July 18, 2025
from the Record, Spring 2025
APEX PROTECTOR
North American Whitetail
Haynes Shelton ’15 may not be a scientist, but as editor of North American Whitetail, the first publication devoted solely to the whitetail deer, he is a leader among conservationists. Through the content that he sources, edits, creates, and approves, Shelton has the ability to shape public opinion and promote ethical hunting practices—a responsibility he takes seriously.
“Hunters, as a fraternity of guys and gals, are extremely conservation-minded at large, and they truly care for the animals,” Shelton says. “Whitetail are a resource that we have to respect and manage appropriately to protect the animals that provide so much for us.”
Shelton seeks to educate the hunting community on threats to whitetail populations such as habitat loss, diseases, and overpopulation by partnering with wildlife biologists, game agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Articles often address issues such as land management, food plot strategies, and the restoration of native vegetation— all crucial topics to maintaining healthy deer populations. By educating readers on these issues, Shelton and his team foster a community that understands the value of conserving the environment for not just hunters interested in filling their tags but also the overall health of North American ecosystems.
“We have strong affiliations with clubs like the Boone and Crockett Club and the Pope and Young Club, which have years and years of data to support that wildlife populations are much better off because of hunting and the conservation dollars that are generated through government directives like the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, which returns taxes collected on all sales of firearms, handguns, and ammunition to conservation efforts,” Shelton explains.
While the cover photo of each issue of North American Whitetail may be a trophy deer, the content between the covers is reverential to the species its readers pursue. This messaging sends a powerful signal: true hunters must act more as protector than predator.
“I like to think that for every shopping center or parking lot that gets put in, maybe there’s somebody out there putting in a food plot for wildlife, or stocking a pond, or doing something to leave the land a little bit better than they found it,” Shelton says. “If I can inspire people to do that where they can through the content we put out, I’ve done my job.”