I like Walts question. It's short, to the point and opens up many other areas of QDM you rarely hear about.

For instance. QDM in my area is basically who can attract the most deer to their parcel at the expense of the parcels surrounding them. Is this an example of who ever has the most money wins? Is QDM good for all or just a select few? Is it fair?

The only reason I have a feeder is because the two yahoos on the other side of the hill have them and I don't see any deer unless mine is full.

As a fellow SD hunter, i want to add to SD_Whitetail_Hntr's post; if it is regulated through the DNR/GF&P and it still seems like they aren't trying anything for QDM, how do you go about and try to make a point to the state agencies that a simple movement of the rifle season away from the peak rut time would help lessen the pressure on the mature bucks during breeding and hence promote QDM?

I want to reiterate the same question I see all the time. How can a person without the financial means to buy property, buy equipment, buy seed, and plant food plots be a part of this? QDMA is promoted in a manner that leaves out the not so rich folks. Aside from supporting the massive herd reductions, what does QDMA do to help the "average Joe" on public lands, hand in hand, with wildlife conservation groups and state game departments? Again, how is QDMA not promoting hunting to be the sport of the rich while forgetting the folks who can't buy 100's of acres? I would also like to hear what a quality deer is.

I dont think qdma is a good organization. They are way too politcal and support anything and everything that a their states wildlife management agency does or says to gain favor. Look at Pa. Biggest joke in deer management there is and qdma supported it all along. Im for the basic concepts of ar. Some cases are just too extreme. Keeping the herd in line with the habitat is fine, but when you go far past that to idiotic low levels for no good reason statewide. And qdma supports it for no real reason other than a$$ kissing, that tells me this is not a good group.

I'm pretty new to hunting but have 40 acres (of varying terrain). We have a couple deer running around but I'd like to see some growth in the numbers and quality of animals. As with most people (I imagine) I have limited funds and time so where do I begin?

Hank111,
I guess I don't really see a problem with someone complaining about the government trying to control every aspect of our daily lives.

Nate

CWD has been a problem in my area in the past. how has QDM been affected by that?

Respectfully Mr Adams, Your organization might take the position of being nonpolitical, but some of the chapters are absolutely 100% just that.

See some of the Pa chapters. Nothing more than politcal yesmen that have stood side by side with audubon and others to support the failing deer plan here pushing their own agendas, and seeking favor with the game commission. There are a few Officers who do nothing but!! Lobbying the legislators etc. while carrying the qdma organization banner. Some are nothing more than environmental extremists carrying the qdma banner to have some semblance of "credibility". Id be more than happy to provide names, though you know the individuals and are more than aware of these, so i dont think its really necessary is it?

I dont think this is the intent of the organization, but whether it was or not, it is exactly what is going on currently, at least in Pa.

--Just as a "heads up", one of the more radical extreme viewed qdma officers....from southwest pa, was banned from one hunting message board for attacking other member & using profanity because people werent buying what she was selling. She was also just yesterday kicked off of yet another, though it was a temporary ban, for the same garbage.

She is a Pa game commission and dcnr affiliate and also worked for dep. She is nothing more than a politcal flunky trying to give good pr to the failed management plan in Pa because the agenda isnt working and sportsmen arent buying into the nonsense. She has taken a position at qdma, with qdmas blessing, so that she can seem more "legitimate" when speaking on sportsmens concerns. She is anything but a sports-woman.

What is the best way on a limited budget to practice QDMA on a small parcel-100 acres or less?

To continue my last post: QDM is also often used to talk about the characteristics of the deer herd, but what I would like to know is what physical characteristics of an individual deer are you trying to enhance when you refer to improving the "quality" of the deer?

