2018 Congress Planning Committee

David Hewitt

​David Hewitt received degrees in wildlife biology from Colorado State University, Washington State University, and Virginia Tech.  He did post-doc positions at Humboldt State University and Utah State University before becoming a research scientist at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute.  Dave studies wildlife nutrition and ecology and has worked with species ranging from grouse and doves to bears and deer.  He held the Stuart Stedman Chair for White-tailed Deer Research for 10 years, focusing his research effort on ecology and management of deer.  He is currently Director of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute.

Jim Heffelfinger

Jim Heffelfinger is a Certified Wildlife Biologist who graduated with a Master’s Degree from Texas A&M University – Kingsville and went on to work for the US government, state wildlife agencies, universities, and the private sector.  He Jim has coauthored 200+ magazine articles, scientific papers, book chapters, and TV scripts.  He is a Boone & Crockett Professional Member, an adjunct professor at University of Arizona, and Chairman of the WAFWA Mule Deer Working Group representing 23 western states and Canadian provinces.  He has received the 2011 “Wallmo Award” given to the leading mule deer biologist in North America and the 2009 “Professional of the Year” award from the Mule Deer Foundation.  Jim is currently the Wildlife Science Coordinator for the Arizona Game & Fish Department.      

Randy DeYoung

​Randy DeYoung received degrees in wildlife ecology and management from Texas A&I University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and Mississippi State University.  Randy uses genetic markers to study population ecology, behavior, and phylogeography of wildlife species.  Since lots of things have DNA, he has worked with species ranging from deer, elk, ocelot, fox, lions, and pronghorn to quail, grouse, wading birds, and gophers.  He has been a research scientist at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Institute since 2004 and is currently Associate Professor of Molecular Ecology.    

Kurt VerCauteren

Kurt VerCauteren is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and received degrees in wildlife ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of Nebraska.  A Project Leader for the National Wildlife Research Center of the United States Department of Agriculture/Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services (NWRC), his research focusses on wildlife damage management and diseases of wildlife that impact humans, livestock, and natural resources.  He specializes on ecological research and developing methods to reduce the multitude of damage caused by deer, elk and feral swine.  He also conducts research on diseases in which wildlife play a role, primarily bovine tuberculosis, chronic wasting disease, and rabies.