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"Balanced Age Structure" Is Not Always a Euphemism for "Trophy Bucks"
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January 24, 2013
"Balanced Age Structure" Is Not Always a Euphemism for "Trophy Bucks"
By Dave Hurteau
Anyone who follows along here knows that while I think there’s a lot to like about QDM, I’m not quite ready to shake my pompoms for the movement—no matter how sexy I may look in a majorette uniform, and I’m telling you, it’s pretty damn sexy.
That said, I do sympathize with the good folks at QDMA—smart, serious professionals devoted to the resource—when they try to explain, again and again, that decades of traditional deer management designed to grow deer populations skewed the natural age structure of most herds, and that with populations now widely recovered, we need to correct that. To which they receive a resounding “Pishaw!” from a contingent of unbending hunters who know better. “All you want are trophy deer!” they insist.
Look, we all—including the folks at the QDMA—know that there are hunters who usurp the language of QDM to justify their trophy deer obsession. There is too much “good-for-the-herd” talk from run-of-the-mill bulls**tters. But that doesn’t mean any effort to increase the number of mature bucks is bogus.
I prefer my nature in the most natural state possible. (Just one of those quirks.) QDMA biologists tell us that herds with a balanced age structure—which usually means more mature bucks than is common today—are in a more natural state. And lo and behold, they have evidence: Lower jaw examinations from Native American middens dating from 1,000 BC to 1,700 AD, for example, show that the average age of harvested deer was 3.5 to 4.5 years and that 23 to 43 percent of deer killed were mature bucks.
If there wasn’t so much noise to the contrary, I’d suspect that there’s a legitimate reason for increasing the number mature bucks that has nothing to do with antlers. I’d think maybe you can support the QDMA’s call for a more a “balanced age structure” without being trophy obsessed. But I can’t be sure.
And so I ask, especially to the QDMA haters: If the deer herds were in a more natural state, would it bother you much if 43 percent of the deer you bagged were mature bucks?
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Comments (6)
Isn't it inconsistent to advocate that one supports nature "in the most natural state possible" and then argue in favor of QDM, which by definition is "management" or regulation of the natural state of things? The natural state of nature is nasty, brutish, and short, and that's reflected in the herd.
That hunters value "trophy" bucks is in large part due to their rarity. There are trophies out there; they just aren't numerous. They are true trophies -- once in a lifetime deer for most hunters.
A fair point, TM. Allow me to replace "possible" with "practicable." I think nearly all hunters would agree that modern deer herds need to be managed. My point is that real historical evidence suggests that an approach to management that calls for a more balanced age structure--as QDM does--would result in a herd that is closer to its natural state.
And I should add that a balanced age structure does not necessarily preclude rarity. In the Adirondacks, for example, tagging a big buck is plenty rare enough. Yet the age structure is fairly balanced compared to many areas.
I for one, don't really question QDMAs mission. I get what they are after, but (fairly or unfairly) their message has gotten all twisted up.
IMHO, if there is fault to be placed for the state of deer hunting and the obsession with trophy bucks, I place some of the blame on the endless articles and shows about how to grow, and kill trophy deer.
It's taken deer hunting to a whole new expensive level and forced many deer hunters out of the game.
And while many will say that's too bad and/or that it's a pay to play world, in the end when there aren't enough hunters to make up a voting block that politicians give a rats rump about, it may very well bite us all in keister......
A mature buck does not necessarily equate to large antlers. There are several other major factors besides age that determine antler growth. If the carrying capacity of the land is determined to be 10 deer per 100 acres, what do you want? A ratio of 5 doe to 5 bucks? If you don't know where you want to go, any road will get you there. We use a similar process in fisheries management, all based on goals. Different goals translate to different processes to achieve those goals.
