What is QDMA?

What is Quality Deer Management?

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.

QDM - The New Philosophy

Increasingly, landowners, hunters, and wildlife managers across North America are embracing the QDM philosophy. This is evidenced by the
increasing voluntary and regulatory implementation of QDM practices on private and public lands. Hunters are rethinking what constitutes a "quality"
hunt and how they can make a positive contribution to the future of the deer herds they hunt. Another benefit of QDM is increased hunter safety. By
taking the time to positively identify each deer by sex and age, the likelihood of accidental shootings is even more remote than under current
management methods. Hunters participating in QDM enjoy both the tangible and intangible benefits of this approach. Pleasure can be derived from
each hunting experience regardless if a shot is fired or an animal is harvested. What is important is the chance to interact with a well-managed deer
herd that is in balance with its habitat. A side benefit is the knowledge that mature bucks are present in the herd - something lacking on many
areas under traditional deer management. When a quality buck is taken on a QDM area, all property hunters can share the pride because they
helped produce it by allowing it to pass as a younger animal.

The 4 Building Blocks of Quality Deer Management

While QDM guidelines must be tailored to each property, there are four cornerstones to all successful QDM programs: herd management, habitat
management, hunter management, and herd monitoring.

Herd Management:

Arguably, the most important part of QDM is herd management. Determining the appropriate number of deer to harvest by sex and age is essential.
The first step is to establish the number of deer the habitat can support in a healthy condition. Thus, habitat quality determines herd size, herd
quality, and harvest requirements for both sexes.

It is often difficult to establish the appropriate herd size for a property because it is not a fixed value from year to year, or even season to season.
Habitats are constantly changing and seasonal conditions vary. Land-use changes on your property or adjacent properties also affect habitat quality.
However, with a little homework and some advice from a wildlife professional, a reasonable starting point can be established.

The manager must understand that deer health will decline if it exceeds the habitat's capacity to provide quality forage and cover. A good indication
of habitat quality is deer body weights, especially in young deer. A decrease in average body weight within an age class often indicates a decrease
in habitat quality. In bucks, average antler measurements within an age class also provide useful insight regarding current habitat quality. With
does, other warning signs include a reduction in the average number of fawns per doe or the lactation ("in milk") rate in adult does.

Antlerless Deer Management

In many areas, deer herds are at or above optimum densities and herd stabilization or reduction is needed. Both are accomplished through the
harvest of female deer < the reproductive segment of the herd. In fact, appropriate antlerless deer harvest often is the most important aspect of
herd management. Traditionally, does were protected from harvest because of their reproductive role. Today, in many areas, an increased doe
harvest improves the social structure and health of the herd without jeopardizing herd size or stability.

Many hunters are reluctant to harvest antlerless deer because they fear that buck fawns will also be harvested. While this is a valid concern,
techniques are available to greatly minimize these mistakes. By paying close attention to body size and shape, head size and shape, and behavior,
the harvest of button bucks can be minimized. Regardless, in the early stages of QDM it is more important to achieve the correct antlerless harvest
for the area, even if a few button bucks are taken. A good starting point is to maintain an antlerless harvest with less than 10 percent button bucks,
although a lower percentage is desirable.

Another concern is that harvesting does with fawns will result in the death of those fawns, especially buck fawns. However, research has shown
that as long as fawns are at least 60 to 90 days old (weigh more than 40 pounds) their chances of survival are not negatively affected. Most states
have established their antlerless deer seasons with this in mind. With buck fawns, most disperse from their birth area when they are between six
and 24 months of age. Often, they will disperse several miles before finding a new home. This reinforces the need for hunters on small properties
to encourage their neighbors also to protect buck fawns, as these may be your adult bucks of tomorrow.

Antlered Buck Management

Another important aspect of herd management is establishing appropriate harvest restrictions for bucks. Restrictions are established on a
property-specific basis according to hunter objectives, property size, habitat quality, management practices on surrounding properties, and other
factors. A reasonable starting point for most QDM programs is the protection of yearling bucks.

