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QDM
Aug 21, 2006 20:56:40 GMT -5
Post by lugnutz on Aug 21, 2006 20:56:40 GMT -5
Quality Deer Management (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 approach typically involves the protection of young bucks (yearlings and some 2.5 year-olds) combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to maintain a healthy population in balance with existing habitat conditions and landowner desires. This level of deer management involves the production of quality deer (bucks, does, and fawns), quality habitat, quality hunting experiences, and, most importantly, quality hunters.
A successful QDM program requires an increased knowledge of deer biology and active participation in management. This level of involvement extends the role of the hunter from mere consumer to manager. The progression from education to understanding, and finally, to respect; bestows an ethical obligation upon the hunter to practice sound deer management. Consequently, to an increasing number of landowners and hunters, QDM is a desirable alternative to traditional management, which allows the harvest of any legal buck and few, if any, does.
QDM guidelines are formulated according to property-specific objectives, goals, and limitations. Participating hunters enjoy both the tangible and intangible benefits of this approach. Pleasure can be derived from each hunting experience, regardless if a shot is fired. What is important is the chance to harvest a quality buck - an opportunity lacking in many areas under traditional management. When a quality buck is taken on a QDM area, the pride can be shared by all property hunters because it was they who produced it by allowing it to reach the older age classes which are necessary for large bodies and antlers.
Who wouldn't want this?
Lug
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QDM
Aug 21, 2006 20:58:13 GMT -5
Post by lugnutz on Aug 21, 2006 20:58:13 GMT -5
If this is something that is wanted by the majority of hunters, than wouldn't you think it would be a good idea to teach this in the hunters education classes?
Lug
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 6:34:36 GMT -5
Post by dec on Aug 22, 2006 6:34:36 GMT -5
Lug, we agree on something! To the nay sayers, QDM does work and can work even in rural Indiana. I posted not long ago about my efforts to develop a QDM program before I ever new what the letters stood for. To me it was not called QDM, it was called Common Sense. To summarize here is what I did. About 9 years ago, I acquired a farm to hunt that had all the potential in the world, but no deer. I quickly realized things had to change. So I began knocking on doors and making phone calls to find out who was hunting within a general couple mile radius. Then I began meeting the hunters one on one. At first many of my pleas fell on deaf ears, but as time went on my persistence to educate people either did just that, educate them, or they simply gave in to my pleadings. It took around 5 years of me discussing until I was blue in the face, but I finally won most of them over. What has happened to the deer herd in the local area is simply amazing. I and the others in the general area see so many deer, so many bucks, that when we tell people about it they just don't believe it until they see it. It has really turned into an incredible thing. To be able to sit in a tree stand and pass up 6 to 10 bucks in an evening sit is an incredible experience. A lot of the bucks are young, but we repeatedly pass up 120's and 130's bucks. Some of these do ultimately get shot as they may pass out of our zone, or in some instances some first time or youth hunters come out. But that is cool. Every year a few of us put some big sets of antlers on the wall. I went three years in a row with putting good bucks on the wall. My buddy shot a 153" stud last year that many of us had been watching. Another guy shot back to back years of 160's deer. The beauty of it is that we are all in it together, so we all get excited when someone in the area kills a stud. There is little if any jealousy because we all know that what we have done could produce the next giant walking under our own stand. It is an awesome thing to witness and be a part of. My point is, is that QDM will work in most areas of the state, even at the smallest level. It comes down to wanting it bad enough that you are willing to put on the sales hat and sell the concept to people. Most people want such a program deep down, they are just fearful of "the other guy" not being on board. But I'm here to tell you, if you get off the couch and do not take no for an answer, it can be done. It is all in how much you want to work and how bad you want it. QDM can be accomplished.
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 6:47:18 GMT -5
Post by cambygsp on Aug 22, 2006 6:47:18 GMT -5
Gosh.....talking about making deer hunting a JOB.......lol lol lol
No thanks, not that there is anything wrong with it it's just that I like my deer hunting to be an enjoyable pass time, I work hard enough through the week!
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 7:32:57 GMT -5
Post by dec on Aug 22, 2006 7:32:57 GMT -5
It might sound like a job, but it is what I enjoy doing. I live and breath hunting 365 days a year. So to me the work is not a job, it is part of my passion. I know not everyone has that passion, but my point is, don't tell me QDM does not work, it does. If you want something bad enough, you can influence change. Many want it, they just don't want to do the work. The guys around me wanted QDM once they fully understood it. They just did not want to put in the effort it took to get everyone else on board. Once you have someone to take the bull by the horns, the rest is relatively easy.
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 7:47:36 GMT -5
Post by Woody Williams on Aug 22, 2006 7:47:36 GMT -5
I think QDM is great for those that want to do it. ike DEC said I did it beofre there was such a thing caled QDM.
It can also be done on small acreage if you can get the niehbors to go along with it.
It is not for everyone as some folke see deer hunting as purely a recreational pasttime and just go hunting. Most of these folks, although they would like to kill a "big 'un" are satisfied to just 'get a deer'.
Where I balk at QDM is when it is state mandated for all, even the folks that just "want to get a deer'.
BTW - I am not starting another "OBR debate", but contrary to what some people say, OBR is not QDM.
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 9:19:50 GMT -5
Post by eelriver on Aug 22, 2006 9:19:50 GMT -5
Another success story. This one from Carroll County. A friend of mine along with his neighbor have a total of 500 acres which they manage for deer. They plant a variety of cover/ food plots and most importantly have established some hunting rules for themselves and invitees. For the last five years we have pasted on ALL bucks not scoring 130 or better. Meaning only one buck has been taken in the last five years, but it was a P&Y 154.5 bow kill, field dressing 196 #.
As a result, this summer we have seen four bucks that are in the 140 class; two of which we have on film. Can't wait to begin the season and hunt this farm. The only exception to the rule is we have allowed some kids take any deer they choose. It hasn't hurt the project, and these young hunters had great hunts, killing some nice younger bucks.
Yes, we have pasted several bucks but we kill an average of 12-14 doe each season. The freezer is full and the herd only gets better.
I have to agree with dec, it really isn't work but quite fun to see things get better. I am now trying to do the same thing on my Clay County property as a result. I hope to harvest as many doe as I can (8) while letting the buck age a bit.
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 11:07:20 GMT -5
Post by DEERTRACKS on Aug 22, 2006 11:07:20 GMT -5
Great posts lug & dec.
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 11:11:44 GMT -5
Post by Decatur on Aug 22, 2006 11:11:44 GMT -5
QDM is fine if you're into it. I just don't feel that it should be forced on everyone. If you want to practice it, do like previous posters have said and get your neighbors online. It seems to cheapen a trophy to me if "you" and not mother nature created it. JMHO
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 11:41:02 GMT -5
Post by dec on Aug 22, 2006 11:41:02 GMT -5
It seems to cheapen a trophy to me if "you" and not mother nature created it. How is it that we create the trophy? By passing up younger bucks in hopes they will live on for another day? By that thought process, a hunter MUST shoot the first buck past his stand to have a "real trophy"? Now I'm not here to pick on what anyone shoots. But lets say that a hunter decides that a forkie walks past his tree on opening day and he decides it is early and lets him walk. Now 2 hours later a basket 8 walks past and he decides to shoot it. So because he elected to pass on a single deer, is his 8 pointer somehow less of a trophy? By the way I read your argument, it would seem that he created a trophy by passing on one deer to shoot another. Maybe I'm reading too much into your statement. If so, then how many deer is any hunter allowed to pass on in a season before it is no longer created by "mother nature"? Many of those on here elect to pass on many bucks and does until what they want to harvest comes along, often times eating tags. Are they manufacturing trophies? After all, sensible harvesting of deer is the basis for QDM. Harvest does and sensibly harvest a buck that meets your "trophy" criteria if he happens to walk by. I guess I would understand your point of view more if you had pointed fingers at food plots or mineral licks or other ways of antler enhancement. While I have no problem with food plots, never once did I mention them in my QDM plan. That is because we don't have them. Farmer Joe plants plenty of corn and beans for us, just as I'm sure you have access to on your hunting ground. QDM does not equal food plots or other manipulation. I've never "forced" my view on anyone. All I did was take time out to "educate" some folks. No different than when I was a small boy, someone had to teach me that 2 + 2 = 4. Once given the information, they made an educated choice on how to hunt. No one said teaching is easy. Heck I know some who still don't know that 2 + 2 = 4. If you go back and read, when I started QDM, I had no clue what "QDM" stood for. For me it was called COMMON SENSE. Something that there seems to be a lack of these days.
