Big strides have been made in Quality Deer Management

In the last few years, great strides have been made in the practice of Quality Deer Management. Many have bought into the idea of planting food plots and adding habitat to their deer hunting property. The practice of QDM is a sound conservation issue, yet there still seems to be a little confusion of exactly what QDM is.

First, let's address what Quality Deer Management is not. QDM is not putting up fences or containing animals in any way. QDM is not simply trying to grow bigger bucks. It is not putting out a salt lick in the back forty, and it is not something only hunters can participate in.

Quality Deer Management is a process of attempting to assist the deer herd in maintaining a healthy balance. The Quality Deer Management Association defines QDM as, "Quality Deer Management (QDM) is a management philosophy/practice that unites landowners, hunters, and managers in a common goal of producing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existing environmental, social, and legal constraints."

The practice involves hunters being selective in deer harvest, food supplementation, and quality habitat management. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of QDM is planting food plots.

Food plots are a section of ground planted with edible forage for whitetail deer. Clover, alfalfa, and other mixed grasses are frequently utilized as food plot crops. Planting food plots is beneficial to the deer on your property for two reasons; first, the food plots supply food to the deer, and second, the food is high quality feed full of healthy protein and minerals.

From a conservation stand point, by putting in a food plot, you are providing food for numerous critters other than the deer on your property. From a personal stand point, it is just a lot fun to watch a field you planted grow, knowing animals are benefiting from your work.

One Indiana resident, who is adamant about QDM, is Shawn Higgins of Greencastle. Shawn, along with his wife, Bobbie, two daughters, and son, own and operate Trophy Room Products. The company produces and distributes a food plot mix called Ultimate Whitetail Food Plot. Shawn says, "As an avid hunter, I started to look for ways to manage the deer on the property I hunt. What I found was many products were designed to attract deer, but they did not have the ingredients necessary to help the herd's health and growth."

Shawn takes a lot of pride in the compound of his formula. Trophy Room Products also markets a deer feed called Herd Developer and a mineral supplement called Max-Antler Growth. While Shawn is proud of the fact that his products will help with growing larger antlers, he is just as proud of the work the food plots and supplements are doing to help the overall deer herd.

"These products will not only help with growing antlers, but will also aide in after rut recovery for bucks and milk production for does," Shawn explained.

Quality Deer Management is an opportunity to help the deer herd in any given area. Even if you do not hunt, you still could plant a food plot to provide deer with extra nutrition and feed, while having an opportunity to watch them reap the benefits of your hard work.

If you are interested in learning more about QDM, check out the Quality Deer Management Association Web site at www.qdma.org.

See you down the trail ...

Brandon is an outdoor writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by e-mail at driftwoodoutdoors@yahoo.com ... to read more of Brandon's stories, visit his Web site at www.driftwoodoutdoors.com