Several body and antler characteristics can be used to distinguish yearling bucks from older bucks. For simplicity, most properties use antler
characteristics such as a minimum number of points. However, in many areas, the number of antler points is a poor predictor of age and should not
be used as the only harvest restriction. Other antler characteristics, such as antler spread and antler length, are generally better predictors of age,
but more difficult for the average hunter to judge. When possible, both antler and body characteristics should be used to maximize reliability.

The appropriate restriction or combination of restrictions that best protect yearling bucks is determined by examining previous years' harvest data
on your property. The restriction selected should protect all or nearly all yearling bucks, especially the largest-antlered yearling bucks. If no
previous data are available, contact your state wildlife agency. Usually, they can provide assistance in selecting the most appropriate initial
restriction. After the first few years, the restriction can be fine-tuned through the harvest data collected on the property.

Often, QDM participants increase the harvest restriction over time to protect other age classes in addition to yearlings. Antler size of even mature
bucks can vary greatly. Therefore, a mistake to avoid is the establishment of a minimum harvest restriction so high that many mature bucks never
reach harvestable status. This can result in these small-antlered mature bucks breeding many does, which may negatively affect herd antler size
over time. Some deer managers recommend culling these smaller-antlered mature bucks. However, this requires more experience in estimating
deer age and antler size than most hunters have. Most deer managers agree that bucks should not be culled until they are least 3.5 or 4.5 years of
age, if ever. Generally, this approach is reserved for very experienced hunters on properties practicing trophy deer management.

Habitat Management:

Whitetail Nutritional Needs

Improving the nutrition available to a deer herd is another important component of QDM. The diet of a healthy herd should contain 12-18 percent
protein and adequate levels of calcium, phosphorous, and other important nutrients. Although whitetails can maintain themselves on lower quality
diets, antler development, body growth, and reproductive success suffer. Fortunately, several techniques are available to increase nutrition to
desirable levels. Three common practices include natural vegetation management, food plots, and supplemental feeding.

Natural Vegetation Management

Natural vegetation includes all plant species, both native and introduced, on a property. Because these species account for most of a deer's diet, the
most desirable species should be widely available and abundant. While it is possible to plant certain desirable native species, it is more economical
and beneficial to manipulate the habitat to encourage desirable species and deter undesirable ones. Habitat management techniques may include
prescribed burning, mowing, discing, fertilizing, and the use of selective herbicides. Determining the best technique or combination of techniques
for your area depends on property location, property size, site quality, existing vegetation, management goals, available equipment, and financial
resources. Therefore, we recommend you seek advice from a wildlife or forestry professional before undertaking any habitat management
program.

Food Plots

When properly established and maintained, food plots are a very beneficial habitat management practice. Food plots include all plant species
planted in an agricultural manner to increase the quantity and/or quality of forage available to deer. While the common question is what's best to
plant for my deer herd?, the answer is rarely as simple. There are no "magic beans" that fulfill the dietary needs of whitetails on a year-round basis.
Determining which species or groups of species to plant depends on many factors.

The first step in a food plot program is to determine the location, size, shape, distribution, and total acreage of food plots needed. Selecting sites
with the best soil characteristics is very important and a county soil map (available from the Natural Resources Conservation Service) can be a great
help. Recent research suggests that as little as one percent of a property planted in high quality, year-round food plots can measurably improve the
overall condition of a deer herd. A more aggressive goal would be three to five percent. Food plots should be between a half and three acres in
size, irregularly shaped, and evenly distributed throughout a property. Small plots (1/4-1/2 acre) are more difficult to manage and more vulnerable to
overbrowsing.

The second step is to conduct a soil test. For a nominal cost, the soil test will provide a detailed summary of the soil pH (acidity level) and current
nutrient levels. Without this knowledge, it is impossible to know how much lime and/or fertilizer must be added to maximize yields.

The third step is to decide whether to plant annuals or perennials or a combination of both. Annuals grow for a single season only, whereas
perennials may grow for five years or longer. Annuals are easier to grow, but typically must be replanted annually which increases the cost and
labor requirements. Perennials require periodic mowing, fertilizing, and weed control. However, when planted and managed correctly, they
generally produce more total forage and are more cost effective than annual plantings.

