The point of QDM is QUALITY deer management. To improve the quality of all the deer in the woods. Yes, that means the does as well. Taking mature does is an important part of management as well. The point is to raise the overall quality, which means numbers and size (body and antler). It creates a win/win for everyone. Meat hunters see more deer. Antler hunters see bigger deer. Trophy hunters see more trophies and bigger ones. What I find amusing is the guys who are against QDM practices are the ones in the areas which need it the most. They are the ones saying they're lucky to even see a deer. Doesn't that make you stop and think? PA has been a by-word for hunters as far as I remember. The goal of the game department was always make sure there were enough deer for all the hunters. 1,000,000 hunters and 1,000,000 deer. Any change from that is going to make a lot of hunters upset. In VA we're more middle of the road. I see a lot of deer but it's not known for it's record book size deer. At this point though I would be satisfied shooting anything 125 or better (maybe even 110). But I'd love to be in the position of the guys in the "corn-belt" where they can afford to pass 140" class bucks. Why would anyone want to have worse conditions? Even if they were only meat hunting, I'd rather see a bunch of deer and go in the woods with the expectation of seeing deer. My question is: all you guys resisting "THE GOSPEL" of QDM , how many of you have hunted in areas other then where you grew up, or have always hunted? How limited is your perspective? I've lived in Alaska, and visited the Rockies and a lot of the east coast and I've seen a lot of differences in game, game management, and habitat. Some I would love to emulate and some I would rather not. But I have a broader perspective than my own "back yard". That SEEMS to be missing from a lot of guys on this thread, on both sides of the arguement. Now let me just say right now (although I know this will be ignored) that this isn't a "pick your own vulgar phrase for one-upmanship" contest so don't get all huffy because I said I've been all over the country (and world for that matter) and you haven't. Just accept some friendly critisism if it applies to you and disregard it if it doesn't. If it doesn't apply to you, no need to defend yourself. If it does, maybe you should admit it and consider if it doesn't play into your attitude.
As far as the more "challenging" aspect, I like a moderate challenge, but I have my limits. As far as trophy hunters lessening their challenge: flawed reasoning. If the trophy hunter had a static size goal that may be true but the trophy hunter looking for the greater challenge will now be hunting a higher class of buck. Instead of the challenge of a 160" class buck he now has the challenge of hunting a 200" class bug. It's a dynamic not a static equation. These arguements always arise when any conservation practice is discussed. As I mentioned earlier with the regulations in the Chesapeake bay with Striped Bass I heard these arguements, but now that we're experiencing the fruit of the labor everyone is singing it's praises. But we are still fighting restrictions on Blue Crab harvest. There's always pain and resistence when something is pushed forward that requires the reduction or elimination of someone's ability to do as they please. We all resist change. But good game management and common sense tells us our approach has to change if we want to see a difference. Look at the success of other attempts; wild turkeys, the overall deer population compared to the turn of the century (20th century that is, for you youngsters).

Having said all that, I still prefer it not be a legislated change. I don't like forcing it down anyones throat and hate having things forced down mine. If the state wants to take it's management practices up a notch, so be it but I think a voluntary, grassroots movement is better. I feel the government has gotten too involved for our own good in the hunting/fishing community. It started as a voluntary surrendering of our rights to pursue game as we see fit, for the over-all good. Now we are over-taxed and over-regulated. We have replaced the Forest of the King with the Forest of the State. But that's another thread.