Minnesota QDM Inc.

MN QDM, Inc. Position Statements

The following are positions that MN QDM has taken on various issues:

Antler Restrictions – We believe that with public acceptance, this is the most efficient way to achieve a balanced age structure and encourage adequate doe harvest. Antler restrictions may be necessary for many to truly understand what a yearling and a mature deer look like. The ideal antler restriction is one that protects all yearling (with the possible acceptance of spike bucks) and most two and one-half year old bucks. Currently, this seems to be the preferred method for generating more mature bucks among hunters in NW Minnesota (Fall, 2004 DNR hunter survey). A season of adequate length will be necessary for antler restrictions to be widely accepted. Restricted buck harvest is a cornerstone of QDM.

Doe Harvest – Adult doe (not antlerless) harvest is one of the cornerstones of QDM. The harvest of does is the best way to control the quantity of deer and can influence the quality of the deer herd as well. We should rely on the Minnesota DNR’s recommendations when deciding how many does to harvest. We should always try to take as many does as the regulations will allow.

Habitat Management – Habitat management is another cornerstone of QDM. Habitat management is very broad, but includes things such as food plots, forest management, and grassland management. We believe in creating habitat that will support a deer herd during every season of the year, helping to create a healthier deer herd. MN QDM provides extensive education on this subject.

Legislative Mandated Restrictions – We believe that the most effective way to introduce new regulations is to have them initiated by the DNR, however, we will resort to implementing regulations legislatively under certain circumstances. We would not use this strategy for something that we feel the majority of hunters would oppose or for a regulation that was not biologically sound.

Party Hunting – Because of the public reluctance to do away with party hunting, we do not support a law banning it, however, we stress that caution needs to be exercised when performing “deer drives”. It is extremely difficult to be selective in the harvest of bucks when shooting deer on the run. It is also very hard on bucks when we are allowed to fill other hunter’s tags by shooting more than one buck. We would support a law that governs the harvest of bucks while party hunting.

Public Acceptance of QDM – We feel that the only reasons for the deer hunters in Minnesota not accepting and adopting QDM would be not having enough or having the wrong information. We truly believe that with education, a great majority of deer hunters will accept and adopt the principles of QDM. There are many reasons to practice QDM. We believe that most deer hunters in Minnesota will find a reason to accept QDM by the year 2009.

Record Keeping - It is important to keep records of harvested deer. This process should start with the registering of every deer harvested. This provides very valuable information that helps in the proper management of the deer herd by generating more accurate models of the deer population. Data to be collected should include at a minimum, the sex, age, and weight of the deer. Gross and net antler scores may also be interesting for some to collect. In addition to giving one insight into the overall health of their specific deer herd, this information helps to educate hunters about aging live deer in the field. This allows them to make better management decisions based on data more specific to their area.

Special Youth Seasons – We support all youth seasons, however at this time, would prefer that they are restricted to antlerless deer only. MN QDM sees this as another tool to manage deer densities and balance the sex ratio. We feel that we can accomplish two goals with this stance. We can teach youth the value of harvesting does, as well as assist the DNR is achieving their antlerless harvest goals. This is the reason the 2004 NW Youth Season was antlerless only. This was a season introduced by our organization and in addition to providing a pleasant experience for young hunters, we hoped use it to help achieve a more balanced deer herd. We support being flexible on which sex should be allowed to be harvested to adjust for changes in management strategies.

Trophy Deer Management – We DO NOT encourage the practice of Trophy Deer Management (TDM). This process considers overall herd dynamics as taking a back seat to producing trophy bucks. Under TDM, bucks are not harvested until they are a minimum of 5 ½ years old with the exception of some cull bucks. Intensive doe harvest is only practiced to keep deer densities low enough to allow for optimal nutrition for bucks.

Zoning in Pilot Project Areas – The season must be consistent across any area considered for a pilot project, with only minor differences (if any) to account for differences in terrain. This season must be long enough to allow hunters to be satisfied with being required to selectively harvest deer.

