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The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization and the leading advocate of the QDM philosophy. The QDMA¹s mission is to promote sustainable, high-quality white-tailed deer populations, wildlife habitats, and ethical hunting experiences through education, research, and management in partnership with hunters, landowners, natural resource professionals, and the public.
Originally founded in 1988 as a state-based organization in South Carolina, widespread interest from other states and several foreign countries resulted in the expansion to a national organization in 1990. In 1998, the QDMA moved its headquarters to northeast Georgia and today is among the fastest growing conservation organizations in the nation with over 25,000 members in 48 states and several foreign countries.
Among the QDMA's current members are nearly 800 of the nation's leading deer management professionals. Their collective knowledge enables the QDMA and its members to remain at the forefront of deer biology, research, and management. The QDMA also has a network of more than 70 Branches (organized groups of volunteer members) in more than 20 states with many others forming. QDMA Branches actively promote the philosophy of QDM and the mission of the QDMA in their areas and hold educational and social events to unite like-minded sportsmen in this common goal.
QDMA's Proud History of Accomplishments
While many wildlife conservation organizations have focused their efforts on habitat acquisition or species restoration, the QDMA's primary focus has always been on education, research, and on-the-ground management. Here, the QDMA has achieved great success. Today, thousands of hunters and millions of acres of public and private lands are managed under QDM guidelines. The QDMA¹s relentless educational efforts, which include conducting hundreds of seminars annually and publishing numerous books, videos, posters, and other items, have substantially increased the understanding of and participation in QDM.The QDMA also has actively partnered with numerous federal and state wildlife agencies, forest products companies, conservation organizations, and other groups to increase support for QDM. The QDMA also was the first whitetail organization to join the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance and is a proud supporter of numerous deer research projects conducted by state wildlife agencies and universities.
The QDMA has influenced the attitudes of millions of deer hunters and managers. The acronym QDM, while still misunderstood by many, is now a household word. You cannot pick up a hunting magazine today without finding something on QDM. Likewise, while the QDMA's journal Quality Whitetails was the first publication to focus exclusively on herd and habitat management, just about every deer magazine today addresses these subjects.
Preserving the deer-hunting heritage is also a priority for the QDMA. Each year the QDMA conducts numerous events for youth and women as well as supporting numerous worthy organizations like Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, the Paralyzed Veterans Association, and the Catch-A-Dream Foundation. The QDMA also supports state law enforcement agencies through donations of educational and law-enforcement items such as mechanized deer decoys.
The QDMA's ongoing commitment to education and stewardship was formally recognized in 2001 when it was awarded the prestigious Group Achievement Award from The Wildlife Society ‹ the parent body of nearly 10,000 wildlife professionals in North America. The QDMA is the only whitetail organization ever to receive this coveted award.
The Future of Deer Hunting and Management
The QDMA's early days were devoted to convincing hunters, landowners, and even many biologists, that QDM could work and hunter attitudes could change. Thousands of success stories later, this is no longer the most difficult task. In more recent years, new challenges have surfaced. Whitetail populations have skyrocketed, hunter numbers have declined, hunter attitudes have changed, society's respect for deer has declined, and diseases have threatened some herds. Collectively, these issues are more difficult, complex, and important than at any time in history. Now, more than ever, whitetail hunters must unite in a collective effort to ensure that whitetail hunting and management remain an integral part of wildlife management in the future.The QDMA has faced each new challenge head-on and will continue to do so while pursuing our mission to become the most respected, most influential, and most effective whitetail conservation organization in the world. To accomplish this goal, the QDMA needs your support.
QDMA Membership Benefits
The QDMA is a grassroots, membership-based organization open to anyone with an interest in the wise management of white-tailed deer and preservation of the deer-hunting heritage. By joining the QDMA, you will undertake a path toward becoming the most knowledgeable deer hunter and manager possible.Your membership entitles you to a subscription to Quality Whitetails, the QDMA's acclaimed deer management journal. Each issue is filled with cutting-edge information on all aspects of deer biology, management, and habitat enhancement written by the nation¹s leading whitetail experts. Your membership also provides access to the QDMA's experts through numerous seminars and workshops held annually throughout the nation.
You also will gain access to the QDMA's extensive line of educational books, videos, maps, posters, and booklets, as well as discounts on commonly-used deer management products and services. Finally, your membership will allow you to participate in a local QDMA Branch to promote QDM and the QDMA in your area. If you share these goals and the desire to improve whitetail herds and hunting experiences for yourself and future generations of sportsmen, join QDMA today.