Quality Deer Management "FTW"
We’ve all heard the saying, “If it’s brown it’s down!” However, in recent years, it seem more common that hunters are preaching, “Let them go. Let them grow!” In fact, in 2001, for every 3½-year-old or older buck that was harvested nationally, hunters took two to three yearling bucks. As of 2019 the number of yearling bucks and 3½-year-old or older bucks taken were nearly identical. Much of this change can can be attributed to the prevalence of quality deer management (QDM) and has become generally understood and practiced in some form by the vast majority of deer hunters.
As defined by the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), QDM is a management philosophy/practice that unites landowners, hunters, and managers in a common goal of producing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existing environmental, social, and legal constraints. This is most commonly achieved by harvesting an appropriate number of does while passing on younger bucks in favor of more mature ones. By creating this natural balance among herds, great nutritional and social benefits can be witnessed. Typically, more bachelor groups are seen during the summer months, deer sign becomes more apparent, competition is increased, calling is more effective and ultimately the hunting experience is more enjoyable and success rates improve.
“82 % stated that they practiced QDM principles”
The concept of QDM was first established in 1975 by Texas wildlife biologists Al Brothers and Murphy Ray Jr in their book Producing Quality Whitetails. Their research and philosophy gained traction in their home state during the subsequent years and in the early 1980s was brought to South Carolina by DNR wildlife biologist Joe Hamilton, who would later go on to form the Quality Deer Management Association. QDM steadily became more practiced throughout the ’80s and ’90s. By the year 2000 dozens of states and thousands of hunters had implemented QDM on millions of acres of land. By 2013, 82 percent of respondents to a Bass Pro Shop customer survey stated that they practiced QDM principles.
Today the Quality Deer Management Association or QDMA has become North America’s leading organization dedicated to the conservation of whitetail deer. Their researched-based approach to the management of deer and wildlife habitat has become a key resource to landowners, hunters, and managers. Not only have they been foundational in the research surrounding and practice of QDM and habitat management, but they have also played an enormous role in advocating on behalf of deer hunters and created innovative hunter recruitment programs. With waining hunter numbers, the threat of disease, and hunter access becoming more limited, this is vital to our future as our sport.
For QDM to be successful there has to be a solid understanding of deer biology and active participation. While the majority of states have now implemented some form of QDM practices in their license structure, it’s most important to look at the specific needs of and threats facing your local deer population. This information can be gathered through harvest data on the state and county level, deer surveys or simply by general observation. Once this information is gathered, a management plan can be put in place. In addition to the regulations set by the state, many landowners are forming hunting cooperatives, working together to further benefit local deer populations. QDMA has specific tools to assist in every step of this process from their annual Whitetail Report to management plan outlines.
While we can tout the benefits of QDM until we’re red in the face, it’s also important to remember the unique path that ever hunter is on. For QDM to truly be successful, we also need to make sure that new hunters are welcomed and able to find success, and that can mean harvesting a smaller buck. As long as it’s legal, we can’t condemn new hunters for not conforming to the standards we have set for ourselves as more veteran hunters. It’s also important to dispel some of the misconceptions surrounding quality deer management. It is not the same as trophy deer management and hunting is to be fun and enjoyed by all of its participants. For those looking to take the next step in our whitetail hunting journey, QDM is the ultimate respect we can give to these incredible animals.