KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Craig Harper, professor of wildlife management and Extension wildlife specialist in the School of Natural Resources, received the Deer Management Career Achievement Award on Feb. 13 at the Southeast Deer Study Group’s 2024 annual meeting in Shepherdstown, W.Va.
The group established the award in 1995 to recognize outstanding contributions to the understanding of white-tailed deer ecology and management in the southeastern U.S. The group does not present the award each year, but only when a deserving recipient is nominated. Harper became the 22nd recipient of the award for his 30 years of work dedicated to white-tailed deer research and management.
“I am most humbled that the Deer Committee and the past recipients of this award see my work as deserving of the Deer Management Career Achievement Award. It is my greatest professional honor to be included in this group of deer researchers and managers,” Harper said. Over the course of his career, Harper has trained Extension agents and other professionals, authored and co-authored hundreds of publications, and given presentations to professionals and the public on wildlife management. Harper also led the overhaul of the National 4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) in 2010 and has updated the National WHEP manual three times with the latest deer management information. He has led the Tennessee 4-H Wildlife Judging program since 1998, and Tennessee teams have won the National WHEP Invitational 11 out of the past 15 years.
Former award recipient Dr. Karl Miller said, “Dr. Harper’s accomplishments on deer habitat management research are unequaled by anyone in the ‘deer world.’ His passion drives him to conduct high-quality research and make sure this information is ‘extended’ to natural resource professionals and landowners. He is widely recognized as one of the country’s foremost experts concerning applied habitat management.”
“Craig’s contributions to the understanding of deer habitat management practices has taken us to a whole new level of application of Aldo Leopold’s tools of wildlife management,” former award recipient Harry Jacobson said. “His research and outreach efforts have had a profound effect on how private landowners and state wildlife agencies manage forests, fields, and food plot plantings.”
The Southeast Deer Study Group was formed as a subcommittee by the Southeastern section of The Wildlife Society before gaining full committee status in 1985. It holds an annual meeting with managers, researchers, administrators, and users of white-tailed deer in the southeastern U.S.
