Beginning back in 2015, Michigan NDA State Council hosted NDA Branch and Cooperative leaders for an annual Deer Rendezvous. Due to the pandemic and then some loss of funding, the event took a break for a few years. When Mike Ketelaar came on as MI State Council President in 2023, he rallied the branches to pull together funding to make a comeback. These events seek to equip key leaders in our state in the latest data and resources in managing deer habitat, harvests, and hunters. Ultimately, the Deer Rendezvous’ goal of equipping leaders and coming together to build relationships and community.

The theme of the 2025 event was Shared Vision. We took time to seek and discuss the commonalties we have as a leadership cohort with a passion for managing deer, under the alignment of the NDA Mission and Values. These discussions took place in breakout sessions planned and facilitated by Anna Mitterling (Mi-Insights Consulting). This year, Dr. Craig Harper was invited as the keynote speaker. Dr. Harper shared his insights with participants on relevant research findings on early successional management on a walking tour on Mike Flohr’s property. He provided overviews of research findings and applications prescribed fire in a classroom session.

Matt Wilkins (NDA Grassroots Support Director) shared updates from National, and also presented the 2024 Community Engagement Event of Year award to the Barry County NDA Branch (also the gracious and incredible hosts for this year’s Deer Rendezvous). The Award was accepted by Tony Heath, long-time leader with the Barry County NDA Branch. Dr. Brent Rudolph (Deer, Elk and Moose Program Leader from Michigan DNR) introduced himself to the group and discussed deer harvest data from the 2024 hunting seasons. Commissioner John Walters (Michigan Natural Resources Commission) was in attendance as well and took time to share why managing our natural resources is so important and discussed some regulation updates and conversations with the group.

Special thanks to the following Michigan NDA Branches for their financial support of the 2025 Deer Rendezvous: Cadillac Branch, Barry County Branch, West Central Branch, and Northeast Michigan Branch.