A final consideration is whether to plant cool-season forages, warm-season forages, or both. Cool-season forages grow best from fall through
spring while warm-season forages grow during the late spring and summer months. Many hunters plant cool-season food plots to increase
hunting success during the fall. Fall food plots also increase opportunities for hunters to view deer for extended periods; thereby, increasing
harvest selectivity.

Cool-season forages provide useful nutrition during the fall and early spring, but typically not during mid- to late-summer when does are raising
fawns and bucks are growing antlers. As such, in many areas, both warm- and cool-season forages should be planted to ensure year-round forage
availability and nutrition.

Supplemental Feeding

Supplemental feeding is the practice through which bulk feeds such as corn, soybeans, or commercial deer pellets are provided to deer in large
quantities throughout the year or during specific stress periods. This practice differs from baiting in that the primary emphasis is to improve deer
health and not simply to increase deer density or harvest opportunities.

In some portions of the whitetail's range, inadequate rainfall, poor soils, or landowner constraints prevent hunters from undertaking natural
vegetation management programs or establishing high quality food plots. In such cases (and where legal), supplemental feeding provides a reliable
means of improving nutrition available to deer. However, this practice is more costly than other management techniques as well as more time and
labor intensive. In addition, supplemental feeding is highly controversial among wildlife professionals because it has been linked to the
transmission of certain diseases and parasites, some of which have human health implications. As such, supplemental feeding programs should
not be implemented in areas with disease concerns and considered carefully before implementing in other areas.

Hunter Management:

Hunter management is a critical, yet often difficult aspect of QDM. Within most hunting groups, support for QDM varies. It is difficult to achieve the
objectives of QDM unless all hunters are fully committed. Education is the key. Hunters must fully understand the benefits and costs of QDM before
they become active participants.

Active participation in a QDM program requires hunters to learn about deer ecology and behavior, and become participants in management. They
must be able to distinguish fawns, does, yearling bucks, intermediate-aged bucks (2.5 and 3.5 years old), and mature bucks (4.5 years and older).
Making these distinctions requires knowledge of body size, shape, behavior, and other features related to sex and age. Again, education is the key
to success.
Knowledge leads to increased respect for the quarry, and often a greater focus on the experience rather than the number or size of animals
harvested. Conversations with other hunters become focused on what is observed and left rather than what is taken. Landowners and clubs can
become better neighbors as they unite to have areas large enough for QDM. In brief, QDM fosters a sense of pride in the deer herd and nature as a
whole.

Herd Monitoring:

Herd Monitoring is another important building block of QDM. There are two types of data commonly collected < harvest data and observation data.
Harvest data should be collected from deer harvested during the season or found dead at other times. Observation data may be collected at any
time, but generally collected while hunting. Together, these data help hunters and managers make educated decisions about their deer herds.
Good records generally result in good management decisions, whereas poor or incomplete records often result in faulty decisions.

It takes a substantial amount of data to develop a good "picture" of a herd. On many properties, the number of deer taken is too small and
measurements are too variable for conclusions to be drawn from a single year's data.
Therefore, data must be collected over several years or combined with surrounding properties' data to determine trends in herd condition.

Harvest Data

Harvest records are generally the most important information from which to base management decisions. However, management decisions are
only as good as the quality of data gathered. Therefore, harvest data must be complete and consistently collected from every deer harvested. This
should be made mandatory. If this is not possible, a convenient, well-equipped check station or shed to process deer will help encourage data
collection.

When possible, one person should record all of the data while others process the deer. Data collected on both bucks and does include: date of
harvest, sex, weight, age (jawbone), harvest location, hunter's name, and any comments or unique observations. Additional data collected on bucks
should include number of points, antler spread, antler length, circumference at the base, and possibly other details such as Boone & Crockett
score. Additional data collected on does include evidence of lactation ("in milk") and fetal information.

All jawbones should be retained until after the hunting season and provided to an experienced wildlife biologist for aging. With practice, hunters can
become efficient at estimating deer age. Several resource materials on deer aging are available from the Quality Deer Management Association
(QDMA).

