Meeting on Proposed Antler Point Restrictions May 17th

The Northwest Michigan Chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association, in partnership with Leelanau Whitetails, has proposed new antler point restrictions (APR) for the following 12 counties: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Manistee, Missaukee, Mason, Osceola and Wexford.

The Northwest Michigan Chapter of the QDMA will host meetings in each county to answer questions and provide explanation. The next meeting is scheduled for May 17 at 7 p.m. in Kalkaska at the Kaliseum, located at 1900 Fairground Road. Read more

On Antler Restrictions in Northern Michigan

The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) proposes to require that all antlered deer harvested in a 12-county northwest area must have at least three antler points on one side. Current regulations allow hunters to take bucks that have at least one antler that is 3 inches long or longer. The proposal would continue the current statewide requirement that hunters taking two bucks must ensure at least one of those bucks has four or more antler points on one side.

Certainly, some hunters are going to kick and scream, because of their shortsightedness; however, they’ll be singing another tune in a few years.  That’s what happens when the young bucks are permitted to grow to maturity.  More here…

Captive Deer Breeding

From Kip Adams – Kip’s Corner

During the past few legislative sessions one or two states each year initiated captive deer breeding legislation. QDMA opposed each on a case-by-case basis and urged our members to do the same. The 2011-12 legislative session was far different however, as 10 states ultimately debated captive deer breeding bills. QDMA opposed each and issued a national press release (http://www.qdma.com/news/qdma-urges-hunters-in-seven-states-to-oppose-deer-breeding-legislation) urging all hunters to do the same. This national release gained much attention across the hunting and deer breeding communities, and caused a flurry of letters, questions, and mis-guided comments. QDMA then issued a FAQ sheet on our stance on captive deer breeding to provide additional information on the risks of this issue and to elaborate on some points in our initial press release. The following information was included in that FAQ sheet. Read more

QDMA Urges Hunters in Seven States to Oppose Deer-Breeding Legislation

BOGART, Ga. – The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is urging hunters in seven states to oppose the expansion of the deer-breeding industry, which QDMA perceives as a growing threat to wild deer and the deer-hunting heritage. Legislation designed to loosen or dismantle regulatory barriers to white-tailed deer breeding and farming is being considered in Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. Read more

Michigan Deer Management Needs to be Changed

By Glen Wunderlich

An interesting analysis of this past deer hunting season has been released by the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). Contained in it are comparisons from 36 states in our eastern half of the country. It’s time to assess how Michigan’s deer management stacks up with our neighbors.

QDMA’s 2012 Whitetail Report shows that the majority of hunters had a better season than last year relative to antlered buck harvest (bucks 1 ½ years or older.) In fact, 54 percent of the states saw more bucks taken. When it comes to sheer numbers, Michigan ranks Read more

QDMA’s “Quality Food Plots” Book Breaks Sales Records

BOGART, Ga. — Only five years since publication, the book Quality Food Plots has sold more than 15,000 copies, making it the top-selling and fastest-selling book ever offered by the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). That rate puts the book among the
top-sellers in the hunting industry and likely the highest-selling book ever on food plots or deer habitat. Read more