Quality Deer Management Association

[GW11]

Sure wish more folks around here would practice QDMA. The best part being when that buck they're trying to grow into a "shooter" hops the fence and wanders into my area.

[benjhind]

Sure wish more folks around here would practice QDMA. The best part being when that buck they're trying to grow into a "shooter" hops the fence and wanders into my area.

Now that's a proper glass-half-full opinion!

[blasted_saber]

When it comes to QDMA this article is the one that rang loudest for me. In particular the part I quoted.

NO THANK YOU!

http://www.petersenshunting.com/unca...ining-hunting/

Shortly after dark, my buddy pulled up in his truck with his 13-year-old son. You didn’t have to look in the bed to know there was a buck there; you could see it on the boy’s face. As he grinned from ear to ear, his story rolled off his tongue in one strung-together, breathless, barely coherent sentence. He proudly told us about how he shot his deer, how he couldn’t get a shot at the bigger one that came by, but when this one came into his shooting lane he dropped it at 100 yards. It was his first buck, and it made me realize how exciting a buck—any buck—should be.
The buck was a basket-racked 125-class 10-point that was probably 2½ years old. You could tell from the looks on some of the hunters’ faces that this deer was too young for the farm’s guidelines. One hunter started to chastise the boy, but before he could get very far, I cut in and shook the boy’s hand. Others followed suit. “A hell of a deer. Congratulations. Nice shot.” The boy beamed with pride as his hand was pumped. As I walked inside I thought to myself, What the heck has this world come to? When a kid should pass up a 10-point buck to let it grow another year, I’ve had my fill of it. How many years does he need to sit and pass up deer before one comes along that meets what other hunters think is acceptable? Do we really think he
will stick around the sport, or will he simply gravitate to something that is more rewarding and exciting?

[terrym]

When it comes to QDMA this article is the one that rang loudest for me. In particular the part I quoted.

NO THANK YOU!

http://www.petersenshunting.com/unca...ining-hunting/

Sad isn't it? I blame the wildtv syndrome for it. If the young generation buys into this cr@p the hunting tradition is doomed. The real world of deer hunting isn't having somebody drive you out to a baited field in Iowa in a $70k Dodge Ram and then look over a dzn bucks and passing because none qualify for B&C. Any legal deer should be something a hunter is pleased with and to look down on anybody for doing that is deplorable. I also think that very few deer camps fall for this stuff. Most of us enjoy the experience and the size of the rack is not why we deer hunt.

[trimmer21]

When it comes to QDMA this article is the one that rang loudest for me. In particular the part I quoted.

NO THANK YOU!

http://www.petersenshunting.com/unca...ining-hunting/

Sad isn't it? I blame the wildtv syndrome for it. If the young generation buys into this cr@p the hunting tradition is doomed. The real world of deer hunting isn't having somebody drive you out to a baited field in Iowa in a $70k Dodge Ram and then look over a dzn bucks and passing because none qualify for B&C. Any legal deer should be something a hunter is pleased with and to look down on anybody for doing that is deplorable. I also think that very few deer camps fall for this stuff. Most of us enjoy the experience and the size of the rack is not why we deer hunt.

This is exactly why I will NEVER support QDMA philosophy,in fact, I would consider actively campaigning against if they get too high and mighty.

[Greenhorn]

Just sow you know. They have been studying deer for a long time because bucks are able to BORROW calcium to grow antlers and replace it later. Also, does provide 50% of the genetics to growing antlers. So doe fawns are really important in caring the genes for antler traits.
They have never done studies on doe displacement, but from experience. Mature does will displace doe fawns provided their not killed.

[Noseyarentcha]

A few things that caused me to self reflect:
What made me even begin this thread?
Well, I have thought about baiting because I want a buck.
Who doesn't want a deer?
Ok. So. Learned from this forum that baiting can make deer sick.
Tossed that idea out the window(besides I'm not going to haul in food every few days).
Obviously, realizing that I could unintentionally make deer sick, I thought to myself that there must be a better way. What could I do to help the deer and to be completely honest, help fill my tag.
Next topic that piqued my interest as a way to attract deer was food plots. Seemed like a great way to give back.
Then I stumbled upon QDMA and that opened up even more questions in my mind on how to attract deer and help them as well.
MP made a comment that forced me to think about my own self serving motives.
Yes I want to attract deer, to help the deer but in the end, my personal motive is self serving.
If I were to simply make a food plot and not hunt then I would not be self serving.
There is so much to be learned.
So many sides to be heard.
Surely though, not every single aspect of a program can be wrong.
Can it?
Is it not possible to that there is some good to be had from doing some of the things that QDMA does, such as providing food and shelter, the taking of only big bucks, aside?
Is QDMA the only program/course available of it's kind?
Any other programs to be recommended?
I'm kind of leaning towards just letting things be. No food plot.
My does are doing fine and after examining my own personal motives, I'm not feeling real good about them.
It's difficult to sort it all out and I do not want to be brain washed into thinking one way or the other.
It is nice to see both positions debated.
In the end, I guess I've got to do what I can live with, after I have all of the information.
How can I get all of the information if I don't take a course?
Geesh...being new is a huge learning curve.
I appreciate it when I'm forced to self reflect and I learn from it, from both sides.

