Damin and I are true “Whitetail Freaks.” Every morning we wake up and think of ways to increase our chances of harvesting a mature, trophy whitetail. This is a daunting task to even the most seasoned hunters, but through the practice of Quality Deer Management we feel we have a chance to harvest a Pope and Young whitetail every hunt.
QDM is a simple, yet complex practice focused on better deer and better deer hunting. We try to harvest a healthy amount of does to better increase the sex ratio in our deer herd. T
he ideal buck to doe ratio is 1:1, at this stage we are currently at 4:1. We have planted 4 Imperial Whitetail clover food plots to increase body size and antler mass, while providing the necessary protein the does need while lactating to support strong, healthy fawns. Those steps along with the passing of younger bucks all intertwine together to provide us with the best hunting scenario possible.
While that all sounds simple, and it really is on paper, it all takes a lot of time, work, and patience. For example, this past year we harvested 3 does off the property, one of each age class. Damin harvested a 1.5 year old doe with his Thompson Center Triumph (Muzzleloader) and 4.5 year old matriarch with his BowTech TomKat (Compound Bow). I also harvested a 2.5 year old doe with my Horton Explorer (Crossbow). Removing does from those specific age classes strengthen the social order of the herd. Determining the number of female deer on our property through offseason scouting and the aid of two trail cameras help us better decide on how many does to take the following fall.
Detailed records of our buck harvests also help tell us the genetic potential of our deer herd. For example, there were at least three 3.5 year old bucks on the property this year. One was guessed scored around 90”, another 115”, and the third, a Pope and Young 135”. What does this mean? Well the buck that scored 90” field dressed 140 pounds, an above average number for this area. However, the 115” class buck only field dressed 125 lbs, below average. Unfortunately, none of us connected with the mack-daddy of the bunch, but he was guessed to have weighed 160 pounds on the hoof (and is still alive). The demographics from those three deer tell us that our bucks have the genetic potential to reach 160” by 4.5 years of age; however, the sex ratio, habitat, and gene pool are currently a shade inferior preventing them from reaching that potential. Which is why we practice QDM.
As you can see QDM requires a lot of time and effort, but the results are very rewarding. We are still early in our management practices, but we can already see a difference in the size and overall health of our deer herd. The pursuit of a trophy whitetail is a year round quest, and QDM is a perfect example.
QDM is a simple, yet complex practice focused on better deer and better deer hunting. We try to harvest a healthy amount of does to better increase the sex ratio in our deer herd. T
he ideal buck to doe ratio is 1:1, at this stage we are currently at 4:1. We have planted 4 Imperial Whitetail clover food plots to increase body size and antler mass, while providing the necessary protein the does need while lactating to support strong, healthy fawns. Those steps along with the passing of younger bucks all intertwine together to provide us with the best hunting scenario possible.While that all sounds simple, and it really is on paper, it all takes a lot of time, work, and patience. For example, this past year we harvested 3 does off the property, one of each age class. Damin harvested a 1.5 year old doe with his Thompson Center Triumph (Muzzleloader) and 4.5 year old matriarch with his BowTech TomKat (Compound Bow). I also harvested a 2.5 year old doe with my Horton Explorer (Crossbow). Removing does from those specific age classes strengthen the social order of the herd. Determining the number of female deer on our property through offseason scouting and the aid of two trail cameras help us better decide on how many does to take the following fall.
Detailed records of our buck harvests also help tell us the genetic potential of our deer herd. For example, there were at least three 3.5 year old bucks on the property this year. One was guessed scored around 90”, another 115”, and the third, a Pope and Young 135”. What does this mean? Well the buck that scored 90” field dressed 140 pounds, an above average number for this area. However, the 115” class buck only field dressed 125 lbs, below average. Unfortunately, none of us connected with the mack-daddy of the bunch, but he was guessed to have weighed 160 pounds on the hoof (and is still alive). The demographics from those three deer tell us that our bucks have the genetic potential to reach 160” by 4.5 years of age; however, the sex ratio, habitat, and gene pool are currently a shade inferior preventing them from reaching that potential. Which is why we practice QDM.
As you can see QDM requires a lot of time and effort, but the results are very rewarding. We are still early in our management practices, but we can already see a difference in the size and overall health of our deer herd. The pursuit of a trophy whitetail is a year round quest, and QDM is a perfect example.
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