What are your goals?

[QDMAworks4me]

We have just completed our 7th year of management on our property and now it is time to reflect on what we observed for the year. My family is in the process of setting some long term goals for our property and some short term goals. We are then going to have either our local QDMA representative come in or under his suggestions hire someone to help us figure out what the missing links are to our property.

Here are some of my long term goals:

-Increase the brush and cover on our property
-Increase the browse for the deer
-Increase bucks sightings during the day light hours
-Increase the rut activity by taking at least 10 does per season
-On average take 3, 3 1/2 year or older bucks per season between 5 hunters


Short term goals

-Get rid of the beavers that have flooded our property
-Find a way to get rid of some of our local coyote population which really messed up our deer movement this year
-Increase food plots on our property, we have 100 acres of tillable land which is alfalfa now so we are looking into planting corn and brassica
-Buy a 6' rototiller for our tractor

These are just some of the goals I can think of right now, I was just wondering what you guys are thinking about for your goals both long term and short term?

[Randy]

We've been in QDM for 16 years now. We have 120 acres. Around 77 acres is in a CRP program. Of that 77 acres 65 acres or so is planted with native grasses such as Big blue stem. Big Blue Stem grass is unbelievable when it comes to providing cover for Whitetails and other wildlife it is hard to beat. I saw 11 different buck opening day and 13 the second of our firearms season. I saw 3, 3 1/2 year olds or better. I shot a nice 3 year old 8 pointer. Three people hunt our land and took 15 deer total off of it between gun and bow hunting. Three were bucks, one 4 year old, one three year old, and a wounded screwed up rack 2 year old. I guess if there was one thing that i would really concentrate on this year is to educate the neighbors some more about QDM. My dad and I started QDM in our area 16 years ago and until just the last 2-3 years the neighbors shot anything and everything. (except for doe!!) Now we are doing what we can to curb the doe population, feed them better groceries, maintain a better age structure and manage a healthier deer herd. I know there are many opinions about this on this forum, it took us 13-14 years to get the neighbors involved and I personally went 10 years before harvesting a mature buck but, when it finally happened, It was all worth while!!

[Gator]

Post deleted by Gator

[wtnhunt]

After the past two years I am really wondering. The goals 5 to 6 years ago were to pass on the younger bucks and implement more food plots. With knowing that we cannot make a difference here with the excessive number of hunters flocking to this area, I am at wits end and we are seriously considering whether it might be in our best interest to pack up and find property somewhere where there are likely to be less shooters whacking anything and where we can have more land to attempt to manage.

[QDMAworks4me]

[ QUOTE ]
Kill, Kill, Kill

[/ QUOTE ]

You set your goals very high

[Gator]

Sorry, wrong thread

[ousoonerfan22]

I wish that I could afford a section of land to manage for the deer but I'm stuck with these small tracts.It is frustrating with all the hunting pressure in this area but I'm not going to give up.I like planting the food plots,watching them grow and keeping track on how much the deer use them.
I enjoy this as much as hunting the deer.

[ousoonerfan22]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Kill, Kill, Kill

[/ QUOTE ]

You set your goals very high

[/ QUOTE ]

If you only knew.........

I was raised as a meat hunter, and that is what I am, a meat hunter. we hunted for the -pleasure of hunting, and killing a BIG buck was secondary. I will not apologize that we do not share the same view on managing for bigger bucks. I think that is a problem with hunting today to an extent. to many people are focusing on taking a BIG buck, instead of enjoying the outdoors. Granted, I DO like taking a big buck, but I also like to fill my freezer for the upcoming year also, and yes, I do take does. Just don't see why I should have to abide by others thoughts on QDMA

[/ QUOTE ]

I wasn't going to get involved with your replies and that's cool if you want to shoot anything that walks but I have to ask why are you posting in this forum?Just looking for an argument?

[QDMAworks4me]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Kill, Kill, Kill

[/ QUOTE ]

You set your goals very high

[/ QUOTE ]

If you only knew.........

I was raised as a meat hunter, and that is what I am, a meat hunter. we hunted for the -pleasure of hunting, and killing a BIG buck was secondary. I will not apologize that we do not share the same view on managing for bigger bucks. I think that is a problem with hunting today to an extent. to many people are focusing on taking a BIG buck, instead of enjoying the outdoors. Granted, I DO like taking a big buck, but I also like to fill my freezer for the upcoming year also, and yes, I do take does. Just don't see why I should have to abide by others thoughts on QDMA

[/ QUOTE ]

I wasn't going to get involved with your replies and that's cool if you want to shoot anything that walks but I have to ask why are you posting in this forum?Just looking for an argument?

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you, my thoughts exactly. I was trying to get people involved in thinking about their property to make it better for deer now that deer season is over, keep people excited about things, I am not looking for an argument in here or I was NOT trying to get an AR conversation going, you want to argue go back to the "Why not manage" post

[Gator]

Post deleted by Gator

[leatherneck]

Dude....... I just love SPAM!!!!!

[Gator]

My apologies, wrong thread

[Randy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Kill, Kill, Kill

[/ QUOTE ]

You set your goals very high

[/ QUOTE ]

If you only knew.........

I was raised as a meat hunter, and that is what I am, a meat hunter. we hunted for the -pleasure of hunting, and killing a BIG buck was secondary. I will not apologize that we do not share the same view on managing for bigger bucks. I think that is a problem with hunting today to an extent. to many people are focusing on taking a BIG buck, instead of enjoying the outdoors. Granted, I DO like taking a big buck, but I also like to fill my freezer for the upcoming year also, and yes, I do take does. Just don't see why I should have to abide by others thoughts on QDMA

[/ QUOTE ]I'm thinking if you were TRULY trying to "enjoy the outdoors," The "KILL, KILL, KILL" would be secondary. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, That'll be 5 bucks!!

[ousoonerfan22]

I understand your point and you're not alone I have friends that feel the same way and if that's what makes you guys happy that's fine.
For me I've killed a number of deer especially young bucks and I just don't enjoy it now but I like the challenge of trying to put a mature buck on the ground especially with a bow.I enjoy glassing the deer and watching a young buck come in but I get a good feeling just letting him walk and maybe have the chance to watch him some more during the season.Now seeing a good mature buck gets my adrenaline going and I love trying to match wits with them.
I feel guilty telling my son(20) to let these young bucks walk especially after he told me that he hasn't killed a lot of deer,I've questioned myself on this many times here lately.

I don't want to argue I had enough of that with the woman I was married to.

[QDMAworks4me]

So who's putting in food plots next year??????