Dr. James C Kroll

Professor Emeritus of Forest Wildlife Management

Date of Birth: November 5, 1946
Place of Birth: Waco, Texas

Present Position: Professor Emertus of Forest Wildlife Management

Academic Summary:
Ph.D. 1973, Texas A&M University (Distinguished Graduate)
M.S. 1970, Baylor University
B.S. 1969, Baylor University

2013- present: Professor Emeritus

2008-2013: Henry M. Rockwell Chair in Forest Wildlife Management

2004-2008: Director, Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center

1997-2008: Director, Forest Resources Institute, College of Forestry, Stephen F. Austin State University.

1981-present: Professor of Forest Wildlife and Director, Institute for White-tailed Deer Management and Research, College of Forestry, Stephen F. Austin State University. Now teach courses in wildlife habitat management, wildlife management techniques, wildlife ecology, land management planning, white-tailed deer ecology and management, introduction to forestry, and research methods. Also, direct a large on-going research project in white-tailed deer biology.

1975-present: Director, Institute for White-tailed Deer Management and Research, College of Forestry, Stephen F. Austin State University. Directs large research and management institute with one million dollar budget. Nationally known for excellence in research in deer biology, management and economics.

1973-1981: Assistant and Associate Professor of Forest Wildlife, School of Forestry, Stephen F. Austin State University. Taught the following courses: wildlife management techniques, wildlife habitat management, natural history, advanced wildlife ecology and population dynamics, research methods, non-game management and wildlife photography.

When I came to SFASU, the wildlife curriculum consisted of two courses taught on a part-time basis by U.S. Forest Service personnel. I developed the curriculum to eight courses relating directly to wildlife, and organized the Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society.

1972: Assistant Professor of Biology, Salem College, West Virginia. Taught undergraduate courses in the following: comparative anatomy, physiology, evolution, physiological ecology, histology and desert ecology.

1971: Laboratory instructor in ecology, herpetology and ichthyology, Texas A&M University. Taught laboratories to undergraduate majors in wildlife and fisheries. Also, worked with students in field ecological studies. Immediate supervisors were Drs. J. R. Dixon, R. J. Baldauf and D. R. Clark Jr.

1970: Instructor in Zoology, McLennan Community College. Taught freshman zoology at junior college level.

1970: Instructor in herpetology and  taxidermy, Strecker Museum. Taught introductory courses in herpetology and taxidermy to elementary aged children. Immediate supervisor was Dr. Bryce C. Brown.

1970: Laboratory instructor for anatomy and physiology, Baylor University. Taught human anatomy and physiology to nursing students. Immediate supervisor was Dr. Eugene Crowder.

1968: Laboratory assistant in zoology, Baylor University. Taught laboratories in introductory zoology. Immediate supervisor: Dr. J. F. Watkins II.

1967: Research assistant in predator-prey studies, Baylor University. Conducted research on the predator-prey interactions of blind snakes and army ants. Immediate supervisor was Dr. J. F. Watkins II.

Professional and Honorary Affiliations

(Past and Present)

Society of American Foresters, Wildlife Society - Texas Chapter, Texas Forestry Association (Director), Texas Deer Association (Co-Founder), Southeast Deer Study Group, Southwestern Association of Naturalists, Sigma Xi, Beta Beta Beta, Phi Sigma Society, Texas Wildlife Association (Director), Texas System of Natural Laboratories (Director) and Xi Sigma Pi, Stephen F. Austin State University Research Committee, Center for Applied Studies Council, College of Forestry Faculty Alumni Committee.

Awards and Honors

2012  Nacogdoches County Agriculture Pioneer
2011  Muy Grande Hall of Fame
2009  Baylor University Outstanding Alumni Award
2007  Whitetail Country, ESPN2: Career Biography
2007  Research Contributions in Deer Management, ANGADI
2004  Golden Moose Award, Outdoor Channel (North American WHITETAILTelevision)
2003  Honors Award, NASA- Shuttle Columbia Disaster
2002  Golden Moose Award, Outdoor Channel, Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters, Distinguished Alumni – Waco Independent School
2000  Past-Presidents Award, Texas Deer Association, Teaching Excellence Award, Distinguished Professor Award, Award for Excellence, Texas Outdoor Writers Association: Whitetail Video Management Series; Magazine Articles

