QDM

[deadeye]

Cody, do you really mean 2-3 bucks per doe or do you mean 2-3 does per buck?  I don't know anyone advocating more bucks than does.  We don't have any scientific method of verifying the ratio.  We just shoot a good number of does and nice 8 points (no basket 8's).   Seems to work for us. 
beeker,  I don't know what you are starting with regarding food plots.  If you are carving one out of the woods, it's a tough job.  On the other hand, we have had great success with the following procedure.
Spray roundup around Memorial day.  Wait about three weeks and spray again and put down some fertilizer.  Now if you are planting clover or other annuals, (rape, turnips etc) go ahead and broadcast the seed in the sprayed areas.  The dead and dying grass will help protect the new seedlings from hot sun and give them time to get going.  You should have a nice crop by fall.  If you are planting winter wheat, wait until September to plant.  Again, with this method, we have had great success with minimal cost and work.  Good luck.
Without cooperation from neighbors, you will have a difficult time having much impact with QDM on 40 acres.  Your best option is to make your land more invititng that the surrounding land to maybe attract and hold a better buck.

 

[beeker]

I have 40 that butts up too 1100 tax forfeited that is difficult to get too.. plus we have a few neighbors that do not hunt and do not allow hunters on their land. I was up there this weekend scored some free pole barn metal so we added a room onto the shack.

[deadeye]

beeker,
Sounds like you may have real sweet spot there.  I forgot, what are the GPS coordinates again?

[beeker]

your welcome to go stomp around the state land.. those guys are the best pushers I've never cared to meet.

[Cody Gruchow]

sorry i meant it the other way around 2-3 does per buck

[HD]

Dang, Cody...........you had me worried there for a second! 

[Cody Gruchow]

i should really proof read my stuff lol because 2-3 bucks per doe would be insane. its an alright idea though because then most of the does will be bred by a dominant buck, so im guessing there would be less smaller bucks, but i aint going to mess up what i have right now lol

[HD]

I was just wondering how many of you feed deer though out the year with accual feeders?

I know some people are against wildlife feeders because of the hoopla about CWD.

And I'm not refering to baiting deer, just sublimental feeding in the off season.

So, do you have feeders on your property, and what is the feed you put in them?


Hunter

[bowhunter73]

sorry i meant it the other way around 2-3 does per buck

   

[HD]

Well, the last season of rifle, has shown us that QDM does work for those who can practic it.

Just ask Deadeye, he scored a really nice buck for his efforts!   



I hope everyones season was a good one! ...... But, we still have muzzle loader to go!

So, get out there and wack a big one!


Hunter

[stevejedlenski]

well i know it may be rare, but our property does actually hold 2-3 bucks per doe. this year of all the deer we have seen, we only saw 3 does. i dont know what it is but we cant get does on our property. we hunt about 300 private acres and we just plain dont shoot does and we still dont see them. in the summer we will have a batcholor group of around 10 bucks or so and we will see maybe one doe all summer. same goes for in the fall, we almost cant shoot does or we will never see one. last year we saw 4 different does and we let my bro take 2. well this year we only saw a couple does again. i would say of the deer we see on stand and scouting 90% of them are bucks.

but i dont complain...

[deadeye]

steved,
That is a interesting scenero.  I can't imagin why all the bucks would hang around with so few does.  Is there something unique about your property?  Hard to imagin why so many bucks and so few does. 

[HD]

Weren't you the one asking about the food plots?


Once you get the food plots in, you will start to retain some more of those doe's.... More doe's, will equal more bucks. If you are seeing more bucks than doe's, they are most likely on there way to where the doe's are.

It sounds like you hunt a transition area, and need to work on keeping the deer in your area. Try to get a better "bed and breakfast" area. What I mean is, if they have water, food and bedding areas that are better than what is avaliable to them, they will stay.

Hunter

[stevejedlenski]

well im not sure why it is this way, but we dont have too much cover on our area. but within the 300 or so acres we have a couple bedding areas that are really thick and we stay out of there. the only other food that really draws deer is the oaks we have on one of the 40's. yes this is why i wanted to plant some food, to get the does back into our area during the rut. this year was different than most in that we actually saw alot of bucks during the rut. usually we only see a few and our year goes pretty slow without much movement, but this year they were everywhere without any does. also at our feeder we rarely see does, mostly bucks.

i think if we put in food plots we will see even more deer and keep all those bucks on our property during the whole season.

