Illinois needs QDMA!

Hello, welcome to the future of deer hunting, QDMA. Illinois is in desperate need of some kind of deer management. The herd for the most part is out control. Something must be done now, when manipulating wild populations, it takes time to get them back in check. The main things needed to have a healthy deer herd; good age structure and even sex ratio. So by shooting young bucks and not many does you are setting up for disaster. The biggest complaints I here that are commonly misunderstood; 1) “oh man he had a huge body and a small rack so I shot him.” 2) “if I don’t shoot him my neighbor will.” Or 3) “I only hunt on 80 acres that’s not enough to manage. “
To the hunter saying, “Oh man he had a huge body and a small rack so I shot him.” Congrats you probably just shot a nice 2 ½ or 3 ½ year old buck, the easiest deer in the woods to shoot. He is showing maybe 50% of his potential. The most important thing when harvesting bucks IS NOT antler size. That should have nothing to do with it! The goal is harvesting mature buck, bucks at 4 ½ or 5 ½, when he is showing more like 80-90+% of his potential. There are also many health reasons why mature bucks are needed in your herd, and why antlerless numbers must be kept in check. I will speak on this in another article. So when you see a nice young buck with mass amounts of potential, please let him walk! We are fortunate to live in Illinois where if you shoot based on antler score or size of 130” you are shooting immature bucks! That is where ageing bucks on the hoof become a vitally important skill, with a little training and patience you can age on the hoof. In every issue of “Quality Whitetails” there is the AGE THIS section, check it out, there will be a picture followed by 6 wildlife biologists explaining what to look for, and what age that deer is.
Now I will address the second and the third complaint together, “If I don’t shoot him my neighbor will.” Not really, you would be surprised. If you shoot it, you can guarantee it will never be a magnificent Illinois monster! That is where COOPERATIVES come in to play. What is a cooperative you ask? When hunters put together their land and work together as a team managing for a common goal, a healthy deer herd. Getting you and your neighbors together and talking about management goals, helping each other with food plot, and putting your 120 acres with a few neighbors 600 acres and you can easily mange and see great results! It is a great way to meet your neighbors and make a social event out of it,
We the Heart of Illinois QDMA will at some time offer classes on Ageing Bucks on the Hoof, and cooperatives, and have information available; it is our goal to help you out! Together let’s keep this great hunting heritage around for generations! But we must do something now! Some of the Outfitters are now noticing the troubles that are presenting themselves, caused by horribly out of whack sex ratios, and no age structure, let’s not let it all get that bad everywhere, we must start now! Thanks for question or comments call, or email me, Phil DeJarnatt my info can be found at my website http://www.foodplotphil.blogspot.com/ . thanks for reading and God bless!

4 Corners of QDMA (The basic ideas are listed below.)

While QDM guidelines must be tailored to each property, there are four cornerstones to all successful QDM programs: herd management, habitat management, hunter management, and herd monitoring.
Herd Management Perhaps the most important part of QDM is herd management. Determining the appropriate number of deer to harvest by sex and age is essential. In many areas, deer populations are at or above optimum levels and herd stabilization or reduction is needed.
Habitat Management Improving available nutrition is another important cornerstone of QDM. The diet of a healthy herd should contain 12 to 18 percent protein and adequate levels of calcium, phosphorous, and other important nutrients.
Hunter Management Hunter management is a critical, yet often difficult aspect of QDM. Education is the key. Hunters must fully understand both the benefits and costs of QDM.
Herd Monitoring Herd monitoring is the final cornerstone of QDM. Two types of data are commonly collected - harvest data and observation data. Harvest data should be collected from every deer taken or found dead on a property. Commonly collected harvest data include sex, age, weight, antler measurements, and reproductive information.

HOI QDMA Welcome

QUALITY DEER MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION has made a face in the Peoria, Illinois area. QDMA is truly the future of deer hunting. Phil DeJarnatt and Nick Janssen of Phil’s Food plots & Consulting are President and Vice President and founders of this chapter. 50,000 plus members in all 50 states are joining in, trying to educate people on the proper ways to manage deer herds. Educating on; food plots, cover, ageing deer on the hoof, among other things. The Heart of Illinois Chapter of QDMA was started in September of 2008, and is making strides in the right direction. Donations and help from area people and business's made it possible to have a booth at the Deer and Turkey Classic in Bloomington, on Feb. 27, 28 and the 1st of March. We will have informational and educational goods along with, raffles, and stuff to give away. So far we have 2 tree stands, climbing sticks, some food plot mixes, and a few other items to raffle off. Come join us, help deer hunting, and not for us, but the younger generations enjoy the finest deer hunting the world has to offer right here in our back yards! Questions call or go to my website and contact info at www.foodplotphil.blogspot.com. We are truly blessed to live here in God’s Country. Hope to see you at the classic in Bloomington!

QDMA has Booth @ Deer&Turkey Classic.