NDA Q&A

In what ways will the National Deer Alliance advocate for deer & deer hunters?

• Grassroots Letter & Phone Campaigns:

  Since the NDA is organizing around the web and has numerous Alliance partners with hundreds of thousands of individual members, it can rapidly inform and engage members on issues important to them where they live. This will enable powerful advocacy for deer and deer hunting.

• NDA Positions:

  Since the NDA will have broad representation among all groups interested in deer, it can take positions from a national level in addition to grassroots actions. However, any actions taken nationally will be thoroughly vetted by the NDA advocacy committee and Board of Directors, and with a clear understanding of where NDA members stand on a given issue.

• NDA Advocacy Specialists:

  In time, NDA will employ regional advocacy specialists to work on behalf of its members to advance positive policies and regulations for deer and deer hunting.

• Media Outreach:

  NDA is quickly establishing a network of media (print, TV, web and social media) relationships to better inform and unite the entire deer community on key issues impacting deer and deer hunting. This engagement is intended to extend NDA’s impact well beyond its members.

How will the NDA handle divisive issues or ethics related questions?

Whenever possible, the NDA will work to unite rather than divide hunters. Several issues have been dividing hunters for years, and the anti-hunting crowd loves every minute! That said, there are certain biological realities that can’t be ignored, as science is at the very center of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation which has served us so well for decades. We anticipate publishing a series of balanced “pros and cons” papers as well as “best practice” statements that address many of the more divisive issues. We will try to avoid dividing hunters over issues that lack clear scientific justification or are clearly not in the best interest of hunting and our hunting heritage. We realize this will be a fine line to walk. The alternative (hunters battling among themselves) is far too destructive.

How will the NDA advocacy committee make decisions on what positions to take on issues?

This question is still being addressed as it is at the very core of the NDA. Traditionally, issue positions have been developed by a handful of individuals within a given organization, agency or stakeholder group. As such, rarely are all views considered – especially those of everyday deer hunters. The goal of NDA’s advocacy steering committee is to assemble a diverse group of experts representing the entire deer spectrum to ensure balanced perspectives. These positions will be heavily influenced by input from NDA members gained through surveys, polls and direct communication. We strongly believe deer hunters must be heard, and this means the NDA must be a good listener. This is central to what will make the NDA work.

Will the NDA work solely on wild deer/deer hunting issues, or will it also be open to addressing issues relating to captive deer?

The bulk of NDA's efforts will be focused on issues that affect wild deer and our deer-hunting heritage. However, certain issues within the captive deer arena have the potential to impact wild deer and deer hunting and therefore cannot be ignored. Therefore, the NDA will engage this community to better understand their issues and to seek common ground wherever possible.

How will the NDA deliver value to its members without the traditional magazine or physical presence like other conservation organizations?

The NDA represents the next generation of conservation organizations where organizations rely heavily on online and social media tools to accomplish desired outcomes. This approach allows real-time member communication and engagement on deer issues. This model allows NDA members to become "digital deer volunteers" and make a difference, often in a matter of minutes and without going anywhere or attending a meeting.

The NDA has already held two deer summits where issues facing deer and deer hunting have been brought to the fore front and are currently being considered by the advocacy committee. A free weekly newsletter is sent to any member willing to share their e-mail address with us.

Who is behind the NDA?

The backbone of the NDA is the three national deer organizations: QDMA, the Mule Deer Foundation and Whitetails Unlimited. These groups have been representing deer and deer hunters for decades and are now proud to be aligned behind a central mission of deer and deer hunting. They are joined by numerous hunting organizations and industry supporters. Most important of all is our individual members who enable us to truly be “the voice of the deer hunter”.

The NDA will be a stand-alone organization with a separate IRS designation, a separate Board of Directors, independent staff and a distinctly different mission from QDMA. Another unique aspect of the NDA is that it’s not whitetail specific, but also focuses on issues affecting mule deer and black-tailed deer. Therefore, while QDMA will be actively involved with the NDA, so too will other deer organizations. This will ensure that all positions taken by NDA will be reflective of all members rather than any one organization.

Can members or deer hunters contact the NDA for help regarding local deer related issues? If so, how?

Working local deer issues is what NDA was created to do. Our cyber orientation will make us quick to communicate and act locally. We will not be successful without a strong local membership base. We are currently developing a local network of communication. Once this is in place, we expect to hear plenty from NDA members on local issues.

