All I am saying is the DNR does not have to endorse something for it to still have value. They have there biologists telling them one thing and then there are other biologists that will endorse QDM practices. Which one is the better way to go is up to interpretation just like a lot of things in life. Everyone thinks that their opinion is the correct one. I personally feel (with just common sense to back it up and my OPINION) that it makes sense to have a balanced herd with young deer and mature deer. And yes, I like to hunt big racked mature bucks, that is my number one goal and I feel QDM practices are the best way work towards that goal.
Plenty of big bucks taken before QDM was ever an idea, why is it the only way now? People think humans can cause global warming not that big of stretch to believe we can control large antlered deer populations. I just think we need to accept natures position in game populations, as humans we can not manipulate ever favorable outcome sometimes it is more simple than that. Sure we can do what we can but nature has a way of leveling the playing field
Like I said, everyone has their own way of going about things. No one is completely right and no one is completely wrong. I could sit here and debate this with you but I would rather do just about anything else. Have a good evening and good luck this season.
You too as well hope you shoot the big buck you always wanted, hope that all hunters root for others success what ever their goals are
Antler restrictions are a poor way to achieve the goals the DNR seek, the only reason they use point restrictions in place of QDM harvest goals based around age is because even simple minded people can count points while aging deer on the hoof is a lot more complicated to teach and learn and is still an educated guess. While not perfect, point restrictions do still work to a certain extent, just not as efficiently as harvest by age. Enforcement is a lot easier to impose with point restrictions as well. Still does nothing to save a 2 year old 8+ pointer. Sure big bucks have always been taken, there are always some, somewhere...mostly due to natural uncommon conditions that QDM management replicates on a larger scale. The problem of poor age structure is from human imposed harvesting of animals that would not normally be targeted by natural predation. Extremely young and extremely old animals are generally prone to natural predation...the problem QDM addresses is one which people take animals in the middle of that age structure. If humans are the source of the problem then we can be the solution. That solution is to stop harvesting immature animals. Nature does have a way of leveling the playing field, it's called granting humans the ability to learn from mistakes and to be innovative enough to work with nature rather than against it...which caused out of whack deer herd age structure to begin with.
QDMA certainly does not agree with that statement...apparently the DNR does indeed take that position. While the DNR decided people can't be easily taught...QDMA is constantly educating folks and developing ways to promote more harmonious human/deer relationships, better hunting experiences and healthier deer herds.
You obviously have no experience with the WI DNR... Over-educated college students who have more brown on their nose than deer do on their backs. The politics of state wildlife agencies plays a big role in a lot of the decisions they make. The QDMA does not have to deal with those issues. Just present the science. Since I don't quite understand the argument, I mean debate, going on here, I'll give my two cents on what I've witnessed. This is my 15th year hunting, and 13th with the bow. I took a few deer my first couple years and finally got my first buck in my fourth, a small 4 point that I am still proud of to this day. The itch, and perhaps the realization, for bigger bucks happened in my very first year of bowhunting. At 14 years old, I found out quickly that the extended time that archery season presents makes for literally 10x the chance of becoming more educated and familiar with deer and their behavior, as well as having more experiences, and intimate experiences at that. I set reasonable goals for myself, and worked hard. This was before we had good trail cameras to become familiar with the deer running around our property, and it was before any of my family began holding out for bigger deer. It took a 14 year old to show them that it could be done. I began having repeat encounters with bucks, and more experiences and close calls with big bucks. I kept telling the older generation about my experiences (although I don't think they believed me at first). Then, I began seeing bucks following years that I recognized from years previous. Obviously the bucks I was passing weren't leaving my area and heading straight for my neighbors treestand like the "If I don't shoot him, the neighbors will" guys imply. In the years since I, and then other hunters on our property, started letting bucks go/grow, we have collectively taken 12 bucks (and have countless experiences with others) 3 1/2 and older. To be fair, some of the guys still shoot 2 1/2 yr olds and we celebrate those just as much, and I have no problem with groups/hunters who hold out for "only" 3 1/2's, because I recognize how much more intelligent a deer is at 3 than he was at 2. Also, this was done on 240 acres, with 11 hunters. I myself am trying to move onto the next bracket and wait for 4+ yr olds... I've found a lot of recipes for tag soup, I can almost say that I like the taste... Almost
Before Sota claims you a liar or elitist or naive part of the masses...I'd like to say thanks! Just another example of how the trickle effect can work.