I and 8 other hunters hunt in Michigan's UP .We have 80 acres of our own ,and almost unlimited public land at our disposal .. How does the the DNR decide on quotas and restrictions when they do not require deer kills to be registered ? It is up to the individual hunter to restrict themselves to improve their area .. Take more does, let the the smallish bucks mature, take a mature buck that has small antlers . This has improved our area . Now every year one of us takes a buck with a spread of 18 to 20 inches . That mite not be huge ; but it is " Quality " to us . I mite add... We seen results in only 3 years ..

The + and - thing is a cop out. All it for is let the "hollier than thou's" keep from a valid question to be addressed. A perfect example is this one:
""from Walt Smith wrote 2 days 19 hours ago
If you don't own the deer, what gives you the legal right in the states viewpoint to manage it?""

Show some nads and discuss every single question raised here.

In response to ENO's questions about (1) antler restrictions leading to poor genetics, (2) antlerless bucks in earn-a-buck hunts, and (3)system for aging bucks.

(1) there is often discussion about "high grading" the best bucks in antler restriction programs. The last national survey was completed in 2008, and at that time 22 state agencies used some form of antler restrictions (see page 50 of QDMA's 2010 Whitetail Report at www.QDMA.com for a complete discussion of buck management options) to protect young bucks. At the state level, all states (with the possible exception of Texas) that employed antler restrictions did so to protect yearling bucks while making 2.5 and older bucks available for harvest. A properly-designed antler restriction will protect the majority of yearling bucks so it reduces the opportunity for "high grading". Also, there is abundant research that suggests a yearling buck's first set of antlers is not a good predictor of his antler growth potential. Bucks that start small (and are easily protected by an anter restriction) can blossom into some of the biggest bucks in the herd.

(2) it's unfortunate anytime a buck with shed antlers or very small antlers is harvested as an antlerless deer. Each is counterproductive to the goal of the antlerless harvest program. However, the number of such bucks taken in the antlerless harvest program (earn-a-buck, early antlerless season, etc.) is small relative to the number of antlerless deer. As hunters, we need to continually educate ourselves and our hunting buddies to minimize such mistake kills.

(3) the best way to estimate the age of a buck in the field is to do so using body characteristics. "Aging on the hoof" is not an exact science but I can teach any hunter to separate bucks into 3 distinct age classes: young (1-2 yrs), middle aged (3-4 yrs) and mature (5+ yrs) using body characteristics. Like people, some bucks don't fit the normal characteristics for their age class, but with some practice you can estimate them correctly the majority of the time. See page 72 in QDMA's 2010 Whitetail Report (www.QDMA.com) for a complete description of body characteristics by age class.

In response to Squirrelgirl's question, the best place to begin is with the native habitat. If it is forested, you can do some timber stand improvement (TSI) to provide more cover and low growing forage for deer. Both of these will entice deer to use your property more. If the habitat is open, plant some soft mast bushes for cover and forage, plant some warm season grasses for cover, or work with the existing vegetation to provide additional cover and/or forage. You may not think that 40 acres is a lot, but by making it the best 40 acres in the neighborhood you can increase the number and/or amount of time that deer use it.

It was man's un-natural acts (agriculture) that has created the bounty of whitetail deer that exists today. I don't consider this un-natural intrusion by man to be a negative not do I consider food plots a negative. Like it or not the world evolves.

What role (if any) does the control of other no predatory animals (raccoons, opossums, etc.) have in reducing deer deaths due to disease?

What he said.

Of course, CWD. Yes. That too could be in the running for most controversial three letters in deer hunting, especially in Wisconsin.

How can I stop trespassers?

