Deer Steward Courses

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!!

Please read below for more info, including: 2012 program availability, instructors, costs, how to register and scholarship opportunities.

Also now available: online Deer Steward!

Program Overview

We are pleased to announce the 2012 dates/locations for QDMA’s individual certification program, which helps fulfill the “C” component of our national REACH program. This program includes three levels of potential achievement, and each must be completed in sequence.

Deer Steward I will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the key principles of deer and habitat biology, ecology and management.
Deer Steward II will teach students how to apply the principles learned in level one through hands-on and field experience.
Deer Steward III, the most prestigious, must be earned through an individual’s long-term service to QDMA, and/or the white-tailed deer

2012 Program Availability

Deer Steward I:

QDMA will offer two Deer Steward I courses in 2012.

April 13-16, Columbus, IN at Hidden Hollow Ranch — Field Trip: NASCAR’s Tony Stewart’s Farm
May 11-14, Andalusia, AL at Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center — Field Trip: SDFEC Research Forest

Sample Deer Steward I Agenda (PDF)

Each course will be 2½ days in length (including an optional half-day in the field) and restricted to 50 or fewer participants. The courses will focus on the four Cornerstones of QDM: Herd Management, Habitat Management, Hunter Management, and Herd Monitoring.

The Deer Steward I courses will provide a comprehensive understanding of these cornerstones and includes 17.5 Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits from the Society of American Foresters (SAF) – 6.5 Cat 1-CF and 11.0 Cat 2.

Deer Steward I is also now available online! Click here for more info.

Deer Steward II:

QDMA will offer two Deer Steward II courses in 2012.

June 1-4, Woodbine, GA at Cabin Bluff hunting retreat
June 22-25, LaGrange, KY at Ashbourne Farms

Sample Deer Steward II Agenda (PDF)

The Deer Steward II course will focus on the application of principles covered in Deer Steward I. Those principles being the four cornerstones of QDM: herd management, habitat management, hunter management and herd monitoring. Level II will include a mix of classroom and field instruction, and the course will end by having the students apply their knowledge and develop an actual deer management plan. Level II includes 15.0 CFE credits from the SAF – 7.0 Cat 1-CF and 8.0 Cat 2.

By taking Deer Steward Levels I and II, attendees have gained enough knowledge to write their very own property-specific deer management plan!

Deer Steward III:

Deer Steward Level III is the final step in QDMA’s Individual Deer Steward Certification Program. Unlike Levels I and II, Level III is not a course and no test is required. Level III is achieved through personal achievement and long-term service to the white-tailed deer resource and/or the QDMA. For many, Level III status will take years to qualify. Fortunately the effort needed to meet the qualifications will be replaced with pride and satisfaction upon attaining Level III status.

Click here to print the Deer Steward III Application Form (PDF)

Program Instructors

The course instructors are a “Who’s Who” of the nation’s leading whitetail biologists, researchers and managers such as:

Kip Adams, Wildlife Biologist, QDMA Director of Education and Outreach
Mark Buxton, Wildlife Consultant, Southeastern Wildlife Habitat Services
Neil Dougherty, Wildlife Consultant, North Country Whitetails
Dave Edwards, Wildlife Biologist, Cabin Bluff
John Gruchy, Wildlife Biologist, Private Lands Habitat Program, MS Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Joe Hamilton, Wildlife Biologist, QDMA Director of Development
Dr. Craig Harper, Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist, University of Tennessee
Erich Long, Wildlife Consultant, Drumming Log Wildlife Management
Dr. Karl V. Miller, Professor, University of Georgia
Brian Murphy, Wildlife Biologist, QDMA Chief Executive Officer
Matt Ross, Wildlife Biologist, Forester and QDMA Certification Programs Manager
Greg Stephens, Land Management Consultant, Natural Resources and Property Management, LLC
Robert Wallace, Horticulturalist/Director, Realtree Nursery

Note: Not all instructors will be at each course and others may be added. The below speaker bio’s link currently lists the 2011 Deer Steward instructors; this link will be updated shortly.

Click here to review speaker bios

Program Costs

In-person Courses (Deer Steward Levels I and II):

$800 Non-QDMA Members
$750 Regular QDMA Members
$700 QDMA Life Members, Sponsor Members and Corporate Sponsors, Partners and Supporters.

$50 Early Bird discount if registering before February 17. Special group savings also available for QDMA Branch officers/directors (up to 25% off). Contact Matt Ross at mross@qdma.com for more info.

Cost includes instruction, most meals, a course handbook, and a framed course certificate. Travel and lodging are not included. Once your course application form has been received and approved, you will be provided instructions regarding lodging, directions to course venues and a list of suggested readings prior to attending the course.

Online Deer Steward Level I:

$200 Non-QDMA Members
$175 Regular QDMA Members
$150 QDMA Life Members, Sponsor Members and Corporate Sponsors, Partners and Supporters.

Online fees increase $50 per level with CFE’s. Cost includes instruction and a course certificate. Once registered, you will receive a unique username and password, as well as instructions on how to log onto the QDMA online Deer Steward system. Click here for more info.

How to Register

By phoning the QDMA National Office at: 800-209-3337
By faxing a completed registration form to: 706-353-0223
By mailing a completed registration form to:
QDMA
P.O. Box 160
Bogart, GA 30622

Click here to print the Deer Steward I Registration Form

Click here to print the Deer Steward II Registration Form

Click here to print the Deer Steward III Application Form (PDF)

Click here to print the Online Deer Steward I Registration Form

Once all openings for the courses are filled, applicants will be placed on a waiting list for the next available course in the order their applications were received.

Scholarship Opportunity

For each of the in-person classes the QDMA will also award a high school junior or senior, or college student, interested in a career in wildlife management a scholarship to attend free of charge. Applicants for the scholarships should have a strong interest in wildlife conservation and the Quality Deer Management (QDM) philosophy. Applications are due by February 24, 2012.

Click here to print the Deer Steward I Scholarship Application

Click here to print the Deer Steward II Scholarship Application

Cancellation Policy

Applicants of in-person Deer Steward courses shall be entitled to a full refund of course fees if the QDMA National Office is notified within fourteen (14) business days of the course date. Cancellations made less than fourteen (14) business days from the course date shall entitle the applicant to a fifty percent (50%) refund of course fees. No refunds shall be made for cancellations less than two (2) business days before the course date.

Questions?

If you have questions regarding course availability or registration, please contact the QDMA National Office at 800-209-3337.

If you have any questions regarding course content, including online Deer Steward, please contact:

Matt Ross
QDMA Certification Programs Manager
Phone: 518-280-3714
Email: mross@qdma.com

For more information on the REACH Program:

Click here to learn more about the QDMA.