NorthJeff
03-31-2003, 12:05 PM
***This was the same as the first, mistakingly deleted QDM essentials thread, but with the addition of some comments of QDMA Executive Director, Brian Murphy.
What are the essentials of QDM?
Many focus on mandatory AR's and habitat improvement. Hunters and property owners that are for or against QDM use both of these points as there support. Some that don't own land say QDM can't be for them, because they can't practice habitat improvement. Some also say that QDM isn't for them because they don't care for mandatory AR's. But is either a must for an
effective QDM plan? Sure, a QDM plan is enhanced at times by the above two aspects, but is it essential?
QDM is:
1.Protection of yearling bucks
2.Populations maintained below the carrying capacity of the land
3.Adequate sex ratios
Notice I did not mention habitat improvement, or mandatory AR's. Mandatory AR's and habitat improvement are great tools, but are not essential to the effective establishment of a QDM plan. The above three though, can not be left out. For example: You can use habitat improvement to raise your property's carrying capacity, but it still boils down to "carrying capacity". Your populations must be maintained below the carrying capacity
of the land in order for your QDM plan to be successful. Regardless of what you do to your land, or public land for that matter, if you follow the proper carrying capacity, you are practicing QDM. Simply, you can practice QDM without habitat improvement, but you can't practice QDM without maintaining your population below the carrying capacity of the land. That's why carrying capacity is essential, but habitat improvement is not.
Also, on mandatory AR's. It doesn't matter how you do it, yearling bucks need to be protected for the successful implementation of a QDM plan. You can have a successful QDM plan without AR's, but you can't have one without the protection of yearling bucks. This is where it can get kind of sticky. PA recognized, as well as many other parts of the country, that voulantary protection wasn't working, and wouldn't work, especially at a noticable rate, so they developed an effective AR that would protect at least 80% of all yearlings. But is a mandatory AR an essential for QDM? No. Can it be very effective? Yes.
Simply, you can practice QDM without AR's, but you can't practice QDM without the protection of yearling bucks.
Those 3 points above are the essentials for a successful QDM plan. There are many other positive aspects that can be incorporated into your plan, especially the use of habitat improvement. Many other aspects are also a part of the QDMA, including education, cooperation with law enforcement, youth involvement, and stewardship. Habitat improvement is probably the biggest aspect, and it is an awesome tool to help a landowner further enjoy his or her property on an entirely different level, a level I strongly encourage. But regardless of what you do, or don't do, the above 3 essentials have to take place for a QDM plan to be successful.
That is why QDM is effective anywhere in the country, on any type of property. You get the above 3 essentials to take place, and you have an effective QDM plan.
Brian Murphy commented to me by e-mail.....
"Certainly, habitat improvement can greatly enhance the success of a QDM program as can mandatory antler restriction programs. Also, the correct #1 in the article's list should be an adequate buck age structure, not protection of yearling bucks. While protection of yearling bucks is the most direct approach to QDM, an older buck age structure also can be achieved by simply reducing the total buck harvest (e.g., a quota). In these cases, harvesting a few yearling bucks will not prevent QDM success."
So... I stand corrected. The first point should be, Adequate Buck Age Structure.
So, the 3 essentials of QDM are:
1. Adequate Buck Age Structure
2. Populations Maintained below the carrying capacity of the land
3. Adequate Sex Ratios
Make sense?
What are the essentials of QDM?
Many focus on mandatory AR's and habitat improvement. Hunters and property owners that are for or against QDM use both of these points as there support. Some that don't own land say QDM can't be for them, because they can't practice habitat improvement. Some also say that QDM isn't for them because they don't care for mandatory AR's. But is either a must for an
effective QDM plan? Sure, a QDM plan is enhanced at times by the above two aspects, but is it essential?
QDM is:
1.Protection of yearling bucks
2.Populations maintained below the carrying capacity of the land
3.Adequate sex ratios
Notice I did not mention habitat improvement, or mandatory AR's. Mandatory AR's and habitat improvement are great tools, but are not essential to the effective establishment of a QDM plan. The above three though, can not be left out. For example: You can use habitat improvement to raise your property's carrying capacity, but it still boils down to "carrying capacity". Your populations must be maintained below the carrying capacity
of the land in order for your QDM plan to be successful. Regardless of what you do to your land, or public land for that matter, if you follow the proper carrying capacity, you are practicing QDM. Simply, you can practice QDM without habitat improvement, but you can't practice QDM without maintaining your population below the carrying capacity of the land. That's why carrying capacity is essential, but habitat improvement is not.
Also, on mandatory AR's. It doesn't matter how you do it, yearling bucks need to be protected for the successful implementation of a QDM plan. You can have a successful QDM plan without AR's, but you can't have one without the protection of yearling bucks. This is where it can get kind of sticky. PA recognized, as well as many other parts of the country, that voulantary protection wasn't working, and wouldn't work, especially at a noticable rate, so they developed an effective AR that would protect at least 80% of all yearlings. But is a mandatory AR an essential for QDM? No. Can it be very effective? Yes.
Simply, you can practice QDM without AR's, but you can't practice QDM without the protection of yearling bucks.
Those 3 points above are the essentials for a successful QDM plan. There are many other positive aspects that can be incorporated into your plan, especially the use of habitat improvement. Many other aspects are also a part of the QDMA, including education, cooperation with law enforcement, youth involvement, and stewardship. Habitat improvement is probably the biggest aspect, and it is an awesome tool to help a landowner further enjoy his or her property on an entirely different level, a level I strongly encourage. But regardless of what you do, or don't do, the above 3 essentials have to take place for a QDM plan to be successful.
That is why QDM is effective anywhere in the country, on any type of property. You get the above 3 essentials to take place, and you have an effective QDM plan.
Brian Murphy commented to me by e-mail.....
"Certainly, habitat improvement can greatly enhance the success of a QDM program as can mandatory antler restriction programs. Also, the correct #1 in the article's list should be an adequate buck age structure, not protection of yearling bucks. While protection of yearling bucks is the most direct approach to QDM, an older buck age structure also can be achieved by simply reducing the total buck harvest (e.g., a quota). In these cases, harvesting a few yearling bucks will not prevent QDM success."
So... I stand corrected. The first point should be, Adequate Buck Age Structure.
So, the 3 essentials of QDM are:
1. Adequate Buck Age Structure
2. Populations Maintained below the carrying capacity of the land
3. Adequate Sex Ratios
Make sense?