Craig A. Harper, Associate Professor and
Extension Wildlife Specialist

Selected Research Publications

Devers, P.K., D.F. Stauffer, G.W. Norman, D.E. Steffen, D.W. Whitaker, J.
Sole, T. Allen, S. Bittner, D.A. Buehler, J.W. Edwards, D. Figert, S. Friedhoff, W.M. Giuliano, C.A. Harper, W. Igo, R. Kirkpatrick, M. Seamster, H. Spiker, D. Swanson, and B. Tefft. In press. Population ecology of and the effects of hunting on ruffed grouse in the southern and central Appalachians. Wildlife Monographs.

Gruchy, J.P., C.A. Harper, and M.J. Gray. In press. Methods for controlling
woody invasion into old-fields in Tennessee. Proceedings National Quail Symposium 6:000-000.

Whitaker, D.M., D.F. Stauffer, G.W. Norman, P.T. Devers, J. Edwards,
W.M. Giuliano, C.A. Harper, W. Igo, J. Sole, H. Spiker, and B. Tefft. In press. Factors associated with variation in home range size of Appalachian ruffed grouse. Auk.

Jones, B.C. and C.A. Harper. 2007. Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) use of stands harvested via alternative regeneration techniques in the southern Appalachians. 15th Central Hardwoods Forest Conference.

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2006. When is the best time to disk native
warm-season grasses for wildlife? Proceedings Eastern Native Grass Symposium 5:296-303.

Harper, C.A. and C.E. Moorman. 2006. Qualifying native warm-season grasses and early successional habitat. Proceedings Triennial Extension Wildlife and Fisheries Conference 11:000-000.

Jackson, S.W., C.A. Harper, D.S. Buckley, and B.F. Miller. 2006. Short-term
effects of silvicultural treatments on microsite heterogeneity and plant
diversity in mature Tennessee oak-hickory forests. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 23:197-203.

Moorman, C.E., C.A. Harper, and C. Deperno. 2006. Breaking through the food plot mentality. Proceedings Triennial Extension Wildlife and Fisheries
Conference 11:000-000.

Tirpak, J.M., W.M. Giuliano, C.A. Miller, T.J. Allen, S. Bittner, D.A.
Buehler, J.W. Edwards, C.A. Harper, W.K. Igo, G.W. Norman, M. Seamster, and D.F. Stauffer. 2006. Ruffed grouse population dynamics in the central and southern Appalachians. Biological Conservation 133:364-378.

Whitaker, D.M., Stauffer D.F., G.W. Norman, P.T. Devers, T.J. Allen, S.
Bittner, D.A. Buehler, J. Edwards, S. Friedhoff, W.M. Giuliano, C.A. Harper, and B. Tefft. 2006. Factors affecting habitat use by Appalachian ruffed grouse. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:460-471.

Jones, B.C., C.A. Harper, D.A. Buehler, and G.S. Warburton. 2005. Use of spring drumming counts to index ruffed grouse populations in the southern Appalachians. Proceedings Annual Conference of Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Jones, B.C., J.P. Gruchy, and C.A. Harper. 2004. Rate of increase among native warm-season grasses using conventional and no-till technology with various applications of Plateau herbicide. Proceedings 4th Eastern Native Grass Symposium.

Harper, C.A., G.D. Morgan, and C.E. Dixon. 2002. Establishing native warm-season grasses using conventional and no-till technology with various applications of Plateau herbicide. Proceedings 3rd Eastern Native Grass Symposium.

Fettinger, J.L., C.A. Harper, and C.E. Dixon. 2002. Invertebrate availability for upland game birds in tall fescue and native warm-season grass fields. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science 77:83-87.

Harper, C.A., J.K. Knox, D.C. Guynn, Jr., J.R. Davis, and J.G. Williams. 2001. Invertebrate availability for wild turkey poults in the southern Appalachians. Proceedings of the 8th National Wild Turkey Symposium 8:145-156.

Schumacher, C.L., C.A. Harper, D.A. Buehler, G.S. Warburton, and W.G. Minser, III. 2001. Drumming log habitat selection by male ruffed grouse in North Carolina. Proceedings Annual Conference of Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 55:466-474.

Selected abstracts and magazine articles:

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2007. Old Field Management. Quality Whitetails 14(2):16-24.

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2007. Managing native warm-season grasses and associated cover for white-tailed deer. Annual Southeast Deer Study Group Meeting 30:20. Ocean City, MD. 2/07

Gruchy, J.P., C.E. Shaw, and C.A. Harper. 2007. White-tailed deer use of selected forage plantings across varying deer densities in Tennessee. Annual Southeast Deer Study Group Meeting 30:32. Ocean City, MD. 2/07

Shaw, C.E., C.A. Harper, M. Black, and A.E. Houston. 2007. Production and white-tailed deer selection of naturally occurring forages following burning and fertilization. Annual Southeast Deer Study Group Meeting 30:33. Ocean City, MD. 2/07

Shaw, C.E., C.A. Harper, and M.J. Fly. 2007. A comparison of hunter knowledge and satisfaction with QDM in Tennessee. Annual Southeast Deer Study Group Meeting 30:25. Ocean City, MD. 2/07

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2006. Vegetation response to management practices on two hydric sites planted to native warm-season grasses in west Tennessee. Abstract within Proceedings Eastern Native Grass Symposium 5:295.

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2006. Effects of seasonal herbicide applications with and without discing on tall fescue renovation in Tennessee. 13th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Anchorage, Alaska.

