Deer Observation and Harvest

By Annette Stephens

Implementation of QDM means setting and adhering to strict goals above and beyond the DNR rule book. They should be based on the productive capacity of the land, land use, and realistic expectations of hunters. To successfully manage your property you need to know how many deer you have does verses bucks. You also want to keep track of the fawns but we know that they are about a 50-50 ratio so count your fawns and know that you will have ½ does and ½ bucks. QDM is about passing up young bucks and maintaining the population at a moderate stocking level through adequate doe harvest. Once your goals are set record keeping is essential. Population control is a must, as deer can destroy their own habitat.

Supplemental plantings, where feasible, should be done with specific stress periods in mind and should include mixtures of plant varieties, as no single species is suitable for all situations.

 It is also a good idea to keep a record of the deer that you have harvested. Important records include age at time of harvest, dressed weight, antler measurements, lactation, and body condition. This will give you the age structure of the deer herd in your area. Deer should be aged by the tooth wear. Deer should also be aged during incidental sightings. This allows the hunter-manager to evaluate age structure of bucks available for harvest. Being able to estimate the age of live deer in the field, permits the hunter greater selectivity. The best buck to harvest may not be the one with the largest antlers.

 Jaw bone aging charts, ageing live deer in the field and data log books are available through Quality Deer Management Association www.qdma.com

A couple examples of the forms you could use to keep track of the deer sightings and harvests for your group are as follows: