








































2008 - First Annual Deer Camera Survey.
High School Students from C. Milton Wright High School started a camera deer survey at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center. Harford Glen
located near Bel Air in Harford County hosts students from Harford County schools with hands on environmental projects and studies. Harford Glen also
hosts the Gifted and Talented program. The seniors from Sharyn Denbow’s class will be participating in the first of four camera deer surveys throughout the
state sponsored by Maryland State Chapter QDMA. The Camera Deer Study includes the use of aerial mapping, GPS locating camera sites and identifying
deer browse. This camera survey technique was developed and refined by Mississippi State University researchers Dr.Stephen Demarais, William McKinley
and Dr. Harry Jacobson. It was illustrated in Quality White-Tails (Journal of the Quality Deer Management Association) by Jason R. Snavely (Drop-Tine
Wildlife Consulting) in his four part series of articles. Data compiled from photographs and carefully counting the numbers of bucks, does and fawns will be
used in estimating the population of deer in the study area. Repeating this survey over multiple seasons, they will be able to compare trends with the
estimates. Ask your City, County and State Park in your area what if any programs they have for estimating deer populations. Teachers and students
anxious to learn more about whitetail deer and methods of estimating populations and management strategies can contact EW Grimes or the Maryland
State Chapter QDMA. Go to the Contact Us Page.
EDUCATIONAL CAMERA SURVEY STUDIES
Preview of Instructional DVD for the 15 Inch Rule
The Maryland State Chapter
QDMA has an Instructional DVD
for the 15" Rule available for
$10 each plus S & H. Contact
E.W. Grimes if you would like to
purchase one.
Maryland State Chapter QDMA has
a brochure which includes
information about QDMA on a
National Level as well as for
Maryland!
<<click on image for printable PDF Brochure>>
SEMINAR LISTINGS
Contact E.W. Grimes, Director of Maryland State Chapter of QDMA if you would like to book for one or more of these seminars.
There are no fees for seminars however donations to help cover fuel costs would be greatly appreciated.
1. Quality Deer Management
What is QDM and QDMA?
How it started and where.
The benefits of QDMA.
2. Managing for Quality Deer
How Deer effects the habitat.
Determining how many antlerless
deer to harvest.
4. Exclosures
The use of Utilization Cages and
why.
5. Trail Cameras
How and where to set up camera
sites. What time of year is best.
What to do with camera data
collected and why.
3. Habitat Improvements
Understanding deer Nutrition
needs and stress periods.
6. Urban Deer
What is urban deer?
Why are they here. Why are they
so hard to manage. How to
manage urban deer populations.
7. Buck Ecology
From buttons to 150" of antlers.
Factors that influences buck
growth and development.
8. Aging Deer on the Hoof
How to age live deer and what to look
at. Why do we age deer live and
harvested. Last part of seminar, you
age the deer.
9. Antler Abnormality
How they grow and why.
Causes of antler
abnormalities.
Agind deer by points or not?
12. QDMA Working in Maryland
This seminar has an in-depth look at
State Harvest Numbers for the past
three years and how they relate to
QDM with the yearling buck harvest by
county. A good QDM plan works for all!
10. Jawbone Aging of Deer
This seminar will show you how and
why to age the deer you are
harvesting. One of the most
overlooked parts of a good
management plan.
13. Romancing the Rutting Moon
This seminar takes a look into the timing of the rut and the
Rutting Moon theory. Does the moon have an effect on whitetails?
Also includes the data for the First Maryland Fetus Study
conducted by the MSC. You don't want to miss this one!
2009 - Carroll County Students Take Part in Second Annual Deer Camera Survey.
Century High School students have taken a leading role in this year's Deer Camera Survey at Piney Run Park. The study like last year was offered to all high
schools in Carroll County. Kim Moyer's Century High students expanded their class room to include Piney Run Park. Their field trip started in the nature
Center with a presentation by E.W. Grimes, Maryland State Chapter Director and Bachman Valley Branch President. The first part of QDMA's "Living with
Whitetail Deer" Educational DVD program, was viewed and discussed. The remainder of the "Living with Whitetail Deer" program will be conducted back at
the school. Even with snow and cold temperatures the student's enthusiasm to get in the whitetail's woods was amazing. The trip to the camera location
gave the students an opportunity to look at deer tracks, browse and deer pellets. With tracks and pellet easy to see we talked about the use of Pellet Count
Survey technique. The camera survey requires a seven day pre-baiting period which gives the students the hands-on opportunity to install the camera and
place the corn for bait. This pre-bait time would prove useful this year. After the per-bait seven days the survey continues for fourteen more days for data
collection. With the window of opportunity for the schools to participate with this study very small and limited, we had an unfortunate act of a camera being
stolen and timely data taken. We were able to fill the gap with data from the per-bait days. Any information about this person(s) would be appreciated.
Because this is an ongoing study by students I'm not revealing any numbers from this year's program. However, season to season trends are in fact more
valuable and useful than any one year. Last year over 1400 pictures were taken and this year over 1800 was taken. Fifteen (15) unique bucks (antlered and
shed) were counted last year and this year only six (6) and this is used in determining the population factor. Other data includes fawns(less than one year
old), button bucks and adult doe. The overall population numbers showed about 11% decline from last year's study and to add to this, Carroll County's total
harvest numbers went up 9%. I will provide the park with a full report later this year. The camera survey technique we are using was developed and refined by
Mississippi State University and researchers Dr. Stephen Demarais, William McKinley and Dr. Harry Jacobson. Research has shown that these camera
surveys provide sufficient, reliable data to make sound deer management decisions. The text these students are using came from Quality Whitetails journal
published by QDMA. The journal provides articles by Jason Snavely on infrared triggered camera placement and Do-it-Yourself Deer Survey. The primary
focus of QDMA along with the Maryland State Chapter and Bachman Valley Branch will always be on education, research and on-the-ground whitetail deer
management. This educational study would not have been possible without the support of Alan Warner of Warner Feed in Lineboro for the baiting corn and
the QDMA member which supplied the cameras. The Maryland State Chapter and The Bachman Valley Branch would also like to thank Kelly Vogiol,
Naturalist and the staff at Piney Run Park, the teacher from Century High, Kim Moyer along with her students. Their hands-on desire to expand their
knowledge of whitetail deer while exploring community deer management and biodiversity issues is what will continue to keep this program so successful for
years to come.
11. Food Plots
What, Where, How and When to
Plant your food plots.