I want to start by saying I hope my message can be conveyed in a way that does not polarize, or demean anyone's views. I was fortunate this summer to work directly under the founder of the PA state chapter of QDMA. I learned a lot during my internship, and I simply want to pass this knowledge along to anyone who will listen.

First and foremost, the QDMA operates on two basic premises: harvesting enough female deer to balance the herd with the existing habitat, and passing yearling bucks to promote a herd with bucks in all age classes.

It should be noted that QDMA does NOT, always support harvesting female deer. In some areas, the herd will be below the biological carrying capacity of the habitat. In this and similar cases, QDMA would reccomend that few, and possibly no female deer be harvested.

I believe QDM is a good management practice because of the benefits it brings to a plethora of stakeholders. I will elaborate using an example from my hometown, a suburban area with a very high abundance of deer. By reducing deer density and passing yearling bucks the following will benefit: forest ecosystem including plants and wildlife, land owners, public, hunters, and the deer herd itself.

The forest ecosystem will benefit through incresead forest regeneration. This will provide habitat for several species of small mammals, as well as neo-tropical migratory birds. Deer evolved eating native plant species. Therefore, when deer herds are detrimentially high, the native species are first to be extripated. Subsequently, invasive species begin to flourish because of the light browsing pressure they receive. I acknowledge that some would argue for the benefits of invasive species; however, it is widely accepted that such as scenario is not biologically favorable.

Land owners benefit through the increased biological diveristy present on their land. With increased forest regeneration, revenue from timber harvest will increase. Also, agricultural production will increase on their land because deer willl have a lesser impact on crop damage.

The public benefit from QDM because of the reduced incidence of deer and human conflicts. Limes disease, damage to ornamental plantings, and deer/vehicle collisions are all expected to decrese with a reduction in deer density.

Hunters benefit immensly from QDM. The main way hunters benefit is through the incresead likelihood of encountering a mature buck (4.5+). Also, when a hunter passes a yearling buck, he gains the opportunity to witness deer behaviors that he would not have. Calling tactics such as rattling and grunting will also become more effective under QDM. For elaboration, consider this hypothetical example: 1 herd has a ratio of 10 doe per buck, and the other has 1 doe per buck. Under which scenario do we expect to see a response to calling...probably the second, why? If you were the buck in the 10 to 1 herd, and you heard two bucks fighting over the hill, would you risk injury to investigate? Probably not, because there is no competition for breeding rights (theres 10 doe per buck). In the other scenario 1 to 1, however, there is intense competition for breeding rights. Under such conditions a buck is certainly more likely to investigate calling. Another thing that goes hand in hand with balancing the sex ratio is a shorter more intense rut. A shorter rut will have several effects, namely, less breeding related stress on the male segment of the population, and less fawns conceived during the 2nd rut (thus, more fawns will be born at the optimum time corresponding to spring green up).

QDMA is often misrepresented with suggestions that all the organization cares about is bigger bucks. Yes, bigger antlers and higher body weights may result, but only as a by producted of managing the deer herd on a biological basis. I hope that those reading come to understand that QDM is not only about bigger bucks, it's much more than that.

We seek to balance the herd with the available habitat, and balance the buck age structure. By doing so, we are mimicing the conditions present in the herds prior to European settlement.

Education is another pillar of the QDM philosophy. I've read here that it has been referred to as preaching. I'm not trying to preach. I'm simply trying to educate the public, hunters, and land owners on alternative management practices, and the benefits that come hand in hand.

I've set a personal goal to not harvest a buck less than 3.5 yrs of age. I did so to increase the challenge of the sport I love. However, I truly believe that every individual has the right to harvest a buck of any age, and I would never look down on someone for harvesting a yearling buck.