[GW11]

A few things that caused me to self reflect:
What made me even begin this thread?
Well, I have thought about baiting because I want a buck.
Who doesn't want a deer?
Ok. So. Learned from this forum that baiting can make deer sick.
Tossed that idea out the window(besides I'm not going to haul in food every few days).
Obviously, realizing that I could unintentionally make deer sick, I thought to myself that there must be a better way. What could I do to help the deer and to be completely honest, help fill my tag.
Next topic that piqued my interest as a way to attract deer was food plots. Seemed like a great way to give back.
Then I stumbled upon QDMA and that opened up even more questions in my mind on how to attract deer and help them as well.
MP made a comment that forced me to think about my own self serving motives.
Yes I want to attract deer, to help the deer but in the end, my personal motive is self serving.
If I were to simply make a food plot and not hunt then I would not be self serving.
There is so much to be learned.
So many sides to be heard.
Surely though, not every single aspect of a program can be wrong.
Can it?
Is it not possible to that there is some good to be had from doing some of the things that QDMA does, such as providing food and shelter, the taking of only big bucks, aside?
Is QDMA the only program/course available of it's kind?
Any other programs to be recommended?
I'm kind of leaning towards just letting things be. No food plot.
My does are doing fine and after examining my own personal motives, I'm not feeling real good about them.
It's difficult to sort it all out and I do not want tp be brain washed into thinking one way or the other.
It is nice to see both positions debated.
In the end, I guess I've got to do what I can live with, after I have all of the information.
How can I get all of the information if I don't take a course?
Geesh...being new is a huge learning curve.
I appreciate it when I'm forced to self reflect and I learn.

Don't worry about putting out a bit of bait, the deer will be fine. Especially if you're baiting in an area where the same type of food has been available throughout the year. If you were to put out a bunch of corn in the last week in December and the deer in your area have been feeding on browse for a month it might be a different story, but in the Central and Southern part of the province a bit of bait won't hurt. You don't have to haul in vast amounts, just carry a small amount in with you each time you go and put it out before you leave.

[Gregoire1960]

There it is..that nasty little rub....the bane of those who preach QDMA..darn neighbours who don't participate in the philosophy. ..LOL..

That comment alone Gregoire is how I know your not being honest about your motives....

"Make things up"..do tell me what I have said that wasn't factual ? Almost everything you've said about QDMA

All I've attempted to do is dispel the propaganda that the QDMA folk feed to the public. I had a food plot for a few years..but I was never disingenuous about with the reason I had it...it was for late season 'living' bait to attract deer to my property. No sanctimonious clap trap about providing year round nutrition to the herd. My neighbours 50 acres of corn/soya feilds 400 yds away did that nicely. What kind of foodplot? Did it provide year round nutrition or was it a short season kill plot?

As a hunter, I accept that my role is to cull deer in the effort to control the population of deer in my MWU as part of the MNR's responsibility to maintain deer at population at levels that are sustainable to the herd, to keep them healthy....that is how I give back. Killing deer is giving back? Wow, talk about hooey!

NOT shooting deer, spike or 4 points, you become part of the problem. Avoiding them for some testosterone driven desire to shot a mature buck is counter productive to the prime reason we're out there hunting. Really, so passing a spike and shooting a doe would be testosterone driven? Delusional....

Most Camps have the right idea, "if it's brown it down"...put a dent in the population, all deer are fair game, fill the pole, put meat in everyone's freezer. If you pass on a small buck flushed by the doggers, waiting for a mature buck, you'll likely get to your butt reamed and rightfully so. To each his own, if killing a fawn or spike makes you happy have at it.

"Think like me" ??? ..how do you know how I think ? Everything you've typed spells it out. You take from the resource and don't give back. To each his own I guess.

I have a man cave wall full of mature racks that I have shot and take pride in, they are trophies that represent time well spent honing my craft. I just don't target them, they are shot by happenstance, right place at the right time...luck, a hunters best friend !! I'm sure your chest swells with pride, a trophy to me isn't about horns. The proudest harvest I had was a doe with my bow, first deer ever on my own land. QDMA doesn't mean trophies to me, but then again I've been a member for over 16 years and actually know a little about them.

......

[Gregoire1960]

A few things that caused me to self reflect:
What made me even begin this thread?
Well, I have thought about baiting because I want a buck.
Who doesn't want a deer?
Ok. So. Learned from this forum that baiting can make deer sick.
Tossed that idea out the window(besides I'm not going to haul in food every few days).
Obviously, realizing that I could unintentionally make deer sick, I thought to myself that there must be a better way. What could I do to help the deer and to be completely honest, help fill my tag.
Next topic that piqued my interest as a way to attract deer was food plots. Seemed like a great way to give back.
Then I stumbled upon QDMA and that opened up even more questions in my mind on how to attract deer and help them as well.
MP made a comment that forced me to think about my own self serving motives.
Yes I want to attract deer, to help the deer but in the end, my personal motive is self serving.
If I were to simply make a food plot and not hunt then I would not be self serving.
There is so much to be learned.
So many sides to be heard.
Surely though, not every single aspect of a program can be wrong.
Can it?
Is it not possible to that there is some good to be had from doing some of the things that QDMA does, such as providing food and shelter, the taking of only big bucks, aside?
Is QDMA the only program/course available of it's kind?
Any other programs to be recommended?
I'm kind of leaning towards just letting things be. No food plot.
My does are doing fine and after examining my own personal motives, I'm not feeling real good about them.
It's difficult to sort it all out and I do not want to be brain washed into thinking one way or the other.
It is nice to see both positions debated.
In the end, I guess I've got to do what I can live with, after I have all of the information.
How can I get all of the information if I don't take a course?
Geesh...being new is a huge learning curve.
I appreciate it when I'm forced to self reflect and I learn from it, from both sides.

I would start by joining QDMA (it's inexpensive) and read from their website / magazine. You don't really need to take the course to learn about their stewardship goals. I've never taken the course but have completed lots of habitat enhancement projects just from reading their info and lots of other sources. They get into everything from pruning / planting apple trees to prescribed burning, selective timber harvesting, food plots etc.