BM,

QDMA is NOT about harvesting 7.5 year olds, it is about protecting yearling bucks.

QDMA is about bringing back the Buck to Doe ratio to a healthy range.

QDMA is about keeping your deer herd at or below the carrying capacity of the land-most QDMA experts say 60%.

QDMA is about improving habitat, whether it be by clearcuts, controlled burns, or fertalization of native vegitation.

QDMA is about education.

QDMA is about using scientific research and facts to dictate the management decision making process, not tradition and baseless whims.

When you describe shooting 7.5 year olds to 8.5 year olds, you would often be shooting bucks on the way down anyways. Even in Texas, where bucks grow slower, there are many prime-age 5.5 to 6.5 year olds.

There have been many 170+ class bucks taken at 3.5 years-not generally in overpopulated areas, but it happens every year.

QDM is not about 130 this or that, in fact genetics are the least talked about piece of the puzzle in QDM, and more emphasis is placed on a healthy older buck, even if he is a gentically inferior buck that only scores 135 in his prime at 6.5 years of age.

The 170-180 stuff is reffering to Trophy Management. Trophy Management is not QDM.

Trophy Management is 6.5 year old bucks, QDM is not.

Trophy Management is genetic minipulation, QDM is not.

QDM principles are implemented in over 20 whitetail states in some form of regulation, Trophy Management principles are not.

QDM principles allow for the harvest of 2.5 year old bucks, Trophy Management does not.

QDM was put together by a group of the top research whitetail biologists in the country, with a mission to promote optimum health in the deer herd, through science and sound biological principles. Trophy Management was put together by game managers in Texas to promote the largest bucks possible through supplemental feeding, genetic minipulation, and high fencing.

Don't confuse the two. Look up the national website, go to a meeting or two, and see for yourself.

Jeff...U.P. of Michigan.