In this article I want to give you some quality deer management tips that will help your hunting land grow and hold trophy deer. There are basically two schools of thought on the issue of "Quality Deer Management". First one is: It doesn't work and it isn't nature's way. Second one is: It works and everyone should practice it. Ying and yang, or black and white; which is it? It comes down to opinions and what deer hunters want. Of course, everyone has their own opinion; and that is OK.
When it comes to quality deer management, we have to ask ourselves some basic questions, and then try to understand and analyze our answers. The first question I would like all of us think about is: Why do you hunt? The second one is: What do you want to get out of your deer hunting experience? The third one is: What do you want your future of deer hunting experiences to be like? The fourth, and I feel the critically important question is: Would you like the opportunity to harvest a trophy deer, 8 nice points or better, every year; to go along with the venison you may be harvesting for your freezer anyway? Do I have your attention yet?
We all have our own reasons for deer hunting. All are noble and fine, as long as our hunting is done within the rules of the law. Game farms are fine and have their place, but lets admit what they are. I am not against them at all. Some of us enjoy all aspects of deer hunting. And there are many. As hunters; we cherish and long remember the family bonds we experience, we enjoy the outdoors, the chill in the air, the good thinking aspects of being in a hunting stand for hours, the challenge of the hunt, the spirit of the hunt, the comradery we have with other hunters, the travel and adventure, the use of weapons we can hunt with, our hunting accessories, adult toys (4 wheelers, snowmobiles, etc.), venison meals at hunting camps, evening stories (some seem to grow every year), the teaching and mentoring new youth hunters, introducing a friend to deer hunting, the excitement of shooting and harvesting your own deer; venison for your freezer -- the list of why we hunt deer goes on and on.
Note all of the last paragraph; and let me add just one more. The excitement of harvesting that trophy buck of a lifetime. Lets all be honest here, we all want that opportunity. And if we have been fortunate enough to have been blessed with successfully harvesting a trophy book buck before, we want that experience to happen again. How many hunters do any one of us know, that have shot a trophy book buck, one that scores 150 points plus; and then said, "OK, I've done that, I'm done deer hunting." Anyone? Anyone? If you know someone who has done that, and is done deer hunting, let me know ("Contact Page"); I would like to do what they are now doing for excitement, and do it too.
Note all of the last two paragraphs. I would also like to add; continued safe hunting experiences, and continued opportunities to hunt in a legal and ethical environment without fear of harassment or unnecessary restrictions on firearms (i.e.. political correctness run amuck). Join the N.R.A., it is important.
If so; then you need to understand quality deer management practices and the philosophy behind it; and how it works. First off, it is not about just harvesting bigger antlered bucks. It is really about strengthening the local deer herd and keeping it that way. It just so happens that deer hunters will and do have more opportunities to harvest larger antlered deer, as a result of quality deer management practices in a given area. And don't be confused that there are less opportunities to harvest deer. That's not necessarily so.
The two keys here are: Harvest more does (in most states, the doe population has exploded) for your venison meat, and pass up shooting the 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 year old smaller bucks. If these quality deer management techniques can be implemented in your hunting area; it will only take 2 to 3 years and you will start seeing more nice trophy deer.
You will still see the spikes, fork horns, and small 6-pointers that you now see on your hunting land. The only difference is that these deer, will be the future trophy deer in your hunting area. We have to get away from that mental concept of: "If it's brown, it's down." And also the numbers game so many hunters play: "How many did you and your group shoot this season?" Do yourself a favor and consider implementing quality deer management to your hunting land, hunting group, and hunting neighbors.
The deer herd in your area will remain healthier because the stronger and more dominate bucks will do most of the breeding. The stronger bucks will pass on the genetic attributes needed for the herd to remain strong. This is important for deer to survive harsh winters. Survival of the fittest. That's natures way.
What's needed to start a Q.D.M program? First of all you need acreage; and plenty of it. It can take 4 - 5,000 acres for a successful program. The reason for this is that a mature whitetail buck can cover this much ground during the peak of the rut. This is also the time that they are most vulnerable to hunters. Very few deer hunters own this much land. You will have to seek cooperation from neighboring landowners for this Q.D.M program to work. You may want to start a hunting club that promotes the Q.D.M principles. Explain to the prospective members the rewards of such a program. Ask them if they would like to see a healthier deer herd and more opportunities at harvesting trophy deer. If their answer is yes; you are well on your way to recruiting a club member. Join the "Quality Deer Management Association" and learn all you can about the subject. The more you know, the easier it will be to recruit neighboring landowners as Q.D.M program members.
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