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 12:26:24 GMT -5
Post by Decatur on Aug 22, 2006 12:26:24 GMT -5
I wasn't referring to your post necessarily Dec, I was just voicing my opinion regarding all of the QDM spots you see on TV and in magazines. Where their goal is to make "Deerzillas" behind every tree. I wasn't commenting on "How many deer a person has to pass on to make it a trophy", I was refering to all of the genetic messing we do, whether it's milking sperm from big bucks, to planting foods that increase antler growth. I just feel like a 160 class buck from 1975, is worth more than a 180 class buck today, maybe not in the hunter who harvested the deers eyes, but to people on the sidelines watching. It just seems that a deer that hasn't been monkeyed with, whether by special food plots, or genetic tampering is a more worthy trophy.
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 12:41:56 GMT -5
Post by js2397 on Aug 22, 2006 12:41:56 GMT -5
I believe the purpose of QDM is to have a healthy deer herd with a good age balance and sex ratio. The object is to keep the herd below the carrying capacity of the land. This is achieved by harvesting does. When the does are healthier the recruitment rate is higher and the number of deer on a property is higher also. Then when bucks are taken you try to harvest the most mature animals on the property. One of the by products is deer that have nice racks. This is the only thing that most people focus on. Then they try to get laws passed to make everybody hunt the way they hunt.
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 14:56:04 GMT -5
Post by dec on Aug 22, 2006 14:56:04 GMT -5
I could not agree more Decatur when it comes to the genetic matipulation of the herd. While playing with genetics, dietary suppliments, antler enhancing minerals all may be used in some parts of the country, I don't think this falls under the idea of QDM by most peoples' standards. This does occure in some game preserves and on some Texas type ranches, but I really don't think that John Q. Public Indiana hunter is doing such a thing in their QDM programs.
Now I guess you could argue that food plots beyond general farm crops are manipulating the antler growth. To a point I would agree. I guess the cheapening the trophy would be completely a personal opinion on such a matter.
The foundation of QDM is still selective harvesting of both bucks and does.
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 15:23:38 GMT -5
Post by grappledad on Aug 22, 2006 15:23:38 GMT -5
Don't anyone take this the wrong way. Indiana has produced big bucks way before the OBR or QDM even though the herds age structure and buck to doe is less than perfect. How did guys do it?How did the big boys get to be big boys? The way I see it the guys killing the big ones hunt harder, longer and farther from the truck, scout and in general are just more devoted and thus better hunters. Big deer got big by being smart and thus demanding more skill to harvest one. It might be kool to have a trophy behind every tree, but then patience could replace skill and woodsmanship.Before everyone flames me let me say I do have personal standards that a buck must meet before I will harvest him ,and I kill a ton of doe every year. And I hunt mostly on public ground. Maybe I would feel differently if I had big private ground to hunt,I don't know.