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2006. Effects of seasonal herbicide applications with and without disking on tall fescue renovation and resulting habitat for bobwhites. Peer-reviewed poster presented at the 12th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Quail Study Group. Auburn, Alabama.

Miller, B., S. Jackson, R. Basinger, C.A. Harper, L.I. Muller, D.S. Buckley. 2006. A summary of using girdling, herbicides, and fire to improve hardwood stands for wildlife. Annual Southeast Deer Study Group Meeting 29:13. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 2/06

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2005. Managing quality early successional habitat in the mid-South. Invited poster presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Quail Study Group. Gilbertsville, Kentucky.

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2005. An evaluation of mid-contract management practices on native warm-season grass fields. Peer-reviewed abstract for the 12th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Madison, Wisconsin.

Jones, B.C., C.A. Harper, and D.A. Buehler. 2005. Seasonal habitat use by ruffed grouse in the southern Appalachians. Peer-reviewed abstract for the 12th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Madison, Wisconsin.

Harper, C.A. 2007. The role of native grasses in providing wildlife habitat. Tennessee Native Grasslands Conference: State of the State. Murfreesboro, TN.

Gruchy, J.P., W.G. Minser, and C.A. Harper. 2007. Watershed stabilization and wildlife habitat management through multiple use native grassland management. Poster presented at Tennessee Native Grasslands Workshop: The State of the State.

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2007. Effects of seasonal herbicide applications with and without disking on tall fescue renovation and resulting habitat for bobwhites. Poster presented at Tennessee Native Grasslands Workshop: The State of the State.

Harper, C.A. 2005. Logging roads and ruffed grouse. The Upland Gazette: North Carolina Small Game Notes 10(1):3.

Basinger, R.G., S.W. Jackson, C.A. Harper, and C. Richards. 2005. Browse production, nutrition, and preference following alternative silvicultural techniques in mixed hardwood stands. Peer-reviewed abstract for the 28th Annual Southeast Deer Study Group Meeting. Shepherdstown, WV.

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2005. Managing quality early successional habitat in the mid- South. Invited poster presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Quail Study Group. Gilbertsville, KY.

Gruchy, J.P. and C.A. Harper. 2005. An evaluation of mid-contract management practices on native warm-season grass fields. Peer-reviewed abstract for the 12th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Madison, Wisconsin.

Jones, B.C., C.A. Harper, and D.A. Buehler. 2005. Seasonal habitat use by ruffed grouse in the southern Appalachians. Peer-reviewed abstract for the 12th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Madison, Wisconsin.

Harper, C.A. 2004. Inoculate for food plot success. Quality Whitetails 11(3):18-19.

Harper, C.A. 2004. Managing firebreaks for better wildlife habitat. Forest Landowner 63(3):44- 45.

Harper, C.A., R.G. Basinger, and J.P. Gruchy. 2004. Quality warm-season forage plots for quality deer management programs. Quality Whitetails 11(1):26-29.

Harper, C.A. and C.E. Moorman. 2004. Wildlife habitat enhancement in hardwoods. Forest Landowner 63(2):16-20.

Harper, C.A., C.E. Moorman, and M.J. Gudlin. 2004. Making old-fields productive for wildlife. Forest Landowner 63(4):44-47.

Jones, B.C., C.A. Harper, and D.A. Buehler. 2004. Survival, habitat use, and home range size of ruffed grouse broods in the southern Appalachians. Peer-reviewed abstract for the 11th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Jones, B.C., C.A. Harper, and D. Whitaker. 2004. Management recommendations: Habitat management. In Ruffed Grouse Ecology and Management in the Appalachian Region, Final Project Report of the Appalachian Cooperative Grouse Research Project

Basinger, R.G., C.A. Harper, W.G. Minser III, D.A. Buehler, D.S. Buckley. 2003. Initial effects of alternative silvicultural treatments on wild turkey habitat. Peer-reviewed abstract for the 10th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Burlington, VT.

Jones, B.C., C.A. Harper, and D.A. Buehler. 2003. Ruffed grouse drumming survey: Insights on design and population estimation. Peer-reviewed abstract for the 10th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Burlington, VT.

Harper, C.A. 2003. Herbicides for successful forage food plots. Quality Whitetails 10(1):40-44.

Fettinger, J.L., D.A. Buehler, and C.A. Harper. 2002. Ruffed grouse nesting ecology and brood habitat in the mountains of western North Carolina. Peer-reviewed abstract for the 9th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Bismarck, ND.

Harper, C.A. and K. E. Kammermeyer. 2002. Food plot primer. Quality Whitetails 9(4):24-28.

Selected Book Publications

Harper, C.A. 2006. Initial considerations when developing a food plot program. In Quality Food Plots: Your Guide to Better Deer and Better Deer Hunting. K. Kammermeyer and K. Miller, editors. Quality Deer Management Association.

Harper, C.A. 2006. Planting methods and considerations. In Quality Food Plots: Your Guide to Better Deer and Better Deer Hunting. K. Kammermeyer and K. Miller, editors. Quality Deer Management Association.

Wills, J.B., Jr. and C.A. Harper. 2006. Equipment needs for quality food plots. In Quality Food Plots: Your Guide to Better Deer and Better Deer Hunting. K. Kammermeyer and K. Miller, editors. Quality Deer Management Association.

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Contact Information

Craig Harper
280 Ellington Plant Sciences
2431 Joe Johnson Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4522
Phone: (865) 974-7346
Email: charper@utk.edu