QDMA Honors Presents Al Brothers Deer Manager Awards
BOGART, Ga. – At QDMA’s recent 9th Annual National Convention, Rans Thomas, Erich Long, and Wayne Sitton were named Al Brothers Deer Managers of the Year. Thomas and Long both received the award in the professional deer managers category, while Sitton received the award in the non-professional category.
The impact realized by this year’s three recipients is vast. Their efforts to 
implement effective deer management plans have created positive effects on properties across the country. Thomas and Long have used the QDM philosophy on a professional level to change hundreds of deer herds and properties for the better, while Sitton has been devoted to the betterment of a single property. For these men, dedication to white-tailed deer management goes beyond their professional obligations into countless volunteer hours spent educating groups on the science of QDM.
Rans Thomas, Director of Consulting & Management and Senior Wildlife Biologist for Tecomate Wildlife Systems in Georgia, has been a long-time QDMA supporter and QDM proponent. Over the course of his career, he has positively impacted over half a million acres of whitetail deer properties in the US. Additionally, he has provided content for Quality Whitetails journal and television, played a role in organizing QDMA’s annual youth hunt, and even provided musical entertainment for numerous QDMA events.
Erich Long has worked for the Ohio Division of Wildlife for twelve years while simultaneously running his own company, Drumming Log Wildlife Management. He is dedicated to supporting the QDMA by writing articles for Quality Whitetails journal and growing his area’s successful QDMA co-ops. He offers his management services and hosts seminars free of charge to encourage neighbors to adopt the QDM philosophy.
Wayne Sitton, manager of Turtle Lake Club in Hillman, Michigan, has completely transformed the health of the property under his care. He has implemented antler restrictions and an aggressive antlerless deer harvest plan, developed nutrition plans, planted food plots, and kept extensive records in order to improve the deer population. Additionally, he gives numerous seminars each year to educate others on the four cornerstones of QDM.
“Rans, Erich, and Wayne are not only accomplished wildlife professionals, they are actively involved in the QDMA as well. Their unique ability to blend their knowledge and expertise with a passion for QDMA’s mission make them highly deserving of this prestigious award,” said Brian Murphy, CEO of QDMA.
About QDMA
Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization with more than 50,000 members in all 50 states and Canada, and several foreign countries. Membership in QDMA is open to anyone interested in better deer and better deer hunting, and committed to ethical hunting, sound deer management and the preservation of the deer-hunting heritage. To learn more about QDMA and why it is the future of deer hunting, call (800) 209-3337 or visit www.QDMA.com.
QDMA … The Future of Deer Hunting
