Do you participate in QDM practices on your property?

[Steve]

Let's take a poll.

[Lundy43123]

I have been practicing QDM on the land that I hunt in Athens County for the last 7 years. I have seen an increase in the number and age of bucks during this time from when we first started. It is and can be difficult to achieve any results if your nieghbors do not practice QDM. Fortunatly we have a large enough piece of property that QDM does make a difference for us and our nieghbors. Many of the deer our nieghbors take each year are deer that have had a chance to grow at least towards maturity due to our QDM practices. Our nieghbors do not practice QDM, but do benifit from us doing it. That's ok with me, a good number of bucks make it through every year get a little older and better each year they survive.

We do not limit the number of bucks removed but do limit the minimum size we will take. It must be at least a 8 point with approx 18" inside, with good tine length and mass. This standard puts most in the 130 range as a minimum. We do harvest a lot of does each year, and in fact I take many hunters during the year on doe only hunts. My brother last year had to take a buck that was very borderline (pic in gallery) because it left front leg was broken at the shoulder from a slug wound earlier that day.

During last Saturdays trip down to look around and move some stands I saw 8 bucks, 1- 4pt, 1 -6 pt, 3 -8's 14-15" spread, 1 -10 17" spread, 1- 10 in the 140's, 1 unknown, good mass and tine but didn't see it long enough. QDM can work.

According to the ODNR, the average age of all bucks killed last year was 1.7 years. 60% of those bucks were 1.5 years. 56% of all available bucks at the beginning of the season are harvested. The doe to buck ratio is listed as 1.6 to 1

I am not saying that everyone should practice QDM. Everyone should hunt how and shoot whatever they choose within the laws. This is just how I enjoy deer hunting, to each his own.

Kim

[countyroad320]

I hunt on a small amount with my dad. Him and I hunt all year there, but my uncle will show up during gun season every once in a while. I myself decided 2 years ago not to shoot anything less then 2 1/2 years old or less than 8 points. I've passed up several bucks at less than 10 yards. I try to get my dad to follow, but he has shot the smallest 8 points the last 2 years. I don't think he is into it that much. I passed up too many does at the beginning of this season and then didn't have time to at the end of the season. Next year I plan on taking the first doe I can and then holding out for the buck. Hopefully my dad will join.

[Bowhawk75]

My hunting partner owns a 250 acre farm in Coshocton Cty., and we have been doing QDM since 1990. I go back to Ohio every spring and help plant clover fields, make mineral licks, and fertilize the apple trees. The land owners that are around us don't do much supplimental planting, but are big believers in letting the small bucks walk, and to take their limit of does. We went in together and bought a old 8N Ford tractor, plow and disc to help us with our fields. He also lets a local farmer use about 75 acres to plant either corn or soy beans. We also build alot of Bluebird and Wood duck boxes that we put up on the property. We feel the quality of the bucks we see has gone up alot since we started the QDM program. Also should mention, we plant about 500 trees every spring also, and do selective harvesting of mature timber. It takes alot of my vacation time and money, but I feel it is definitly worth it.

[XX78]

Thats the way to do it, hopefully I'll be able to do something similar in the near future. I think your QDM works pretty well lol!