Herd Management

Arguably, the most important part of QDM is herd management. Determining the appropriate number of deer to harvest by sex and age is essential. The first step is to establish the number of deer the habitat can support in a healthy condition. Thus, habitat quality determines herd size, herd quality, and harvest requirements for both sexes.

It is often difficult to establish the appropriate herd size for a property because it is not a fixed value from year to year, or even season to season. Habitats are constantly changing and seasonal conditions vary. Land-use changes on your property or adjacent properties also affect habitat quality. However, with a little homework and some advice from a wildlife professional, a reasonable starting point can be established.

The manager must understand that deer health will decline if it exceeds the habitat's capacity to provide quality forage and cover. A good indication of habitat quality is deer body weights, especially in young deer. A decrease in average body weight within an age class often indicates a decrease in habitat quality. In bucks, average antler measurements within an age class also provide useful insight regarding current habitat quality. With does, other warning signs include a reduction in the average number of fawns per doe or the lactation ("in milk") rate in adult does.

Antlerless Deer Management

In many areas, deer herds are at or above optimum densities and herd stabilization or reduction is needed. Both are accomplished through the harvest of female deer ‹ the reproductive segment of the herd. In fact, appropriate antlerless deer harvest often is the most important aspect of herd management. Traditionally, does were protected from harvest because of their reproductive role. Today, in many areas, an increased doe harvest improves the social structure and health of the herd without jeopardizing herd size or stability.

Many hunters are reluctant to harvest antlerless deer because they fear that buck fawns will also be harvested. While this is a valid concern, techniques are available to greatly minimize these mistakes. By paying close attention to body size and shape, head size and shape, and behavior, the harvest of button bucks can be minimized. Regardless, in the early stages of QDM it is more important to achieve the correct antlerless harvest for the area, even if a few button bucks are taken. A good starting point is to maintain an antlerless harvest with less than 10 percent button bucks, although a lower percentage is desirable.

Another concern is that harvesting does with fawns will result in the death of those fawns, especially buck fawns. However, research has shown that as long as fawns are at least 60 to 90 days old (weigh more than 40 pounds) their chances of survival are not negatively affected. Most states have established their antlerless deer seasons with this in mind. With buck fawns, most disperse from their birth area when they are between six and 24 months of age. Often, they will disperse several miles before finding a new home. This reinforces the need for hunters on small properties to encourage their neighbors also to protect buck fawns, as these may be your adult bucks of tomorrow.

Antlered Buck Management

Another important aspect of herd management is establishing appropriate harvest restrictions for bucks. Restrictions are established on a property-specific basis according to hunter objectives, property size, habitat quality, management practices on surrounding properties, and other factors. A reasonable starting point for most QDM programs is the protection of yearling bucks.

Several body and antler characteristics can be used to distinguish yearling bucks from older bucks. For simplicity, most properties use antler characteristics such as a minimum number of points. However, in many areas, the number of antler points is a poor predictor of age and should not be used as the only harvest restriction. Other antler characteristics, such as antler spread and antler length, are generally better predictors of age, but more difficult for the average hunter to judge. When possible, both antler and body characteristics should be used to maximize reliability.

The appropriate restriction or combination of restrictions that best protect yearling bucks is determined by examining previous years' harvest data on your property. The restriction selected should protect all or nearly all yearling bucks, especially the largest-antlered yearling bucks. If no previous data are available, contact your state wildlife agency. Usually, they can provide assistance in selecting the most appropriate initial restriction. After the first few years, the restriction can be fine-tuned through the harvest data collected on the property.

Often, QDM participants increase the harvest restriction over time to protect other age classes in addition to yearlings. Antler size of even mature bucks can vary greatly. Therefore, a mistake to avoid is the establishment of a minimum harvest restriction so high that many mature bucks never reach harvestable status. This can result in these small-antlered mature bucks breeding many does, which may negatively affect herd antler size over time. Some deer managers recommend culling these smaller-antlered mature bucks. However, this requires more experience in estimating deer age and antler size than most hunters have. Most deer managers agree that bucks should not be culled until they are least 3.5 or 4.5 years of age, if ever. Generally, this approach is reserved for very experienced hunters on properties practicing trophy deer management.