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The National Deer Association (NDA) will once again host the Southeast Deer Study Group (SEDSG) meeting. As with the 2021 event, NDA is stepping up to ensure this important gathering stays alive by hosting it as a virtual conference. This year’s meeting will take place February 21-23, 2022, and the theme is The Value of Deer and Deer Hunting to the American Public.
The Southeast Deer Study Group meeting is the longest running and largest annual gathering of whitetail researchers in the nation. Scientists, college professors and students, state agency wildlife biologists and other deer managers gather to share recent research and discuss important issues. Traditionally, SEDSG is hosted by a different state wildlife agency each year in rotation throughout the 17 member states. When it appeared the February 2021 meeting would be postponed for a full year, NDA volunteered to fill in for the state wildlife agency that was next in line by hosting a virtual conference, knowing the importance of this meeting to deer research, scientific discussion and deer conservation. Now, as the pandemic continues, the agencies that make-up the SEDSG steering committee have once again asked NDA to step up and host in 2022.
“We are incredibly honored to have the opportunity to again host the Southeast Deer Study Group Meeting,” said NDA Director of Conservation, Matt Ross. “This will actually be the 45th annual meeting, and since deer research hasn’t been stopped by COVID, it would be a real shame to take a year off and not provide the platform for deer researchers to showcase what they’ve learned over the last 12 months.”
“I’m proud of the entire NDA staff,” said Ross. “We all worked hard this past winter to host the 2021 meeting and keep the tradition alive, and being asked to host again says a lot about what the steering committee and attendees thought about how it went.”
Deer researchers, students and managers wishing to give a presentation or contribute a poster at this meeting are welcome to submit an abstract for consideration, with a deadline for abstract submission on December 1, 2021. Registration to attend the virtual conference opens on December 15, 2021. For more information on how to submit abstracts, how to sponsor the event (for companies in the outdoor industry), plus additional deadlines, registration fees and other information, visit www.deerassociation.com/sedsg.
This year’s conference experience is designed, like other SEDSG conferences, to include plenary and technical sessions, posters, sponsors, networking opportunities and an awards ceremony. However, the virtual platform provides integrated mobile and desktop apps and offers the following to participants:
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About the Southeast Deer Study Group
The SEDSG was formed as a subcommittee of the Forest Game Committee of the Southeastern Section of The Wildlife Society. Since 1979, these meetings have been held in-person annually for the purpose of bringing together managers, researchers, administrations, and users of this vitally important renewable natural resource to share recent research and discuss important issues. NDA has been a member of the planning committee for the SEDSG for some time, and both the SEDSG founder (2000) and the organization itself (2011) were recognized with the Deer Management Career Achievement award for their contributions.
About the National Deer Association
Formally launched on November 10, 2020, the National Deer Association is a non-profit deer conservation group that leads efforts to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Formed by combining the strengths of two long-serving, successful organizations, the National Deer Association has a combined 38 years of action that has changed deer management for the betterment of hunting and protected North America’s most vital and admired game species for future generations. Visit DeerAssociation.com or follow @deerassociation on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.