Quality deer management is about more than trophy bucks

      If you’re a serious deer hunter, and you haven’t been living under a rock for the last decade or so, then you’ve probably heard the term “quality deer management.” What exactly does it mean, though? Is QDM just another new fangled way of making the dream

of killing a trophy buck easier to attain? In short, the answer is no. QDM goes much deeper.

Last weekend, the Quality Deer Management Association―the international leader in the QDM movement―held their annual national conference in Louisville. I attended, and came away more interested in QDM than ever.

Now, I despise deer hunting’s transition to a trophy competition as much, or more, than anyone you know. The tradition I grew up with is being molested into a whole new game of “mine is bigger than yours,” and to say I don’t like it, is a gross understatement.

Some think QDM is a part of this movement. I completely disagree. QDM is not about spraying apple scented syrup on a stump near your stand. What it is about, is growing forage, developing habitat, and practicing selective harvest in a combined effort to sustain a healthy deer herd.

A good friend and hunting partner of mine, Brian Sorrells, is a nationally respected authority on shooting and hunting with traditional archery equipment. Sorrells, who is a police officer in Bedford, is as ethical a hunter as I’ve ever met, and also disdains the modern trophy movement. I want to share with you a few snippets from a series of emails we wrote to each other this week.

“I went to the QDMA national convention in Louisville on Saturday. Pretty good time. There is so much going on with food plots and natural supplements. This is an area of MODERN hunting I enjoy. Have you messed around with it much?” I asked

“No, I haven't done anything with food plots or supplements.  I'm all for managing for a healthy deer herd, but too much emphasis has been placed on antler size lately and managing for that particular trait. I don't want to see huge bucks every time I hunt. I'd rather gamble on doing my homework and putting myself in the right place to see a huge buck than knowing that they're all big.  Does that make sense?” Sorrells replied.

“Yeah, makes sense, and I totally agree with your point, but on the other side of the coin, what I like about food plots is the fact that working them forces hunters to connect with the Earth. To dig in the dirt, learn about vegetative growth, and take part in another aspect of the life cycle. I would never revere one for using food plots to only increase antler size or to keep trophy bucks on their land. What I like most about the whole deal is the fact that you are―assuming you plant naturally occurring feed― providing high quality food for many more animals than the one or two you're going to shoot. Deer, turkeys, mice, insects, birds, and more all benefit from what you plant. If you keep it natural, it simply adds a dimension to the game. You can then reap from which you sew. It beats the heck out of the guys using attractants. Food plots are no different than hunting over a lush bean field. Also, probably makes a lot of farmers happy too; knowing deer will eat plots more and crops less,” I countered.

“VERY well said, sir!  I agree with your point of view completely.  I hadn't really thought of it that way until now,” Sorrells said, to conclude our exchange.

I unfortunately believe a lot of highly ethical, intelligent hunters harbor the same misconceptions of QDM that Sorrells had. Once you break QDM down to its roots, the practice is great for wildlife, not just deer. And, truth be told, it is good for helping bucks in your area reach maturity. And that―maturity—is what we want bucks to achieve.

You don’t have to have a giant tract of land to practice QDM. Planting food plots, establishing sanctuaries, harvesting does, and more can all be used to develop a QDM plan on any size piece of hunting ground. To learn much, much more about QDM, visit the QDMA website www.qdma.org.