QDM is not practiced by hunters, no matter what they say because true QDM would result in a herd that is not necessarily in the hunters' best interests. QDM if successful would mean a herd that has a 1:1 buck to doe ratio and numbers that are not in excess of the carrying capacity of the land. This number oftentimes is frighteningly low to hunters and you would not see many deer or have many hunters with a herd like this.

Hunters are a tool used by biologists and conservation groups to practice QDM. The biologists have to walk a fine line because they want to do what is best for the herd and the habitat, but need the hunters in order to do that. If they were completely successful in their goal many hunters would lose interest andthe biologistswould no longer have them available as a management tool.

As a result of this the biologists have to do the best they can with the herd, while keeping the hunters happy. What does this mean? Enough does to keep meat in the freezer (usually a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio) and big antlered bucks, because, well, hunters like to decorate their walls.

So, is QDM about anter management? To a degree, yes, but that is only so the biologists don't lose their management tools (us) for regulating the herds.