MINNESOTA QDM INC.

MN QDM, Inc. Position Statements The following are positions that MN QDM has taken on various issues: Antler Restrictions – We believe that with public acceptance, this is the most efficient way to achieve a balanced age structure and encourage adequate doe harvest. Antler restrictions may be necessary for many to truly understand what a yearling and a mature deer look like. The ideal antler restriction is one that protects all yearling (with the possible acceptance of spike bucks) and most two and one-half year old bucks. Currently, this seems to be the preferred method for generating more mature bucks among hunters in NW Minnesota (Fall, 2004 DNR hunter survey). A season of adequate length will be necessary for antler restrictions to be widely accepted. Restricted buck harvest is a cornerstone of QDM. Doe Harvest – Adult doe (not antlerless) harvest is one of the cornerstones of QDM. The harvest of does is the best way to control the quantity of deer and can influence the quality of the deer herd as well. We should rely on the Minnesota DNR’s recommendations when deciding how many does to harvest. We should always try to take as many does as the regulations will allow. Habitat Management – Habitat management is another cornerstone of QDM. Habitat management is very broad, but includes things such as food plots, forest management, and grassland management. We believe in creating habitat that will support a deer herd during every season of the year, helping to create a healthier deer herd. MN QDM provides extensive education on this subject. Legislative Mandated Restrictions – We believe that the most effective way to introduce new regulations is to have them initiated by the DNR, however, we will resort to implementing regulations legislatively under certain circumstances. We would not use this strategy for something that we feel the majority of hunters would oppose or for a regulation that was not biologically sound. Party Hunting – Because of the public reluctance to do away with party hunting, we do not support a law banning it, however, we stress that caution needs to be exercised when performing “deer drives”. It is extremely difficult to be selective in the harvest of bucks when shooting deer on the run. It is also very hard on bucks when we are allowed to fill other hunter’s tags by shooting more than one buck. We would support a law that governs the harvest of bucks while party hunting. Public Acceptance of QDM – We feel that the only reasons for the deer hunters in Minnesota not accepting and adopting QDM would be not having enough or having the wrong information. We truly believe that with education, a great majority of deer hunters will accept and adopt the principles of QDM. There are many reasons to practice QDM. We believe that most deer hunters in Minnesota will find a reason to accept QDM by the year 2009. Record Keeping - It is important to keep records of harvested deer. This process should start with the registering of every deer harvested. This provides very valuable information that helps in the proper management of the deer herd by generating more accurate models of the deer population. Data to be collected should include at a minimum, the sex, age, and weight of the deer. Gross and net antler scores may also be interesting for some to collect. In addition to giving one insight into the overall health of their specific deer herd, this information helps to educate hunters about aging live deer in the field. This allows them to make better management decisions based on data more specific to their area. Special Youth Seasons – We support all youth seasons, however at this time, would prefer that they are restricted to antlerless deer only. MN QDM sees this as another tool to manage deer densities and balance the sex ratio. We feel that we can accomplish two goals with this stance. We can teach youth the value of harvesting does, as well as assist the DNR is achieving their antlerless harvest goals. This is the reason the 2004 NW Youth Season was antlerless only. This was a season introduced by our organization and in addition to providing a pleasant experience for young hunters, we hoped use it to help achieve a more balanced deer herd. We support being flexible on which sex should be allowed to be harvested to adjust for changes in management strategies. Trophy Deer Management – We DO NOT encourage the practice of Trophy Deer Management (TDM). This process considers overall herd dynamics as taking a back seat to producing trophy bucks. Under TDM, bucks are not harvested until they are a minimum of 5 ½ years old with the exception of some cull bucks. Intensive doe harvest is only practiced to keep deer densities low enough to allow for optimal nutrition for bucks. Zoning in Pilot Project Areas – The season must be consistent across any area considered for a pilot project, with only minor differences (if any) to account for differences in terrain. This season must be long enough to allow hunters to be satisfied with being required to selectively harvest deer.