New hunter Brett Capra in a perennial peanut field during the hunt. Photo Credit: National Deer Association
At the end of July, UF/IFAS Extension Holmes County partnered with the National Deer Association (NDA) and Arthur Little, a local perennial peanut farmer, to host the first Field to Fork hunting program in Florida’s Panhandle. The program aims to introduce newcomers to ethical and sustainable deer hunting, while also addressing a growing challenge in the region: white-tailed deer overpopulation.
NDA’s Field to Fork program is a food-focused hunter recruitment program for adults from non-hunting backgrounds. Field to Fork invites adults outside of the traditional hunting culture to learn every aspect of hunting and sourcing their own protein.– National Deer Association
In recent years, white-tailed deer numbers have reached record levels in the Panhandle. “We have seen major losses as a result of deer pressure to our agricultural producers from increasing deer populations”, said Kalyn Waters, UF/IFAS Extension Director and program collaborator.
While this might seem like good news for wildlife enthusiasts, the unchecked growth has created serious problems for local farmers. Deer can consume 3–6% of their body weight daily, which for the average deer translates to roughly 6–10 pounds of forage. This heavy grazing pressure has led to substantial crop losses and financial strain on farmers, particularly those growing high-value forages like perennial peanut.
The Field to Fork program is designed to be more than just a hunt; it’s an immersive learning experience for those new to hunting. Six first-time hunters from across the state took part in the weekend-long program. Their journey began on Friday evening with a classroom session covering firearm safety, ethical hunting practices, and an introduction to whitetail behavior. On Saturday morning, they headed to the shooting range to practice marksmanship at distances from 50 to 100 yards. On Saturday evening and again on Sunday night, participants hunted in ground blinds with a mentor, putting their new skills to the test.
Their patience and preparation paid off. Throughout the weekend, the group successfully harvested a total of seven white-tailed deer, an impressive outcome for first-time hunters. All the deer were processed and will provide high-quality protein to the participants’ families.
“This program supports our current research that is quantifying deer damage for row crop producers in the Panhandle, while working to maximize deer harvest to control the deer populations,” said Waters. “I am grateful for the partnership with NDA to build this program, and UF/IFAS Extensions ability to bring it to Holmes County. We are also tremendously thankful for Mr. and Mrs. Little for hosting the program.”
Beyond the hunt itself, participants left the program with a foundational understanding of what it takes to be a responsible hunter. They now have the skills to purchase and safely use their own equipment, locate and access public or private hunting lands, and even help introduce others to the sport. Programs like Field to Fork serve not only to aid in control of deer populations but primarily build a more informed and conservation-minded hunting community.
