Kip Adams

Managing Public Lands
Kip Adams
Wildlife Biologist – Director of Education & Outreach
Quality Deer Management Association
Deer Herd
Habitat Deer Herd

Habitat Deer Herd
Habitat
Deer Herd
Habitat
Deer Management Strategies
• Traditional Deer Management

• Trophy Deer Management
• Quality Deer Management
Traditional Management is…
The approach where any legal

buck, regardless of age or antler
quality, is harvested and few (if
any) does are harvested.
Traditional Deer
Mgt. Harvest
Habitat Destruction
Deer – Human Conflicts
Trophy Management is…
The approach under only fully

mature bucks with high scoring
antlers (except “culls”) are
harvested and does are aggressively
harvested to maintain low deer
density and optimum nutrition for
remaining animals.
Trophy Deer
Management
Quality Management is…
The approach under which young

bucks are protected from harvest,
combined with an adequate harvest
of female deer to produce healthy
deer herds in balance with existing
habitat conditions.
Traditional
QDM
Trophy
Public Land = Multiple Use
Four Building Blocks of QDM
Herd Management Simplified
The most
important half-
inch in deer
management
Hunters like to shoot bucks
Too many still don’t like to shoot does

Preseason Deer Estimate
1800000
1600000
1400000
1200000
1000000
800000 2003
600000 2005
400000 2007
200000
0
is
io
na
an
sin
no
Oh
ig
dia
on
Illi
ch
In
isc
Mi
W
Antlerless Deer Harvest
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000 2003
100000 2005
50000 2007
0
is
io
na
an
sin
no
Oh
ig
dia
on
Illi
ch
In
isc
Mi
W
Antlered Buck Harvest (1.5+)
300000
250000
200000
150000
2003
100000 2005
50000 2007
0
is
io
na
an
sin
no
Oh
ig
dia
on
Illi
ch
In
isc
Mi
W
Antlered Buck Harvest
(% 1.5 yrs)
70
60
50
40
30 2001
20 2003
10 2005
0
is
io
na
an
sin
no
Oh
ig
dia
on
Illi
ch
In
isc
Mi
W
Antlered Buck Harvest
(% 2.5 yrs)
40
35
30
25
20
2001
15
2003
10
2005
5
0
is
io
na
an
sin
no
Oh
ig
dia
on
Illi
ch
In
isc
Mi
W
Michigan is one of the few states that shoots
more antlered bucks than antlerless deer
Hunters like to shoot bucks
But do young bucks provide the same

opportunities & excitement as mature bucks?
And do young bucks fulfill the role of mature
bucks in a population?
Antlered Buck Management
Common Buck Harvest Restriction
Methods
• Minimum number of antler points

• Minimum antler spread
• Age - body characteristics
• Gross Boone and Crockett score
• Buck quotas or limits
• Combination approaches
All have advantages and disadvantages

Which Strategy is Best?
From a biological standpoint, age restrictions are
typically best because they are the most precise
and flexible way to achieve management goals.
From a practical standpoint, harvesting by age

may not be possible due to varying skill levels
among hunters. The chosen strategy should be
biologically sound, objectively monitored, and
supported by the majority of hunters and
landowners.
Education is the key!

Antlerless Deer Management
Common Antlerless Deer Harvest
Strategies
• Increased antlerless permits/tags

• Increased antlerless bag limit
• Additional antlerless seasons
• Earn-a-buck
All have advantages and disadvantages

Selective Antlerless Harvest
What will work in Michigan?
What will work on public and private land?

Methods
Private Statewide
• Antler points
• Antler spread
• Age/body characteristics
• Earn-a-buck
Methods
UP/NLP SLP
• Antler points
• Antler spread
• Age/body characteristics
• Earn-a-buck
Strategies
Private Statewide
• Increased permits
• Increased bag limit
• Additional seasons
• Earn-a-buck
Strategies
UP/NLP SLP
• Increased permits
• Increased bag limit
• Additional seasons
• Earn-a-buck
Wildlife management is an art and a science,
and it’s the blending of the two that permit
successful wildlife programs
Tailoring deer management programs to a

specific locale is exciting and challenging,
and it’s one reason biologists enter the field
Michigan DNR has the knowledge and
experience to implement a successful
program, so voice your input and then do
your part as a hunter/manager to improve the
deer herd.
Quality Deer Management Association
www.QDMA.com
1-800-209-DEER

Kip Adams

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Kip Adams

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Managing Public Lands

Habitat Deer Herd

• Traditional Deer Management

The approach where any legal

The approach under only fully

The approach under which young

Too many still don’t like to shoot does

But do young bucks provide the same

• Minimum number of antler points

All have advantages and disadvantages

From a practical standpoint, harvesting by age

Education is the key!

• Increased antlerless permits/tags

All have advantages and disadvantages

What will work on public and private land?

Tailoring deer management programs to a

You might also like