1994  Texas Chapter, The Wildlife Society, Publication Award, Educator of the Year, Lone Star Bowhunters
1993 Regents Professor, Research (SFASU) Distinguished Professor Award
1989  Buckhorn Hunting Club's Conservationist of the Year
1985  Texas Forestry Association's Forestry Research Award, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Best Book Publication, The Wildlife Society

1975  Elected to Xi Sigma Pi
1974  Outstanding Educators in America
1973  Distinguished Doctoral Graduate, Texas A&M University.
1971  Environmental Defense Fund
1971  Elected to Phi Sigma Society
1971  President, The Association of Graduate Wildlife and Fisheries Scientists. Organized first graduate organization in wildlife at TAMU. The Association grown to be an integral part of student-faculty relationships. Editor of ENVIRON.
1971 Graduate teaching assistantship, Texas A&M University.
1970 NSF Trainee, Texas A&M University. I was awarded this traineeship based on academic and research record. I conducted research under NSF funding and published a number of papers.
1970  Graduate teaching assistantship, Baylor University
1970  Elected to Sigma Xi
1969  Elected to Beta Beta Beta
1969 NSF graduate research assistant to Drs. Watkins and Gehlbach, Baylor University. Conducted independent research and published papers with senior researchers. Major accomplishments include discovery of repellent compound (3-methyl indole) for ants, termites and snakes.
1968 Vice-president of Lamda Sigma Chi.
1967 NSF undergraduate research assistant to Drs. J. F. Watkins II and F. R. Gehlbach, Baylor University: Predator-prey interactions of army ants and blind snakes. Published as an undergraduate.
1965 Biology Award, Regional Science Fair. Sound communication in honey bees
1964 President of University High School Science Club

Grants:

To date, approximately $20 million in funding has been acquired while at SFASU.

2009-10 Food Plot Research Initiative- Arkansas County Seed Co.
2009 U.S. Congress, Department of Defense, Regional Geospatial Service Center System (SFA, Texas Tech, Lamar University and University of Texas, El Paso)
2009-present: Campbell Group: Hunting club management assistance program.
1997-present: South Texas Ranchers Consortium: Antler Development in Free-ranging Whitetails.
2007-present: Television monitoring of free-ranging whitetails. DeerChannel.com
2008  Campbell Group: Hunting club management assistance program.
2008  U.S. Congress, Department of Defense, Regional Geospatial Service Center System (SFA, Texas Tech, Lamar University and University of Texas, El Paso)
2008 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Critical   infrastructure mapping for small water systems in Texas.
2008 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Water district boundary mapping for small water systems in Texas.                 
2007 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Critical Infrastructure Mapping Project
2007 U.S. Congress, Department of Defense, Regional Geospatial Service Center System (SFA, Texas Tech and University of Texas, El Paso)
2006 U.S. Congress. Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center System (5 years)
2005 U.S. Congress. Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center System (5 years)
1997-2007 Hunting Club Management Assistance Program: Temple-Inland, Inc.
1997 T.L.L. Temple Foundation Forestry Research Institute (5 years)
1997 Conservation Fund Grant, Pope and Young Club. (2 years)
1996 Temple-Inland, Inc. The White-tailed Deer and Intensively Managed Southern Pine Plantations: Impact on Population Density and Productivity. 
Game & Fish Publications, Què Paso Ranch, McIntyre-Stennis Federal Research, Ecology & Management of White-tailed Deer in the Southern Mixed Pine-Hardwood Forest 
1992 McIntyre-Stennis Federal Research,  Ecology & Management of White-tailed Deer in the Southern Mixed Pine-Hardwood Forest
1991 Temple-Inland, Inc. The White-tailed Deer and Intensively Managed Southern Pine Plantations:  Impact on Population Density and Productivity.
1991 Multiple-use management of mixed pine-hardwood forests. Texas A&M Univ. coop. project.
1989  International Paper Co., Inc. Movements and Behavior of White-tailed Deer in an Intensively Managed Pine Plantation
1987 Management Strategies for White-tailed Deer on Private Non-industrial Forest Lands, Game & Fish Magazines/North American Whitetail Magazine
1986 Houston Safari Club. White-tailed Deer Research. Funded.
1985 Evaluation of habitat suitability models on Fort Benning, Ga. The potential for interspecific resource competition between white-tailed deer and feral hogs in the Post Oak Savannah  Region of Texas. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
1983 Ecological assessment of 2,4-D treatment on a pine hardwood ecosystem. Part II: Possible persistence and bio-magnification. USDA For. Serv. Nat. Agric. Prod. Assess. Prog. Funded. (2 years) Habitat inventory of the red-cockaded woodpecker. U.S.F.S.
1977 Ecological impact of herbicidal timber stand improvement on vertebrates and invertebrates inhabiting the pine-hardwood forests of East Texas. U.S.F.S.
1975 Effects of woodpeckers (Picidae) on populations of the southern pine beetle (Scolytidae). C.S.R.S.-U.S. Forest Service.
1975 Red Wolf Documentary film. National Rifle Association.
1975 A radio-telemetric study on movements of white-tailed deer in East Texas. C.S.R.S.-McIntyre-Stennis.
1975 Red Wolf Documentary Film. Southl. Paper Mills Inc.
1974 Physiological ecology of the Plains Pocket Gopher. C.S.R.S.-McIntyre-Stennis.
1974 A radio-telemetric study of movements of captive-reared alligators when released into the wild. U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
1974 Effects of habitat manipulation on nesting success of the Golden-cheeked Warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia). U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Theses and Dissertations Directed:

