Quality Deer Management: Fact vs. Fiction

Quality Deer Management ( QDM) is a concept and practice that has been around for some time. It has been getting a lot more attention lately and most people have heard about it, but a lot of people have misconceptions about it, including some of the groups that claim that they are advocating it.

Let’s start by stating what QDM is NOT. It is not trophy hunting. It is not resulting in a larger deer herd. It is not about genetics and “culling inferior deer,” although one group in the Finger Lakes ( who have obviously failed high school biology) apparently thinks so. It is not about forcing mandatory antler restrictions on hunters, although there are other groups who want to do this. It is not some exclusive hunting club where members pay to join. It is not a magic wand that will result in lots of big deer passing by your tree stand. There may be bigger deer around but that doesn’t mean you will see them.

Several years ago I discussed this with Wayne Masters, then with the DEC Region 7 Office, and now with QDM Association. Recently at a NYS Outdoor Writ-

FROM PAGE 1 ers’ Association gathering in Washington County we met with Tony Rainville, president of the Upper Hudson Valley QDMA, and manager of the Odd Duck QDM Cooperative near Greenwich. We also toured a property where Tony pointed out habitat management and discussed many aspects of QDM.

Tony and other QDMA personnel stressed that they do not favor mandatory antler restrictions. Yes, they practice it on various properties but firmly believe that a majority of hunters must approve of it. Their method is education, not legislation.

Tony was quick to point out that this is not a practice that will result in hunters seeing more deer, or even more big deer. He pointed out that a few years ago he was seeing lots of deer, but now that the herd is more in balance with the habitat he is actually seeing considerably less deer. Older bucks may be there but they are smarter, often nocturnal and wary. It is a matter of skill, time spent afield and luck to get them in your sights.

The four “cornerstones of QDM” are herd management, habitat management, herd monitoring and hunter management.

You have to have a suitable area ( e. g. not the Adirondacks), large enough area to be effective and people who believe in this.

For example the cooperatives are groups of area farms that all agree on these ideas and work with QDMA to practice this. It is not an organization that hunters join and have automatic access to these thousands of acres.

Individual farmers still control the number and who hunts on their individual property

Herd management means to balance deer population with habitat. Part of this is improving age structure by letting young yearling bucks pass to grow older. Part of this is har- vesting enough does to control population.

A second cornerstone is habitat management to provide abundant forage and cover. Some involves food plots but a lot involves managing natural vegetation. That can be cutting trees for winter browse, small clearcuts or “releasing” apple trees by cutting the brush around them. Even planting small strips of soybeans around cornfields or pumpkin patches can help the deer and save farmers money from crop depredation.

Herd monitoring involves collecting harvest data from the co- op area and observing numbers, ages, etc. through trail cams. Interestingly, Tony commented that the big, mature bucks will spot trail cameras and avoid them. Hunter management is focused on educating hunters on the program and explaining costs or savings.

Determining age of deer is more than counting points on antlers. Body characteristics and other factors allow trained people to get a fairly accurate idea of how old a buck is. All deer taken during the season are checked in a local farm for data collection which is later compiled and shared.

Tony Rainville stressed that different areas of the state often have bigger deer, carrying capacity, etc. due to habitat and other factors. So each area would have different sized deer for the same age. And as mentioned previously they aim to balance the age structure of the herd but are not trophy deer hunters.

QDMA works with the landowners to develop sanctuaries large enough so that deer that are ‘ bumped” don’t leave the property. It must be an area where deer have food, water and cover to feel safe.

More hiding cover for fawns means a higher survival rate as less are found by predators like coyotes.

Tony also had a lot of other interesting and useful tips about hunting strategies that we will share at a later date. It was a very interesting and productive afternoon learning and seeing what QDM is really like.

The people involved will readily tell you that QDM is not for everywhere or everyone. But it is important to realize that QDMA is a sincere, scientific- based and hard working group. Don’t confuse them with some of the other groups that cloud the issue or alienate sportsmen. There is much more about the program than space in this column allows. For more information visit the web site www. QDMA. com.