Inductees

Each week, Dr. Grant Woods gets in front of a camera and talks about deer.

The Republic native shares his passion on a weekly online show called GrowingDeer, where he shares knowledge he has gained through his life as a hunter and biologist specializing in deer and deer habitat management.

In essence, his success at conducting wildlife research, educating hunters about advanced hunting and management techniques, and designing site-specific management plans to improve deer herd quality is well known throughout the whitetail world.

That is just one of many reasons why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Woods with the Class of 2026.

His passion for deer hunting has taken off in the past decade. Woods now has 1 million followers on Facebook and more than 500,000 on YouTube. He also has the seal of approval from folks at the Missouri Department of Conservation and Drury Outdoors (MSHOF 2019).

His introduction to a deer came on his family’s farm west of Republic when he was 6 years old, seeing a dead deer that was poached, though he didn’t know what that was at the time. He and his dad skinned it, and nailed the hide in the barn — after his mom rejected the idea of the deer hide in his room.
It was a decade before he saw another deer.  Woods said his father and grandfather were renowned in the area for rabbit and quail hunting. He got into turkey hunting and, with permission from his parents and the blessing of the Republic basketball coach, his first-hour teacher, he often showed up late for school.
“It just worked out,” Woods said with a chuckle.

He was a freshman in college when he harvested his first deer. During his junior year at Missouri State University, he worked with the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada with mule deer, working with the habitat and assessing the deer population. That experience helped shape a path that would blend science, fieldwork and communication.

Woods earned degrees from Missouri State University (then Southwest Missouri State University), University of Georgia and Clemson University, ranging from computer information systems to zoology, biology, and forest resources.

“I have made my living harvesting deer … many for research purposes,” he said. “And for improving their habitat, and studying how to best improve their habitat, what plants to eat. You know, everything to do with deer.”

His work has taken him from New Zealand to Canada, but his most important project sits in the hills near Branson. He and his wife, Tracy, purchased a burnt-out ranch littered with cattle skeletons.

On more than 1,000 acres, Woods applied science and hard work to turn a barren terrain into a whitetail paradise. The land, named The Proving Grounds, provided a way for Woods to teach others how to get the most from nature. The location became the setting for most of his shows, which started 16 years ago.

The show became a way to intertwine his passion with his family. His daughters, Raleigh and Rae, were often seen hunting when they were younger, and his father was also featured in shows.
Often on the road consulting on various deer-related projects, the show became a way to stay close to home. The plan was to share information and see if sponsors came.

“I have a great team of people, and God blessed us to start at the right time,” Woods said.
The family sold The Proving Grounds in 2022 and purchased The Proving Grounds 2.0, which actually touches a portion of the old property. Now 64, a year shy of when some retire, Woods is just getting started.

“Can we turn this property around quicker?” he said. “We’re making great progress. With the … knowledge we have and refined techniques, we are making progress very quickly on this one.”
The progress will take one day off for the Hall of Fame induction. His daughters were part of Logan-Rogersville’s 2020 national title-winning teams that were recognized by the MSHOF with Special Achievements Awards in 2021. His mother, 94, will be at the ceremony.

“My sisters are bringing her … every man is a little boy at heart and wants to please their mom,” Woods said. “So I’m excited about that.”

Today, the little boy from Republic, who once stared at a poached deer in a barn, enters the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame as Dr. Grant Woods – biologist, teacher, conservationist and one of the foremost voices for deer.