Harvest data provide useful insight into the current condition of a deer herd. When compared to previous years, harvest data provide the
opportunity to see where a deer management program has been and where it is going. This information is particularly useful in QDM programs that
implement antler restrictions to protect young bucks.

Observation Data

When properly collected, observation data can reveal important details about a herd's size, sex ratio, fawn survival, age structure, and overall
management success. Because some age classes of bucks are protected from harvest under QDM, observation data, especially on bucks, can
provide useful information not provided by harvest data. The most important aspect of observation data is consistency. Whether collected
throughout the year or only during the hunting season, observation data should be collected the same way each time and compared only to
information collected during the same period in future years.

Observation data can be collected by hunters or with remote-sensing cameras. When collected by hunters, every deer should be counted during
each outing, even if the same animal was observed during a previous observation period. This means the same animal may be counted several
times during a season. This is fine. The purpose is not to count every individual deer on a property, but rather to determine the relative abundance
of deer and the proportion of bucks, does, and fawns. Also, unless a deer can be positively identified as a buck, doe, or fawn, it should be recorded
as "unknown." A small amount of reliable data is better than a large amount containing numerous misidentified animals.

The use of remote-sensing cameras positioned along trails or feeding areas is a relatively new method for collecting observation data. These
cameras have the advantage that they can monitor deer at night and when no one is hunting the area, as well as provide useful reference
photographs. This is especially important for mature bucks, which are infrequently seen by hunters except during the rut. The photographs taken
can provide useful information on herd size, sex ratio, and buck abundance and age structure. They also can raise the excitement level around the
deer camp and verify that management efforts to produce older bucks are working.

Deer Management Strategies

In general, there are four primary deer management strategies:

Maximum population management
Maximum harvest management
Quality deer management
Trophy deer management
While these strategies are not mutually exclusive, each differs in its goals and intensity of management. Because the maximum population
approach and maximum harvest approach are very similar, they have been combined into traditional deer management for the purposes of this
guide.

Traditional Deer Management - Maximum population management & Maximum harvest management:

Under traditional deer management, bucks of any age or antler quality may be harvested and antlerless deer harvest is regulated to produce an
abundant deer herd and/or to maximize total buck harvest. Under this approach, most bucks harvested are yearlings (1.5 years old), with few bucks
surviving beyond their second year.

This management approach is typically the least intensive and sometimes allows herds to increase to levels that can damage the habitat.
Depending on herd productivity and the intensity of buck harvest, the sex ratio often becomes heavily skewed in favor of females. In some herds,
particularly those where substantial buck harvest occurs before the rut, this imbalance may result in some does not breeding during their first
estrous (heat) period, or perhaps delay their first estrus. If does do not conceive during their first estrus, the next breeding opportunity will not
occur until 28-30 days later. The doe's fawns will be born one month later for each cycle missed. Later-born fawns have lower survival rates, lower
weaning weights, and poorer antler development as yearlings than fawns born at the appropriate time of year.

Quality Deer Management:

Quality deer management (QDM) is a management philosophy/practice that unites landowners, hunters, and resource managers in a common goal
of producing healthy deer herds with balanced adult sex ratios and age structures. This approach typically involves protecting young bucks while
harvesting an appropriate number of female deer to maintain herds within existing environmental and social constraints. 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 bestows an ethical obligation on the hunter to practice
sound deer management. Consequently, to an increasing number of landowners and hunters, QDM is a desirable alternative to traditional deer
management.

Practicing QDM produces many benefits. Typically, the sex ratio becomes more balanced and the number (or proportion) of bucks in the older age
classes increases. Often, more mature bucks are available for breeding, resulting in less stress on yearling bucks and an earlier, more-defined rut.
In some cases, deer health and body weights improve due to improved habitat conditions, which also benefit many other wildlife species. The
lower deer density also helps reduce crop damage and deer/vehicle collisions.

One obvious benefit is the increased presence of mature bucks and the exhilaration of observing their behavior. Many landowners and hunters
receive great satisfaction from the increased involvement with their deer herd that QDM offers.

