small acreage qdm
#11
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 166
RE: small acreage qdm
It is worth it period. The only way to lead is by example. Rember QDM is not about bagging bigger bucks its about managing the herd in balance with ther habitat. Even if your neighbors are not into it now, practice what you preach and don't be pushy, most will come around. I had one neighbor who never shot any does just bucks. With some encouragment and watching me take does he is know a member of the QDMA, and helping me get a qdm co-op started.
#12
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Miami, Oklahoma
Posts: 422
RE: small acreage qdm
There in Wisconsin, it is probably imperative that you start practicing QDM...to help balance the herd with the habitat, help reduce the risk of CWD, balance the buck:doe ratio...just produce an all-around healthier deer herd. Remember though that Quality Deer Management is not the same as Trophy Deer Management...you do not 'cull' bucks in QDM, you harvest by age class...you will see an improvement in your deer herd if you manage the property, your trigger finger and try to be as un-intrusive on the property as possible.
#13
RE: small acreage qdm
Sure you can be successful with QDM on a small acreage...might take a little bit more work and patience. Your first - and most important - step is to create a sanctuary where deer have security cover, food and water source nearby,AND is off limits to people during 98% of the year. This, I feel, is much more important than any food plot, although plots are a piece of the puzzle as well. If you give deer a place where they are undisturbed, they will stay.
#15
Spike
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Menomonie WI
Posts: 66
RE: small acreage qdm
i would try to talk to your neighbors about it because where i hunt we have an 80 we own and have permision to hunt another 160 and we went around to our neighbors and let them know what were trying to do and there going to help in the process of getting bigger bucks so i hope it works and good luck
#16
RE: small acreage qdm
This is another time when folks might need to be more clear in exactly how they are defining things. As someone else pointed out, there is a difference between QDM and those strategies thatcenter on ensuring that every deer that walks past your stand is a trophy buck. I have a small piece of ground and will happily cooperate with my neighbors to do QDM, but will not modify my practices on my own land just to insure that they are always guaranteed a massive buck.