Hunting partners and National Deer Association (NDA) members, Forrest Waggoner and Evan Barrett, sought out in 2021 to learn to harvest deer to see if it could fulfill the urge to see what’s beyond the usual meat offerings we are all so accustomed to.
After being mentored by volunteers of the NDA in a Field to Fork program in Hillsdale, Michigan, it was clear that these two new hunters had found their passionate pursuit.
It was quickly discovered that there was a need to help farmers with managing the deer destroying the crops, matched with access to hunting deer for table fare exclusively.
Forrest Waggoner and Evan Barrett are meat hunters at their core. While many hunters focus on animal age, antler size, or some other rare feature, Forrest and Evan focus on harvesting meat. Passionate about cooking and sourcing the best ingredients, Forrest and Evan met in 2021 as mentees of a program put on by the National Deer Association. The “Field-to-Fork” events connect adults with no hunting experience with seasoned mentors looking to give back to the pursuit they love. It targets adults who are looking to ethically harvest deer for food, something that helps reestablish balance in deer population, crop damage, herd health, etc.
Forrest and Evan hit it off right away, recognizing not only were they there for the same reasons but they found their way there through the same channels: the popular hunting show MeatEater and the acclaimed Wired-to-Hunt podcast hosted by Mark Kenyon. The very ground they found themselves standing on was the foundation of a MeatEater show hosted by Mark Kenyon called “The Back 40“. The show takes you through Mark’s trials and tribulations of purchasing an old farm in Michigan’s heartland and restoring it for wildlife habitat, intending to donate it to the National Deer Association to mentor new deer hunters. Forrest and Evan were a part of the first mentee group. Little did they know that Mark’s participation would continue.
They stood shocked as Mark joined the group for a tour of the property and provided early lessons on deer behavior. Later, they would discover that each of them would be mentored by Mark and would harvest their first deer with their new mentor. Unknowingly at the time, this would form a bond between the two hunters, which would develop into a friendship and a hunting partnership. Each bringing a unique set of skills, they quickly realized together they could accelerate their learning and development. Since 2021, they’ve maintained a friendship with their mentor, grown as hunters, began giving back to the program that got them started, expanded their networks, and found an untapped resource that fits with their hunting philosophy…
Doe Getter represents Forrest and Evan’s desire to ethically harvest deer for meat while providing a service to farmers losing crops (or municipalities with too much deer-human interaction) due to overly dense deer populations. The philosophy includes extreme care from cradle to grave. Cooperation between the land host and the Doe Getters takes priority. They share their goals, results, methods of harvest, processing post-harvest, meat distribution, etc. All actions are open-book. It’s also free. Because Forrest and Evan are receiving the benefit of ethically harvesting meat, the service provided comes at no cost to the land host. The land host receives the benefit of having a managed deer population and the Doe Getters, who receive the meat. The preferred method is a meeting/consultation, a plan for the land host to request deer damage permits from the Michigan DNR (Doe Getters will help through the process), and the harvest begins/ends before the regular deer season opens. This benefits both parties, especially land hosts who lease their land for hunting privileges or would like to hunt themselves but do not want the burden of culling does.
Forrest and Evan are both current members of the National Deer Association, mentors in the Field-to-Fork program, available to cover all counties in the lower peninsula of Michigan, and are eager to meet with you to discuss your doe removal needs. They also love to talk about hunting strategies and wild game cooking methods for those looking for some help in the regular season. Their expertise goes beyond deer hunting. They hunt geese, mallards, turkeys, rabbits, squirrels etc. They’re disciplined in both archery and firearms. They stay up-to-date on all hunting regulations and follow all reporting guidelines. They also keep the actions of Doe Getter private (no social media – other than maybe some recipes and updates on themselves – not your property or arrangements together). They respect and follow all directions from the land host, respect the neighbors of the land host, and most of all, respect the wildlife. They volunteer each year in more than just the Field-to-Fork program. This past year, Mark Kenyon hosted a “Working for Wildlife” tour in which volunteers gather to perform organized habitat work on public lands.
These two friends are committed to the ethical harvest of an overabundant resource that can be put to good use while respecting all those involved in the process. Please consider reaching out to the Doe Getters for your doe management.