[only$250]

Great postings!  I've been a QDMA member for around a year and in the last year have read more than I have my entire life on deer and wildlife.  My brother and I have owned our 160 acres (for 2.5 years) with all but 16 being wooded.  We have been making a ton of changes since day one, adding food plots, cutting down tree's, and a ton of other things in the works or being planned.  Food for the entire year vs corn or acorns...was our biggest change and we have does! 

If you believe in QDMA or not...they have some GREAT books to read and use as info sources.  With the "LAND" changes we've made over the last couple of years, we are hoping to make our land the bed and breakfast for the bucks...now we have plenty of does. 

This will be an on going process...but we/I absolutely love being out there...as a family, or by myself!  Wild life benifits...we already see more grouse, turkeys and other wildlife are some additional benefits!!!

A chainsaw is about all you need to have for phase #1!

Good luck!

[HD]

So? How was everybodys season?

Did ya let the little ones walk?

I personally let 3, 110 to 120 class bucks walk so far this year, with several 6's, forks and spikes.

My daughter did harvest a small 6, but we encourge the kids to get out and hunt, and we'll work on the buck fever jitters later....
Some other kids that I take out, did manage to get doe's, and some just got a learning experience. But, that's why it's called hunting! If it was a gar-on-tee, it wouldn't be fun!

I only harvested a couple doe's this year so far, still have the last weekend of muzzleloader to go. Then, I hang it up for ice fishing.

Hunter

[stevejedlenski]

i passed a couple 8's and some small 6 and forks. i only got to hunt 5 days this year so i didnt get one but they will be there next season.

[MnDeerStalker]

I let a few small ones walk I have had a few bucks and smaller does as well. I have had a good season  so far taking two nice does and two nice bucks. i am still hunting and and will only take a nice doe or a buck if he is 140 class or better.

[22lex]

Let two six-points pass, one eight, and one small ten.

Originally thought I shot a decent sized doe but turned out to have nubs, and just yesterday shot a yearling doe.

I also let two people go that were trespassing. Wasn't my land and did not know until later that the landowners had not given them permission.

[Cody Gruchow]

well this year i have let alteast 9 small bucks go, mostly forks and 6 pointers, the biggest being on bow opener that was a big 9 and it was only the first morning so i let him walk and i took a decent 8 the other day with my bow. but it was good enough to be my first bow killed buck.

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[HD]

That's not a bad buck for your first one with a bow Cody! 


Hunter

[beeker]

wow.. I would have a hard time letting a 120 class walk away. but I suppose once you have been growing em for a while it gets easier. I had spiker bust me, wouldn't have shot him anyways, then as a group we had maybe 2 small baskets we let walk. and my brother took a goofy 5 pointer that just needed his genetics stopped. I ended up with a nice 9 I put a picture in the deer camp photos. that's my biggest to date, it weighed 222#'s and didn't have an once of fat on him.

I have plans... lots of plans for food plots just need spring to get here

[MnDeerStalker]

nice buck cody! now your hooked for good

[HD]

This one made it through the season..........

Anybody still have cam's out?


Hunter

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[deadeye]

I had a lot of things going this fall and never put out a camera.  I will have to get on the stick next year.  Snow is too deep to put any out now.   

[kingfisher1]

we practice QDM on our family owned property.  We have a 7 acre meadow that we plant rotating crops in, as well as 2 food plots that we plant as well.  Also, my father is more of a trophy hunter, and I am more of a meat hunter.  As much as I enjoy pursueing a trphy rack, I get just as much enjoyment out of shooting a doe or two.  For me, it brings the buck/doe ratio closer together, as well as feeds the family.  My better half loves venison, so I will usually shoot a doe and then focus on buck hunting.  We are fortunate to have land in an area that has an "overabundance" of deer according to the Wisconsin DNR, and have access to as many deer as we want to take.  We have managed it well enough that if we see a deer and can't make the shot for whatever reason, be it distance, running shot, etc., all we have to do is wait 15-20 minutes and another will step out.  It has worked out well for us.

[deadeye]

kingfisher1,
Sounds like a great spot.  Where exactally is that again.  GPS coordinates will be fine.   

[HD]

Here is a different buck that was there just before the other one pushed him out.

He made it toooooo........

Hunter

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[Go Big Red!]

QDM is a tough sell for me personally.  The biggest reason is I want meat in the freezer.  As long as the deer has shed its spots, I will try to harvest it.  The second reason is two fold, I deer hunt in 2 places.  In MINN, we try to shoot bucks only as well as those around us during gun deer.  Not sure what everyone else does during bow season.  In WIS, I hunt 180 acres of public land with everyone from cousins, uncles, dad, and such so we really try to fill the freezer.

[kingfisher1]

Deadeye, aI will say is that it's whithin a 2 hour drive....