Deer use of gut piles in Northeastern Michigan forest habitats. M.S. Thesis. John Varnell (2011 completion)

Economic analysis of private white-tailed deer management and breeding. M.S. Thesis. James Hudiburgh (2011 completion)

Using animal-mounted video cameras to study whitetail behavior. M.S. Thesis. Andy McCrady (2011 completion)

Using infrared-triggered cameras to census bobcat (Lynx rufus) in east Texas. M.S. Thesis. 2006,  Matthew Symmank (co-major professor).

Landscape Level Analysis of Rutting Behavior in White-tailed Deer. M.S. Thesis. 2004. Charles Anderson.

Monitoring Changes in Landscape Patterns of the Angelina National Forest, East Texas.  (Doc, Dissert.). 2000. Qingzhou Li.

Estrus Synchronization and Timed Artificial Insemination in Captive White-tailed Deer. (Thesis) J. D. Sellers, 1998.

Effects of Estrus Synchronization on Breeding of Captive White-tailed Deer. (Thesis). A. J. Smalling, 1998.

Prediction of Diet Quality Parameters of White-tailed Deer via Near  Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) Fecal Profiling. (Masters Thesis). Scott E. Showers, Co-Operative with Texas A&M. 1997.

Infrared-Triggered Cameras For Censusing White-Tailed Deer. (Thesis). R. W. Browning, 1995.

A Computerized Data Collection System For Studying Activity of White-tailed Deer. (Thesis). R. G. Skinner. 1994.

Movement and activity patterns of white-tailed deer on East Texas. (Thesis). D. E. Evans.  1992.

Response of native vegetation to fertilization in East Texas pine plantations. (Thesis). R. J. Bane.  1992.

Evaluation of supplemental forages for the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in East Texas. (Doc, Dissert.). 1991. B. J. Higginbotham.

Analysis of an optimum sustained yield management program for white-tailed deer in the southern mixed pine-hardwood forest. (Thesis). W. B. Goodrum. 1990.

Genetic implications of intensive white-tailed deer management. (Doc.       Dissert.).  1989. W. A. Wall.

The hunting club as a management unit. (Thesis). C. Evans. 1989.

Seasonal shifts in home range utilization by white-tailed deer. (Thesis). W. R. Green. 1988.

The potential for interspecific resource competition between white-tailed deer and feral hogs in the Post Oak Savannah Region of Texas. (Doc. Dissert.). G. K. Yarrow. 1987.

Habitat structure and bird species diversity in seedtree and clear-cut regeneration areas in East Texas. (Thesis). S. B. Hall. 1987.

Wood duck nest site selection in East Texas. (Thesis). M. E. May. 1986

Foraging activity of white-tailed deer in East Texas. (Doc. Dissert.). 1984. R.L. Rayburn.

