QDM, who is it really for?

[tuffshot]

I know everyone sometime in their life would like to take a monster buck and for some it never happens, weather it be time spent in the woods or location of their hunting area.

Over the past few years the QDM (Quaility Deer Management) craze or trend has taken over here in Ohio. The expense of land, leasing land and planting food plots is going thru the roof, all in the name of helping manage a healthy deer herd. The money spent on equipment, seed, land and time seems to be no problem for those that want a record book buck at about any cost. BUT, I think it is really for the hunters not the deer because of the I want to shoot a big buck and be recognized and may be honored by my peers or get money from the notoriety of having shot a record book buck from the manufactureres of hunting equipment and clothing.

Ohio's deer herd has grown even with the use of crossbows and without the use of food plots and from what I have seen and heard the herd is very healthy.

So my question is do you really think that QDM is for the deer or the hunter? :sbrug:

[jindydiver]

Definitly for the hunter. The whole point of QDM is to increase the size of the racks.

[jeffw]

For the hunter. I almost believe sometimes the concept between 'hunting', and 'growing' a deer, has nearly became one. Also, I frankly get tired of every magazine and hunting show tell me how to take a "trophy" deer.

[Pinelander]

Well, of course it's for the hunter. I don't think the deer really care how massive their antlers get. The pecking order is largely determined by body size and overall health of a breeding male whitetail, not solely the size of his antlers.

I believe that QDM has expanded tremendously in recent years with all the hype as mentioned above. Used to be, when folks talked about QDM... they were talking about shooting Does to control the male-female ratios that would favor some high-action RUT hunting and also letting younger juvenile bucks live long enough to allow their antlers to reach normal size for a buck in his prime. Nowadays, it's all about providing the deer with additional minerals and nutrients that actually INCREASE anlter growth.

When it comes to "trophy" whitetail hunting... for me, it's all about taking deer that have been smart enough and strong enough to survive more than 3-4 years of hunting pressures and sometimes grueling winters. A buck doesn't have to have a world-class rack by any means, just one that exhibits the magnificence of a dominant animal within our local herd of deer.

I wouldn't want the pressures involved in shooting for sponsors where you are expected to produce trophy bucks year after year to earn your keep on their team. Sounds too forced and un-natural to me... let it happen and let happen naturally, not constantly driving for record results. I enjoy hunting hard and taking what NATURE provides and what my hunting abilities can muster. A 140" P&Y Buck or a 3-4 yr old Doe is a trophy to me.

[tuffshot]

:amen: Dave,

My concern is what effects that growing 5 1/2 year old rack on a 3 1/2 year old deer, and the effects of the food plots in the years to come. I know when feeding a hunting dog they are brought up on high protien foods but are weened off as the get older and less active so as not to burn them up.

Also the guys using QDM are getting too arrogant and looking down on anyone not passing up the younger deer. I am getting tired of the attitude, and they still haven't figure out the whole concept of QDM around here yet.

[Pinelander]

Yes, that's always a problem with the record-book clan. They don't seem to undertstand that many bowhunters feel very fortunate to kill ANY deer with their bow. They easily forget that they and their sponsors have an agenda that most of us common folk do not share. I don't mind guys on our property shooting young bucks, but one is enough... no sense in shooting more than one because there are are plenty of Does for freezer meat.

I've always wondered about that too... how the additional nutrients that goes into growing antlers would have an affect on other sytems. Such as things that provide stamina during the rut, prevention of winter stress, and immunity from wound infections when those guys hit 'em bad at 45 yards 'cause they wanted a record-book animal so bad.