Dr. James C. Kroll

Millions of hunters and landowners are devoted fans of the white-tailed deer. But only one — Dr. James C. Kroll — has earned the widely recognized title of “Dr. Deer.”

And it’s for good reason. As founder and director of the Institute for White-tailed Deer Management & Research, the now-retired forestry and wildlife management professor has been professionally involved in every aspect of studying and managing North America’s No. 1 big-game animal for nearly 50 years. No other professional or layman can match his intimate knowledge of whitetails or their relationship to their habitat.

Unlike some other biologists, Dr. Deer is very much a hands-on guy who understands the needs and interests of everyday hunters and landowners. That’s because he’s walked in their boots, and still does. He grew up hunting whitetails in a rural area of Texas, then played football at Baylor University and earned his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University. Today he continues to own and manage his own deer land, as well as assist other landowners with their own properties. And he’s still every bit as much a whitetail hunter as ever.

Dr. Deer’s solid educational foundation opened the door to a distinguished career culminating in numerous awards and accolades, as well as the respect of fellow hunters and landowners. In addition to having been a professor of forestry and wildlife for decades, he’s a widely published author who has contributed frequently to the popular press and academic journals. He’s also a popular TV personality and Internet blogger, with a huge following of fellow sportsmen who appreciate his knowledge and his interest in continuing to share it.