How soon until the NDA is able to start taking real action on deer related issues?

We have already started! The first step is listening to our members. In each week’s newsletter, we poll members to better understand their perspectives. We are narrowing down on a few central issues and will soon begin working them.

Given NDA's claim to be the next generation of conservation organizations, how will it uniquely use its digital network to handle deer-related issues on a national and local scale?

First, the NDA didn’t invent that claim - the outdoor press gave us that label. The "next generation" conservation label comes largely from our mission-delivery strategy, which is predicated on the use of digital and social media. Let’s face it, that’s how folks communicate these days, including deer hunters! Another unique aspect is our emphasis on finding out what's really on deer hunter’s minds and channeling the NDA’s efforts to address issues of greatest concern. We are dedicated to being an organization that listens to its members and builds them into the solution. We are currently developing outreach tools to enable our members to be better informed and better prepared to engaged on deer issues.

Once someone joins the NDA, can they ever remove themselves as members?

Sure, like all things cyber driven, opting out is a mere click away. But, why would you ever want to cease having your voice heard on all things deer?

Five years from now, what will the NDA be doing?

Five years from now we expect to be an alliance representing over a million deer hunters. We will have created a very powerful alliance dedicated to the betterment of deer and deer hunting.

What is the NDA's stance on the captive deer industry as a whole, and on specific regulations regarding captive deer and high-fence hunting?

To date, the NDA has not established any formal policies or positions on contentious issues such as these and several others. This will be the responsibility of the Advocacy Steering Committee, which is currently in development. Clearly, the bulk of NDA's efforts will be focused on issues that affect wild deer and our deer-hunting heritage. However, certain issues within the captive deer arena have the potential to impact wild deer and deer hunting. As a result, the NDA recognizes the captive deer industry as an important player and plans to engage this community to better understand their issues and to seek common ground wherever possible.

Will NDA activities work through local chapters or with individual state game organizations? In other words, if I join NDA am I likely to see a local effect or is the focus on broader national issues? For example, many important issues out west have little effect in New England. How are geographical interests balanced?

While NDA will certainly address national deer issues, working local issues is a major reason NDA was established. Traditionally, most deer issues have been established at the state level, but this approach often fails to achieve the desired outcome at the local level. In turn, this can lead to disgruntled hunters and a general distrust and/or lack of confidence in state agency management. As such, the NDA is currently building infrastructure necessary to identify issues and support deer hunters at the local level. Our cyber orientation will make us quick to communicate and act locally. We will not be successful without a strong local membership base. Once this is in place, we expect to hear plenty from NDA members on local issues. Are the anti-hunters circulating a petition to stop a special archery season? The NDA will be able to quickly alert members of this threat and take action before it gains any traction. You can help us address your local deer issues by joining now. Membership is free, simply go to: nationaldeeralliance.com

Will NDA focus on the demands of its members or sound biology? Coming from PA with our very vocal hunter demands for increasing populations this is a big concern for me. If the Association is pushed by members for increased herd size in areas that run contrary to the findings of biologists which route would you support? No waffling or it depends type answers. If required to decide between biology or member demands which one gets the support of your organization.

We believe strongly that member input is critical to NDA’s success and will use this input to guide positions whenever possible. That said, sound science is a cornerstone of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, a model that has made North America the envy of the world with regard to wildlife management, conservation and hunting. However, sound deer policy must also be good for deer and, especially, for deer hunters who pay the freight. Thus, the NDA will seek to balance member opinion with sound science, but ultimately will land on the side of science, at least where such science exists. In many cases, however, the issue in question is not one of science but rather one of ethics, opinion or cultural differences. So, in the absence of science, NDA will be guided largely by member opinion.

What's the NDA stance on CWD? Should we actively or passively manage it?

CWD is clearly one of the most serious threats facing deer and deer hunters today and is rapidly becoming our number advocacy agenda. NDA's initial goal is to stop the spread of CWD using the best available science, partnerships between hunters and wildlife agencies, and our elected officials. This is a big issue and we have much to learn but we must do everything possible to protect wild deer and our hunting heritage. The NDA is hoping to rapidly grow to the point where it can provide funding to provide long-term solutions to CWD.