    April 16 · 54 min

    Episode 097 – Checking Boxes on Warm-season Food Plots

    Jacob and Eric discuss warm-season food plots with John Gruchy, Coordinator of the Private Lands Program for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here).

  • S1 · E96
    March 12 · 1 hr 8 min

    Episode 096 - Mississippi Deer Season Recap

    Jacob and Eric catch up with William McKinley and Kamen Campbell of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks to discuss this past deer season. They cover everything from the acorn crop to deer surveys and donating venison to feed the hungry. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E95
    February 20 · 1 hr 13 min

    Episode 095 – Getting Back to the Basics of Deer Management

    Jacob and Eric get back to the basics of deer management with The Old Biologist, Mr. Lann Wilf. The conversation covers everything from managing expectations to understanding what drives deer herds. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E94
    February 3 · 1 hr 5 min

    Episode 094 – Deer Season is Over: What Now?

    Jacob and Eric catch up with Dr. Bronson Strickland to discuss what deer managers can do now that deer season is over. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E93
    Dec 18, 2025 · 58 min

    Episode 093 – Energy and Antlers

    Jacob and Eric sit down with Dr. Levi Heffelfinger of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute to discuss their work evaluating how dietary energy affects antler and body size of white-tailed deer. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E92
    Dec 5, 2025 · 44 min

    Episode 092 - Deer-Pig Interactions

    Jacob and Eric sit down with MSU Assistant Research Professor Dr. Melanie Boudrou to discuss the results of a recent project that used GPS collars to study deer-pig interactions. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E91
    Nov 14, 2025 · 44 min

    The Rut

    Jacob and Eric catch up to discuss the rut. They cover everything from what triggers the rut to phases of the rut, changes in buck behavior, and hunting strategies. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E90
    Oct 3, 2025 · 1 hr 38 min

    Episode 090 - Arkansas Chronic Wasting Disease Deer Study

    Jacob and Eric sit down with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Research Division Chief, Cory Gray and Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Dr. Marcelo Jorge to discuss the results of their 5-year project evaluating the effects of CWD in Arkansas. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

  • S1 · E89
    Sep 8, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min

    Episode 089 - Cool-season Food Plots Part 2

    We're back with Part 2 of discussing cool-season food plots. Hosts Jacob and Eric catch up with MSU Deer Lab graduate student Luke Resop to talk about seed mixes and weed management. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

Showing 1–20 of 24 episodes