A freshwater inventory of wetland plant communities on Sam Rayburn Reservoir using remote sensing. 1981. S. G. Head.

Invertebrate abundance and diversity in young southern pine-hardwood forests. 1980. R. S. Bounds.

Colony site selection by red-cockaded woodpeckers in East Texas. (Thesis). 1980. B. A. Locke.

Avian diversity in various age pine forests in East Texas. (Doc. Dissert.). 1978. R. M. Whiting.

Factors affecting summer activity of white-tailed deer, with consideration of track and spotlight counts. 1978. R. G. Braden.

Operational characteristics of commercial exotic big game hunting ranches in the U.S. (Thesis). 1975. J. R. Attebury.

Thermal ecology of the plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) in East Texas, with consideration of evolutionary trends in Geomyidae. (Thesis) R. D. Montgomery. 1975.

Internships Directed:

Turtle Lake Club, Hillman, Michigan (1 student annually)
Alico, Inc., Frost Proof, Florida (2 students)
Muy Grande Ranch, Gaylord, Michigan (1 student)
Riser Ranch, George West, Texas, (1 student)
4-Canyon Ranch, Uvalde, Texas (3 students)

Publications, Books:

Food Source Management for Whitetails, Intermedia Press. 203 pp. (Co-author)

Solving the Mysteries of Deer Movement, College of Forestry,  178 pp., (Co-author)

Aging and Judging Trophy Whitetails,  College of Forestry  204 pp. (best-seller status), 3 eds

Managing Quality White-tailed Deer, (Chapter) Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA

Amazing Whitetails,  (Introduction), Biggs Publishing, Ft. Worth, TX

Deer, Stackpole Books, (3 chapters) Harrisburg, PA

The Art and Science of Patterning Whitetails,  2nd Edition, College of Forestry 224 pp.

The Southern Food Plot Manual, College of Forestry 138 pp

The Role of Insectivorous Birds in Forest Ecosystems. Academic Press, N.Y. (Co-edited)

A Practical Guide to Producing and Harvesting White-tailed Deer.  
Arthur Temple College of Forestry Publ..  691 pp. (best-seller status) 6 eds

A Dictionary of Science. Hammond-Barnhart Publ., New York, N.Y. 1983 
740 p.p. (Co-authored)

Publications, television programs:

2004-present: North American Whitetail Television. Outdoor Channel. Golden Moose Award.
2007 Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters. Mens Outdoor Recreation Channel.
2007 The Cattle Channel. RFD Television Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters. Outdoor Channel. Golden Moose Award (Chronic Wasting Disease)
1978 Outdoor Magazine (PBS), Outstanding Television Program Award
1975-76 KTRE Television, Wildlife Heritage weekly program

Publications, internet:

2011 Dr. Deer.com. On-line education and deer management assistance.
2007 DeerChannel.com. Live narrated video from whitetails.

Publications, videos:

Winchester Presents Dr. Deer, 3 DVD series, 13 shows

Whitetail Antlers. Intermedia, Inc. 70 minute DVD

Food Source Management for Whitetails. Intermedia, Inc. One Hour DVD

Dr. Deer’s Whitetail World, DeerChannel.com. DVD (Vols. 1-4)

Building Your Own Whitetail Paradise, DeerChannel.com DVD (3 hours)

A Practical Guide to Producing and Harvesting White-tailed Deer: Vol. 4, Scoring Trophy Whitetails.  Produced by Institute for White-tailed Deer        Management and Research. 1995

A Practical Guide to Producing and Harvesting White-tailed Deer:  Vol. 3, Record-Keeping.  Produced by Institute for White-tailed Deer Management and Research. 1994

A Practical Guide to Producing and Harvesting White-tailed Deer: Vol. 2, Aging and Judging Trophy Whitetails.  Produced by Institute for White-tailed Deer Management and Research. 1993

A Practical Guide to Producing and Harvesting White-tailed Deer: Vol. 1, Food Plots and Supplemental Feeding.  Produced by Institute for White-tailed Deer Management and Research. 1993

Managing Trophy White-tailed Deer. P.B.S.’ Outdoor Magazine Series. (Note: this program won the best television program of the year by the Outdoor Writers of America) (co-authored)

Producing and Harvesting Trophy Whitetails. Wildlife Heritage and Sportsman’s Prod. 1988. 1 hour.