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QDM
Aug 22, 2006 19:32:20 GMT -5
Post by solohunter on Aug 22, 2006 19:32:20 GMT -5
I think i am going to start an org called QHM...quality habitat management, if you want to give back to the woods ALL wildlife benefits. I like the Mossy Oak ads going on now, no mention of a particular animal.....just giving back to mother nature. There is QDM..could be QCM, QRM,QPM,QBM.QEM,QBM,QTM......on and on....respectfully, QSolohunterM
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QDM
Aug 23, 2006 7:13:58 GMT -5
Post by kevin1 on Aug 23, 2006 7:13:58 GMT -5
QDM is fine if you're into it. I just don't feel that it should be forced on everyone. If you want to practice it, do like previous posters have said and get your neighbors online. It seems to cheapen a trophy to me if "you" and not mother nature created it. JMHO You hit the nail on the head Decatur . No to state mandated trophyism , that's not what HE is about anyway , it's about creating a safer hunter . QDM cannot work if everyone around you isn't doing it , and the vast majority of landowners aren't . Do what you want on your own land , don't tell me what to do on mine .
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QDM
Aug 23, 2006 13:43:41 GMT -5
Post by greghopper on Aug 23, 2006 13:43:41 GMT -5
QDM is fine if you're into it. I just don't feel that it should be forced on everyone. If you want to practice it, do like previous posters have said and get your neighbors online. It seems to cheapen a trophy to me if "you" and not mother nature created it. JMHO You hit the nail on the head Decatur . No to state mandated trophyism , that's not what HE is about anyway , it's about creating a safer hunter . QDM cannot work if everyone around you isn't doing it , and the vast majority of landowners aren't . Do what you want on your own land , don't tell me what to do on mine . JUST remember you dont OWN the DEER on your Land THE STATE DOES!!!!!
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QDM
Aug 23, 2006 13:48:38 GMT -5
Post by greghopper on Aug 23, 2006 13:48:38 GMT -5
Don't anyone take this the wrong way. Indiana has produced big bucks way before the OBR or QDM even though the herds age structure and buck to doe is less than perfect. How did guys do it?How did the big boys get to be big boys? The way I see it the guys killing the big ones hunt harder, longer and farther from the truck, scout and in general are just more devoted and thus better hunters. Big deer got big by being smart and thus demanding more skill to harvest one. It might be kool to have a trophy behind every tree, but then patience could replace skill and woodsmanship.Before everyone flames me let me say I do have personal standards that a buck must meet before I will harvest him ,and I kill a ton of doe every year. And I hunt mostly on public ground. Maybe I would feel differently if I had big private ground to hunt,I don't know. WHAT!!!! your saying if I cant Kill a BIG BUCK its my way of Hunting that is causing This...B.S. :(wake up and smell the Coffee!!!!
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QDM
Aug 23, 2006 14:12:56 GMT -5
Post by Woody Williams on Aug 23, 2006 14:12:56 GMT -5
Don't anyone take this the wrong way. Indiana has produced big bucks way before the OBR or QDM even though the herds age structure and buck to doe is less than perfect. How did guys do it?How did the big boys get to be big boys? The way I see it the guys killing the big ones hunt harder, longer and farther from the truck, scout and in general are just more devoted and thus better hunters. Big deer got big by being smart and thus demanding more skill to harvest one. It might be kool to have a trophy behind every tree, but then patience could replace skill and woodsmanship.Before everyone flames me let me say I do have personal standards that a buck must meet before I will harvest him ,and I kill a ton of doe every year. And I hunt mostly on public ground. Maybe I would feel differently if I had big private ground to hunt,I don't know. WHAT!!!! your saying if I cant Kill a BIG BUCK its my way of Hunting that is causing This...B.S. :(wake up and smell the Coffee!!!! Maybe a little strong wording but as I see it the guys who are CONSISTENTLY "killing the big ones hunt harder, longer and farther from the truck, scout and in general are just more devoted." I've found the harder and longer I hunt the "luckier" I get. .
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QDM
Aug 23, 2006 14:41:17 GMT -5
Post by chicobrownbear on Aug 23, 2006 14:41:17 GMT -5
I see valid arguments for both mother nature and QDM. I personally just hunt. There is plenty of natural browse and good cover on our property. I have also found that the more patient on stand I am, doors seem to open regularly.
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