Wondering how many of you here are QDMA members? Thinking of joining after using their resources for so long mainly for the publications. Is it it worth it? Sell me on it.
I finally became a member, as I pan on forming a local cooperative of many many landowners/hunters in the area in hopes to create a better deer maturity level within the bucks and for a while boost the encouraged doe harvests.
I am..Sell you on it..lol..Dont think so.If you have been on the forum you already should have an understanding as to what it is about.Age structure,Herd management,Herd monitoring,Habitat Improvement,Food plotting,It's not just about growing the biggest bucks. Here's a quote from the website: What is Quality Deer Management? Quality Deer Management (QDM) is a management philosophy/practice that unites landowners, hunters, and managers in a common goal of producing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existing environmental, social, and legal constraints. This approach typically involves the protection of young bucks (yearlings and some 2.5 year-olds) combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to maintain a healthy population in balance with existing habitat conditions and landowner desires. This level of deer management involves the production of quality deer (bucks, does, and fawns), quality habitat, quality hunting experiences, and, most importantly, quality hunters. A successful QDM program requires an increased knowledge of deer biology and active participation in management. This level of involvement extends the role of the hunter from mere consumer to manager. The progression from education to understanding, and finally, to respect; bestows an ethical obligation upon the hunter to practice sound deer management. Consequently, to an increasing number of landowners and hunters, QDM is a desirable alternative to traditional management, which allows the harvest of any legal buck and few, if any, does. QDM guidelines are formulated according to property-specific objectives, goals, and limitations. Participating hunters enjoy both the tangible and intangible benefits of this approach. Pleasure can be derived from each hunting experience, regardless if a shot is fired. What is important is the chance to interact with a well-managed deer herd that is in balance with its habitat. A side benefit is the knowledge that mature bucks are present in the herd – something lacking on many areas under traditional deer management. When a quality buck is taken on a QDM area, the pride can be shared by all property hunters because it was they who produced it by allowing it to reach the older age classes which are necessary for large bodies and antlers.
Only been hunting for 5 years now and am totally sold on the whole QDMA platform. I visit the forums on a regular basis and I have read the Quality Food Plots book. I almost bought my first property this past spring but it didn't happen - once I can afford my own piece of land that is what I am looking for it will be a QDM property. I am totally ate up with food plotting and I've never hunted to kill whatever walks in front of me. I was fortunate enough to harvest a nice 8 pointer my first ever whitetail hunt and that smilpy set a standard for myself and taking a younger smaller buck doesn't make since for what I am trying to do for the property that I currently manage.
I've been on the forums some time, and our club implemented QDMA 4 years prior to our state implement ing their program. I just never officially "joined." Wasn't sure of the benefits. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4
Some of the members offer qdm members discounts on the products they sell. Not really sure what you mean by benefits. I guess that is an individual determination. I've seen your name on the forum. I joined because it felt right as I was basically doing it already for years. Good luck.
That came off wrong. I'm not looking for free stuff, or discounts. I'm just wondering what do you gain access to information wise being a member that I couldn't otherwise gain through the site itself. I understand the cooperative aspect of it, but I won't be forming any joint land programs in our area (no interest).
