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The 4 Building Blocks of Quality Deer Management |
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While QDM guidelines must be tailored to each property, there
are four cornerstones to all successful QDM programs:
herd management, habitat management, hunter management, and
herd monitoring.
Herd Management
Perhaps the most important part of QDM is herd management. Determining
the appropriate number of deer to harvest by sex and age is
essential. In many areas, deer populations are at or above optimum
levels and herd stabilization or reduction is needed. [More]
Habitat
Management
Improving available nutrition is another important cornerstone
of QDM. The diet of a healthy herd should contain 12 to 18 percent
protein and adequate levels of calcium, phosphorous, and other
important nutrients. [More]
Hunter Management
Hunter management is a critical, yet often difficult aspect
of QDM. Education is the key. Hunters must fully understand
both the benefits and costs of QDM. [More
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Herd Monitoring
Herd monitoring is the final cornerstone of QDM. Two types of
data are commonly collected - harvest data and observation
data. Harvest data should be collected from every deer taken
or found dead on a property. Commonly collected harvest data
include sex, age, weight, antler measurements, and reproductive
information. [More]
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Quality Deer
Management Association
PO Box 160
Bogart, GA 30622
1-800-209-DEER (3337)
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