Master of Science Candidate

Student Background

I grew up on a small farm, chasing white-tail in the hardwoods of central Illinois.  Some of my earliest and fondest memories revolve around hunting with friends and family, and I have dedicated my education to protect and enhance the sport and wildlife I have grown to love.  I am an avid archer and have grown to enjoy wade-fishing for reds and sea trout in nearby Baffin Bay.  In my hometown of Carlinville, I earned my B.A. degree in Environmental Biology at Blackburn College.   Soon after graduation, I completed an internship with the St. Louis Zoo, working on a predator behavior study of the endangered Channel Island fox.  After working a short time as an archery technician, I came to South Texas last year to work as a hunting guide on the Encino Division of the King Ranch.  This past summer, I worked as a research technician for Texas A&M University- College Station, studying wild Rio Grande turkey nesting ecology.  I am excited to be here at TAMUK, working with white-tailed deer nutrition under the guidance of Dr. David Hewitt.

Thesis Project

Project Title:  Effects of Diet Selection and Supplemental Feeding on White-tailed Deer Fawn Development

Nutrient requirements naturally fluctuate between the stages of a white-tail’s life cycle.  For example, different levels of nutrients are needed for a doe in gestation when compared to a doe that is not.  The use of supplemental feeds in managing herds is increasing in popularity, yet more knowledge is needed to gauge the effectiveness of this practice.  Often, a herd is only offered one type of supplemental feed, which may not adequately supplement the nutritive needs of all the deer in the herd at a given time.  A different approach to supplemental feeding may be needed to allow white-tail the opportunity to choose the nutrients they need at any given stage in their development.  Using captive fawns at CKWRI’s Alfred and Margaret Alkek Ungulate Research Facility, I will observe the impacts that diet selection has on their development.  Fawns will be allowed to choose between supplemental feeds to manage their own nutritive requirements.