Publications, journals and symposia:

Symmank, M, C. Comer and J. C. Kroll. 2011. Using infrared-triggered cameras to monitor activity of forest carnivores. Southeastern Naturalist. in press, (accepted 7-28-2011.)

Koerth, B. H., J. C. Kroll. 2010. White-tailed deer antler research: A response to Demarais and Strickland. J. Wildlife Manage. 74(2):198-202.

Symmank, M, C. Comer and J. C. Kroll. 2009. Using infrared-triggered cameras to census bobcat (Lynx rufus) in east Texas. SEAGFA Proc. (in press).

Unger, D., J. Kroll, I-Kaui Hung, J. Williams, D. Coble and J. Grogan. 2008. A standardized, cost-effective and repeatable remote sensing methodology to quantify forested resources in Texas. So. J. Appl. For. ( in press)

Koerth, B. H. and J. C. Kroll. 2008. Antler development in free-ranging white-tailed deer. J. Wildl. Manage. (in press)

Raines, J., J. Grogan, I-Kaui Hung and J. Kroll. 2008. Assessment of Landsat TM Band Combinations for Forest Cover Classification in East Texas. S. J. Appl. For. (in press)

Showers, S. E., J. W. Stuth, J. C. Kroll, and B. H. Koerth. 2006. Predicting diet quality of white-tailed deer via fecal profiling.  J. Range Manage.59:300-307.

Hung, I., Williams, J. M., Kroll, J. C., and Unger, D. R. 2004. Forest landscape changes in east Texas from 1974 to 2002. in Proc. 4th Southern For. & Natur. Res. GIS Conference, Athens, GA 16-17 Dec., 2004.

Koerth, B. H. and J. C. Kroll. 2000. That New Car Smell: Deer Response to Traditional and Non-Traditional Scents in Mock Scrapes. 23rd Annual Meeting Southeast Deer Study Group, Wilmington, NC.

Koerth, B. H, J. C. Kroll, and H. A. Jacobson. 1999. Using remote cameras in deer management. Deer 101: Deer Management from the Ground Up Symposium. Texas Agricultural Extension Service and Texas A&M University Department of Wildlife & Fisheries  Sciences. College Station, Texas. (accepted)

Koerth, B. H. and J. C. Kroll. 1999. Harvest management strategies for white-tailed deer.  Pages 79-87 in N. Wilkins, ed., Deer 101: Deer Management from the Ground Up. Texas Agricultural Extension Service and Texas A&M University Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences. College Station, Texas.

Koerth, B. H., and J. C. Kroll. 1999. Bait type and timing for infrared-triggered camera counts of deer. Wildlife Society Bulletin.

Kroll, J.C.  1999. Building your own 'deer factory': Improving the cover on your hunting land. North American Whitetail.  July. Vol. 18, No. 3, pages 29-33.

Kroll, J. C., and B. H. Koerth. 1998. To cull or not to cull: A really good question! Pages 72-79 in D. Rollins, editor, The Role of Genetics in White-tailed Deer Management Symposium. Texas A&M University and the Texas Chapter, The Wildlife Society. College Station, Texas.

Randel, R. R., J. C. Kroll, A. J. Smalling, J. D. Sellers, and B. H. Koerth. 1998. Infusing new genes: Natural or artificial insemination? Pages 37-39 in D. Rollins, editor, The Role of Genetics in White-tailed Deer Management Symposium. Texas A&M University and the Texas Chapter, The Wildlife Society. College Station, Texas.

Showers, S., J. Stuth, B. H. Koerth, and J. C. Kroll. 1997. Prediction of Dietary Crude Protein of White-tailed Deer via NIRS Technology. 20th Annual SE Deer Study Group, Charleston, SC.

Jacobson, H. A., J. C. Kroll, R. W. Browning, B. H. Koerth, and M. H. Conway. 1997. Infrared-triggered cameras for censusing white-tailed deer. Wildlife Society Bulletin 25:547-556.

Koerth, B. H., C. D. McKown, and J. C. Kroll. 1997. Infrared-triggered camera versus helicopter.