|
The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is a national
nonprofit wildlife conservation organization and the leading
advocate of the QDM philosophy. The QDMA's 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 more than 40,000 members in all 50 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
QDMA's 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
nation's 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.
|