Bryan01 asked how the QDMA defines quality deer. First, the QDMA is an international nonprofit wildlife conservation organziation with a mission to ensure the future of white--tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. The QDMA specializes in education as we teach hunters, landowners and sportsmen and women about deer biology and management, how to improve habitat for deer and other wildlife, and about hunter management to ensure the future of our beloved activity. Wildlife management refers to populations rather than individuals (zoos deal with individual animals). In QDMA's view every deer is a "quality" animal, but QDM refers to a healthy deer herd living in a healthy habitat. Healthy deer and healthy habitat can be measured by collecting ages, weights, lactation and reproduction status, and antler parameters from harvested deer. You can also collect kidneys for a kidney fat analysis and the abomassum (4th stomach chamber) to do parasite counts. These are both indices to herd health. Forest regeneration and browse surveys provide indices to habitat health. So, a "quality deer" is one that comes from a healthy herd and a healthy habitat, not necessarily one with large antlers.

jsramsdell asked about moving the deer season out of the rut. Season timing is steeped in tradition and is very difficult to change. Few states have their primary firearm season during the peak of the rut, but one (MN) is discussing moving it in an effort to protect young bucks. The DNR is discussing it because a legion of MN hunters asked them to consider methods to protect yearling bucks. I'll bet the season isn't moved but hopefully another management strategy is employed to protect some additional yearling bucks.

motyarrum asked how to practice QDM on a budget and on small acreage. Most folks would be surprised to learn that 1/3 of QDMA members do not own a single acre of land! Over 1/2 of QDMA members hunt on less than 250 acres of land. The perception is QDM and the QDMA are only for large landowners with big pocketbooks, but in reality, QDM can help the small landowner the most. Outside of the South, land ownership patterns are small. Many hunters own 40 or 50 acres and they can have great hunting on them. I work with folks all the time with these acreages and I tell them to make their land the best 40 or 50 acres in the neighborhood. Provide great cover and/or food and you can have great hunting. Even better, become part of a neighborhood QDM Cooperative and your opportunties skyrocket. QDM Cooperatives are the hottest thing going across the whitetail's range right now because so many hunters want to improve the deer herd they hunt, but they don't own (or have the opportunity to hunt) enough acreage that encompasses all of a deer's home range. QDM Cooperatives are the perfect fit because landowners can work together and improve the deer herd, habitat and hunting opportunities for everyone involved.

dmayer4741 asked a great question about leveling the playing field. Much of my response to motyarrum regarding QDM Cooperatives applies here too. You need to keep in mind that much of what you see on TV is not QDM (it's trophy deer management) and most videos are filmed on properties not accessible to over 95% of hunters. Cooperatives are the answer and they are growing like wildfire across the whitetail's range. Michigan likely leads the country with hundreds of thousands of acres informal QDM Cooperatives.

tbass asked about QDM and the average hunter. One third of QDMA members do not own land. They hunt public land, a friend's land or other private land. We teach our members everything we can about deer - how they see, how they hear, movement patterns, etc. This info applies to all hunters (whether they own land or not). Our local Branches (other orgs call them Chapters) also help improve habitat on public lands. Many assist with timber stand improvement (TSI) work, planting food plots, pruning soft mast trees, etc. The Pennsylvania State Chapter also implemented the "Adopt a Food Plot" program, modeled after DOT's Adopt a Highway. PA Branches donate seed, lime and fertilizer to state agencies to use on public lands. Some PA Branches event plant the food plots for the agencies. Such work is good for all hunters and it's great for deer and other wildlife.

Here in Pa we have antler point reatrictions. Most of the hunters I know (myself included) believe they are the best thing since the invention of the compound bow. However many hunters believe they work against QDM because they protect the bucks with inferior genitics. I do not believe the saying "once a spike always a spike". I have never seen a three and a half year old buck that didn't meet APR's But their is no denying that because of hunting pressure most of the breeding is being done by the younger bucks. So my question is this. Does a buck with superior genetic makup pass along the same genes at two and a half or must he be fully mature?

Buckhunter - A deer feeder is one thing, a well managed farm is another. You can not stockpile mature bucks. No matter what you do, there will be alot of bucks disperse to other surrounding areas. Thats a win for everyone.

Walt- You seem to be a narrow minded, childish person, who condemns anyone who trys to make their hunting area better. You obviously dont have your own place to hunt, or else you are lazy, and content, with your come what may attitude.