The benefits of QDM do not come without costs. Typically, large tracts of land are required to achieve maximum results. While defining a minimum
size is difficult, 600-1,000 acres is a reasonable starting point in most areas. While QDM can be successful on smaller areas, cooperation with
hunters on neighboring properties and unique management practices are required.

Participants must take an active role in management and maintain accurate harvest records to assess management progress and fine-tune
management strategies. Harvest restrictions and rules, especially for young bucks, must be implemented and enforced. Where high deer
populations already exist, initial QDM restrictions generally result in a reduced total buck harvest and an increased doe harvest. As such, QDM often
requires a change in hunting practices and a new mindset.

Trophy Deer Management:

QDM often is confused with trophy deer management. While the two approaches share several objectives, they also differ in many ways. Under
trophy deer management, fully mature bucks with high-scoring antlers are the primary focus. Whitetail bucks typically attain maximum antler size
between 5.5 and 8.5 years of age.

Producing bucks of this age and antler quality requires many ingredients not available to most hunters. Because some adult bucks have home
ranges of 2,000 acres or more, large tracts of land, often 5,000 acres or more, are required. Because buck home ranges are not uniform in shape
and size, few adult bucks live their entire lives on a single property, even on 5,000 acres.

The ability to control hunting pressure is paramount, especially on promising 2.5-, 3.5- and 4.5-year-old bucks. This requires considerable
field-judging skill and self-control. Unless the herd is enclosed and supplementally fed, deer density must be kept low to allow optimum nutrition
so bucks can maximize antler potential. This often involves aggressive doe harvests (even higher than under QDM) and intensive habitat
management. Therefore, while trophy deer management is a biologically sound approach, it is not feasible in many areas and the associated costs
outweigh the benefits for most hunters.

Where and When Did QDM Originate?

Texas is the formal birthplace of QDM. Beginning in the late 1960s, wildlife biologists Al Brothers and Murphy Ray Jr. began formalizing their novel
ideas on deer management, which they outlined in their 1975 book, Producing Quality Whitetails. The QDM movement gained momentum in Texas
during the 1970s, but was slow to spread to other parts of the whitetail's range. The idea was brought to the Southeast in the late 1970s and slowly
gained acceptance, initially from large private landowners and timber companies.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, QDM gained popularity throughout other portions of the whitetail's range. By the year 2000, dozens of states and
thousands of hunters had implemented QDM restrictions on millions of acres of private and public lands across the United States . Without
question, QDM is rapidly becoming accepted as the most desirable and biologically sound deer management approach for today's whitetail herds.

Is QDM for all Hunters?

Not necessarily. But a growing number of hunters have progressed to a stage in their hunting that reflects a change in values and a desire for a
"different" hunting experience. Involvement in QDM is simply an alternative to traditional deer management. Originally, only large properties (1,000
acres or more) were involved in QDM, but smaller properties are now participating through the formation of QDM cooperatives comprised of
several smaller properties with similar objectives.

Is QDM Right for You?

Quality deer management is not a panacea and many things should be considered before implementing QDM practices on your hunting land. If you
answer yes to the following questions, QDM may be right for you. · Do you have enough acreage to manage your deer population without being
severely affected by hunting pressure on adjacent properties? If not, will your neighbors join you and possibly others in forming a QDM
cooperative? · Is the habitat on your hunting property adequate to produce and maintain a healthy deer herd? If not, do you and your hunting
companions have the funds, equipment, and commitment to manage and improve the habitat? · Do the deer-hunting regulations in your state allow
enough flexibility to manage your herd? Does your state wildlife agency encourage and assist landowners with management and allow adequate
doe harvests? · Are you and your hunting companions prepared to commit to a long-term (often five or more years) management program? · Do
you and your hunting companions understand the financial, time, and energy commitments and have realistic expectations regarding a QDM
program?

When considering QDM, realistic expectations must be stressed. Management goals should be set with the potential of the local herd in mind. As a
quality herd becomes established, it is important not to let expectations exceed the capabilities of the herd or habitat. Significant changes to deer
herds and deer habitats do not happen overnight and often take several years to become obvious.