Texan Named Deer Manager Of The Year

The National Deer Association is pleased to name Mike Hinkle of Flower Mound, Texas, as its 2021 NDA Deer Manager of the Year Award, an award presented to an amateur deer manager who demonstrates outstanding commitment to sound management of deer habitat and populations.

Hinkle has been managing his 400-acre family farm in Missouri under Quality Deer Management (QDM) guidelines for eight years. He has also been actively managing a farm in Texas under the same principles. In Missouri, he partnered with the Missouri Department of Conservation and private consulting firm Land & Legacy to shape quality whitetail habitat. Mike is also an active coordinator of an NDA wildlife cooperative, the Blackbird Creek Cooperative, which spans several hundred acres in northern Missouri. 

In 2021, Hinkle invited NDA to host a Deer Steward Habitat Evaluation Module at his property, opening this haven to others interested in educating themselves on habitat management. He also donates the use of his property in Missouri as a part of a University of Missouri graduate research program investigating wild turkey poult survival. He regularly hunts with his family on the property and has dedicated much of his time to taking numerous new hunters afield. Hinkle is an avid outdoorsman and has done outstanding work this year in furthering deer management on his private lands. In every inch of his diverse habitat management, it is evident his love for deer and wildlife will leave a far-reaching impact on quality deer management.

“Mike truly enjoys being outdoors and seeing a direct correlation between his habitat work and the quality of hunting experiences that his family enjoys.” said Kip Adams, NDA’s Director of Conservation. “In addition, he appreciates the benefit it provides other game and nongame species.”