The Mississippi State University Deer Lab is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a partnership between the Forest and Wildlife Research Center and MSU Extension. Founded in the 1970s by Harry Jacobson, the program grew under leaders such as Steve Demarais and Bronson Strickland and now is led by Eric Michel and Jacob Dykes. The lab has advanced chronic wasting disease monitoring and plans facility upgrades to expand work in genetics, herd health and technology-driven monitoring.
MSU Deer Lab Marks 50 Years: Advancing Deer Science, Conservation and Outreach
STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State University Deer Lab is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a long-standing partnership between the university’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center and the MSU Extension Service. Over the past five decades the lab has produced nationally recognized research on deer biology, habitat management and land stewardship that helps hunters, landowners and wildlife professionals across Mississippi.
From a Modest Start to a Regional Leader
The Deer Ecology and Management research program began in the 1970s when Harry Jacobson launched what would grow into one of the Southeast’s leading deer-research programs. One of Jacobson’s early graduate students, Steve Demarais, returned to MSU in 1997 and spent the next three decades shaping the lab’s direction. Demarais mentored hundreds of students, including Bronson Strickland, who joined the faculty in 2006; together they built the lab’s reputation by focusing on applied research that managers can use on the ground.
New Leaders, Continued Mission
Today, assistant professors Eric Michel and Jacob Dykes — both MSU alumni who trained under Demarais and Strickland — are carrying the program forward. They are expanding applied research, strengthening outreach and training the next generation of wildlife professionals while maintaining the lab’s emphasis on research that directly informs management.
“The lab was built on conducting research that informs conservation management practices,” Michel said. “Since we are the research arm for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, they entrust us to answer many of the questions they have about deer management. They are a huge reason for the lab’s success.”
Research Impact: Chronic Wasting Disease and Beyond
The Deer Lab has contributed significantly to chronic wasting disease (CWD) research, helping develop and pioneer environmental sampling techniques that detect prions in high‑use areas. Recent studies from the lab show that feeders in CWD-positive regions can become contaminated within weeks and that deer interact with feeders far more frequently than with natural foraging sites — findings that emphasize early detection and the need to reduce artificial congregation.
Looking Ahead: Facility Upgrades and Expanded Capacity
To support growing research needs, the Deer Lab is planning a major modernization of its 1970s-era facilities. Upgrades will include updated deer pens with improved handling systems and expanded capacity for studies in genetics, herd health, disease management, environmental interactions, foraging, reproduction and technology-driven wildlife monitoring.
Economic and Community Importance: Deer hunting generates more than $1 billion in economic activity for Mississippi each year, and the lab’s applied research supports both the ecological sustainability of deer populations and the economic and recreational interests of residents.
For more information and updates on the lab’s research and facility improvements, follow Mississippi State University Extension and the Deer Lab’s outreach channels.
