THE RESEARCH PROCESS
With the marriage of top-quality facilities and an outstanding staff, great things were about to happen at the Institute. The first product from the fledgling organization, Imperial Whitetail Clover, is now a legend in the deer management industry.
As a matter of fact, its unqualified success was the impetus for the birth of a whole new outdoor industry - whitetail nutrition. The development of Imperial Clover is a case study for vision, perseverance, and complete dedication to scientific research and testing. Its painstaking formulation became the blueprint for all food plot and nutrition products developed at the Institute.
When Dr. Johnson joined the Institute staff, Ray Scott gave him an open-ended commission: create the ideal whitetail deer forage no matter what it took or how long it took. Johnson accepted the challenge.
He began the process by selecting various clover species from all around the world and the U.S. In all, more than 40 species were selected and planted in test fields. Each clover variety was individually marked for identification and examined and tested for specifically selected traits. The desired traits were those that were most vital for a whitetail deer food plot: nutrient content (i.e. protein), drought resistance, cold tolerance, seedling vigor, digestibility, growth, yield and attractiveness to deer, to name a few.
The clover varieties were put under stress conditions, chemically analyzed and planted both in Institute pens and in the wild testing facility to test attractiveness. The clover varieties that showed the best results were then taken to the green house and cross-pollinated. The resulting seeds from the cross-pollination were in turn planted and similar testing followed on the next generation of plants. This entire process was then repeated until one genetically superior variety of clover was developed that contained all the traits essential for the perfect whitetail deer food plot.
The entire process took over seven years to complete and required thousands of research hours and dollars. The result, however, was the development of the first and only forage variety genetically developed specifically for whitetail deer food plots.
Unlike other products on the market that were plant varieties taken from other applications such as cattle or horse production, Imperial Whitetail Clover remains the only product created specifically for whitetail deer. This revolutionary clover was 'designed' to provide up to 30-35 percent protein year round, stay green year round, offer unequalled attractiveness to deer and last for up to five years or more without re-seeding.
Another revolutionary Institute product, Cutting Edge, was developed in much the same way. Deer nutrition specialist Matt Harper was encouraged to pursue his vision of a seasonal supplement for whitetail deer. He knew the life cycle of whitetail varied dramatically based on the time of the year with corresponding physiological changes and stresses in bucks, does and fawns. He theorized that since nutritional needs had to vary as well, supplements should vary accordingly. A one-size-fits-all supplement could be improved upon for those hunters and managers wanting to fine-tune their nutritional programs. He set the research wheels in motion.
Many combinations and amounts of ingredients were tested to identify the one combination that supplied the appropriate nutrient profile that was the most digestible and the most attractive or palatable to deer. Work began in the small pens and once the proper formulas were identified, testing moved to the 'semi-wild' enclosures and from there to the wild deer testing facility.
Like Imperial Whitetail Clover, the development of Cutting Edge took several years and more than once the formulas were taken back to the drawing board after they had made it through phase I and II, but not phase III. Finally, after years of work, Cutting Edge came to the market in December of 1999. Three different formulas were offered - each matching the life cycle needs of whitetail deer. It was another revolutionary product from the Whitetail Institute of North America.
The concept had frankly been a gamble for the Institute. It was a new idea and it would require considerable 'education' and explaining to the deer management public. It was not a 'quick-fix' product and would not appeal to every hunter and manager. However, Harper and Steve Scott had faith in the product - and faith in the dedication of Institute customers. The Institute had succeeded in the past by NOT underestimating the dedication of its customers. And they were right. The concept of seasonal supplements caught on and today Cutting Edge testimonials flow in from hunters all over the country.
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