well said tom-tom. although I agree with QDMA they have a solid and simple plan that is relatively easy to repeat in most places deer roam. The problem I have is when people make it sound like genetic engineering. People try to apply simple logic and its flat out wrong 100 percent of the time in a wild setting. The very thing that makes trophy deer is in fact a good mixture or of genes and deers travel patterns are the mechanism that allows for this. I recently registered a deer ((2 year old buck) (I work at store that also registers deer)) in a collaring study that was tagged almost 100 miles from where it was collared, a year and a half after being collared. I was also able to get a trial cam pic of the deer 10 miles away from where it was shot two weeks before. Although old deer have a tendency to stay in a smaller area, more than likely due to good food and cover. There is no way to ever limit where its genes go also how those genes interact with the genes it comes in contact with especially because antler genes are a secondary sex trait. Genetic variability allows for good health, and helps the animals fend of disease and epidemics within the herd. A couple examples of bad genetic variability is in buffalo and in the case of the irish potato famine (all the potatoes died because of fungus that plant was not immune to) One could argue that CWD was made from deer being confined from genetic variability that allowed the disease to evolve into what it is today. Age structure allow's for multiple variations of genetic variability in other words more variations of genes on the table for the deer to further evolve immunities and problems that confront them. Really the only way to get a desired effect is to is to allow for disorder and except what you can control and the only thing we come close to controlling are numbers.
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Isn't it inconsistent to advocate that one supports nature "in the most natural state possible" and then argue in favor of QDM, which by definition is "management" or regulation of the natural state of things? The natural state of nature is nasty, brutish, and short, and that's reflected in the herd.
That hunters value "trophy" bucks is in large part due to their rarity. There are trophies out there; they just aren't numerous. They are true trophies -- once in a lifetime deer for most hunters.
A fair point, TM. Allow me to replace "possible" with "practicable." I think nearly all hunters would agree that modern deer herds need to be managed. My point is that real historical evidence suggests that an approach to management that calls for a more balanced age structure--as QDM does--would result in a herd that is closer to its natural state.
And I should add that a balanced age structure does not necessarily preclude rarity. In the Adirondacks, for example, tagging a big buck is plenty rare enough. Yet the age structure is fairly balanced compared to many areas.
I for one, don't really question QDMAs mission. I get what they are after, but (fairly or unfairly) their message has gotten all twisted up.
IMHO, if there is fault to be placed for the state of deer hunting and the obsession with trophy bucks, I place some of the blame on the endless articles and shows about how to grow, and kill trophy deer.
It's taken deer hunting to a whole new expensive level and forced many deer hunters out of the game.
And while many will say that's too bad and/or that it's a pay to play world, in the end when there aren't enough hunters to make up a voting block that politicians give a rats rump about, it may very well bite us all in keister......
A mature buck does not necessarily equate to large antlers. There are several other major factors besides age that determine antler growth. If the carrying capacity of the land is determined to be 10 deer per 100 acres, what do you want? A ratio of 5 doe to 5 bucks? If you don't know where you want to go, any road will get you there. We use a similar process in fisheries management, all based on goals. Different goals translate to different processes to achieve those goals.
well said tom-tom. although I agree with QDMA they have a solid and simple plan that is relatively easy to repeat in most places deer roam. The problem I have is when people make it sound like genetic engineering. People try to apply simple logic and its flat out wrong 100 percent of the time in a wild setting. The very thing that makes trophy deer is in fact a good mixture or of genes and deers travel patterns are the mechanism that allows for this. I recently registered a deer ((2 year old buck) (I work at store that also registers deer)) in a collaring study that was tagged almost 100 miles from where it was collared, a year and a half after being collared. I was also able to get a trial cam pic of the deer 10 miles away from where it was shot two weeks before. Although old deer have a tendency to stay in a smaller area, more than likely due to good food and cover. There is no way to ever limit where its genes go also how those genes interact with the genes it comes in contact with especially because antler genes are a secondary sex trait. Genetic variability allows for good health, and helps the animals fend of disease and epidemics within the herd. A couple examples of bad genetic variability is in buffalo and in the case of the irish potato famine (all the potatoes died because of fungus that plant was not immune to) One could argue that CWD was made from deer being confined from genetic variability that allowed the disease to evolve into what it is today. Age structure allow's for multiple variations of genetic variability in other words more variations of genes on the table for the deer to further evolve immunities and problems that confront them. Really the only way to get a desired effect is to is to allow for disorder and except what you can control and the only thing we come close to controlling are numbers.
Post a Comment