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Thumb Area Branch
QDMA Newsletter
Trail Cam Pics Trail cameras are an excellent tool to provide information about the deer in your area. Trail cams are less intrusive than human hunters in the woods, and are a great way to observe deer behavior and monitor the movement of deer. In this edition, check out the two- page spread of great trail cam pics sent in by some of our readers!
Message from the President
Every newsletter, there is at least one article that really catches my attention. In this edition (aside from all the usual great tropics and photos), it’s the one about the Pheasant Initiative. This Spring, the Thumb Area Branch QDMA teamed up with the Thumb Branch Pheasants Forever to make a donation of switch grass and a blue stem to the DNR. The donation was used to jumpstart the Pheasant Initiative (PI) here in our area. Both organizations reaize the importance of PI to the pheasant population, as well as the health of the deer heard and balance of the environment. Most of us can remember the glory days – when there were roosters in every ditch and fenceline. Although those days may be gone, with the help of the PI and concerned landowners and farmers, I believe there can be a balance and the pheasants can survive (and thrive!) again. Without our help, they will surely perish. With commodity prices as high as they are, you can’t blame anyone for wanting to work every inch of land; on the other hand, why not leave that problem corner or that strip along the ditch or old fenceline? That old fenceline may offer just enough cover to get that pheasant from point A to point B….not to mention a place for that big buck to hang out with that hot doe. This edition offers information about steps being taken outside of QDMA that will work to bring about change in Michigan. (As John will tell you), it’s going to take some patience…..but I think we’re headed in the right direction.
UPCOMING & ONGOING:
2012 Weapon-a-Week Raffle
August 25, 2012 Golf Scramble Benefit – Ubly Heights September 7-9, 2012
Woods ‘n Water Weekend – Imlay City
Email articles, info, classified ads and photos:
JUN/ JUL 2012 [email protected]
Several readers correctly identified last month’s M?stery Spot (located at C&L Sports on M-24). But, the first response was from Raymond Buckel – so he wins an incredibly stylish, trend-setting QDM t-shirt! Want a QDM t-shirt of your own!? Correctly identify the location of the M?stery Spot (above) and send your answer (be specific) to [email protected]. To win, answer quickly! There can be only one!
Learning Patience through QDMA Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is many things - all good. For me, the largest challenge is PATIENCE. PATIENCE with myself, PATIENCE with my neighbors, PATIENCE with other hunters still practicing TDM (traditional deer management) PATIENCE with Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and patience with the Natural Resources Commission (NRC). Those who know me are aware that patience is not my strong suit. As I have grown older I have become more patient but at times I really need to work on it. Adopting QDM principles and implementing QDM practices on our hunting property has forced me to be patient. I thought we were about ready to go into “maintenance” mode on our farm when Mark Lemke of Practical Whitetail Strategies toured the farm and made several suggestions that would in time make big differences in the habitat that we are working to improve - thus beginning a variety of new habitat projects would again try my PATIENCE. Since Mother Nature works at her own pace there is only one thing we can do while we work on the habitat for our beloved Whitetail Deer…Be Patient. Developing habitat takes time and patience. Watching a young buck grow up, eventually reaching maturity, takes patience. Spreading the word about QDMA to skeptical neighbors and fellow hunters takes patience. Getting the pro QDM neighbor to be patient with the skeptical neighbor takes patience. For me, the QDMA philosophy is easy to understand and there is an abundant supply of data to support these principles and the positive effects they have on the Whitetail Deer herd, its habitat and the hunting experiences we will have as a result. The principles are so simple elementary kids understand them but for some reason the caretakers of Michigan’s
Whitetail deer herd don’t seem to understand it. This is where patience is needed the most. A recent study in Michigan’s Leelanau peninsula was very conclusive; it told us PRO QDM hunters what we already knew. The study was conducted from 2002~2008. In 2002 67.4% of the bucks harvested were 1 ½ YO, in 2008 31.4% were 1 ½ YO while 30.7% were 3 ½ YO. A 6 point restriction was the primary mechanism to help these bucks get to their 2
nd birthday. Based on this study and the data it
generated, you would think the DNR would simply put a 6 point rule in place, not so fast. They say more data needs to be collected, and that it needs to be paid for by private groups, at an average cost of $7,000 per study. We expect the results of any future studies to be the same. And since I know that work is being done to get Michigan’s DNR to adopt a biologically sound deer management plan we get right back to the theme of this article, PATIENCE. My message is simple: be patient. We are working on it at the state and local (branch) level. In the meantime we need your continued support. Join QDMA by calling 1-800-209-DEER or log on to join at www.QDMA.com. Become active at the local level by joining a QDMA Co Op, participating in a branch sponsored event like a banquet or a habitat day. Just do something, anything.
NRC approves antlerless deer license quotas
The Department of Natural Resources will offer a total of 708,650 antlerless deer licenses for the upcoming season after the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) adopted quotas at its regular monthly meeting. The NRC approved a total of 70,750 public-land antlerless deer licenses and a total of 637,900 private-land antlerless deer licenses. The changes result in a decrease of 47,550 licenses from 2011. In the southern Lower Peninsula, 4,150 fewer private-land antlerless licenses will be available in 2012, and the total public-land quota was decreased by 2,350. Deer populations remain above goal throughout much of the region, though numbers do appear to be approaching desired levels in some areas. “Although antlerless license quotas were reduced overall this year, we still had the opportunity to give hunters ample chances to take antlerless deer across the state,” said DNR Deer and Elk Program Leader Brent Rudolph. “Interest in seeing more bucks and bigger bucks is increasing among Michigan hunters, so we encourage those individuals to pass a buck and harvest a doe instead.”
Excerpt from July 18, 2012 Press Release
2013 Banquet Announcement
The Thumb Area Branch is happy to announce that Dr. Grant Woods has signed on to be the special guest speaker at our 2013 banquet, scheduled on February 23, 2013, at the Ubly Heights Golf and Country Club. Dr. Woods is a wildlife biologist specializing in deer management and research. He was a pioneer in the use of trail cameras for collecting vital information on rub and scrape behavior. His success at conducting wildlife research, designing site-specific management plans to improve deer herd quality, and educating hunters about advanced management and hunting techniques is well known throughout the whitetail world. He’s a passionate hunter that has devoted his career to helping fellow hunters and land managers. To learn more about Dr. Woods’ hunting and wildlife management techniques, watch his weekly videos at www.GrowingDeer.tv. Look for more information in the months to come, for your chance to join us at this popular event.
Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative: Restoring Habitat Together
QDMA supports the Pheasant Restoration Initiative; this article shows that Pheasants Forever is modeling many of its
efforts after the QDMA strategy of starting coops, with the goal to generate more native habitat in Southern Michigan –
not only for pheasants, but other wildlife (such as white-tailed deer!).
The Department of Natural Resources has applauded the Lake Hudson Pheasant Cooperative (LHPC) for its efforts in building a coalition of landowners and others committed to restoring pheasant habitat and revitalizing pheasant hunting in Michigan. “The LHPC’s progress illustrates that bringing back Michigan’s pheasant hunting tradition is important to people and that they’re eager to work together to make it happen,” said Al Stewart, DNR upland game bird specialist. “If we can duplicate what the LHPC has accomplished in other communities – and I believe we can – then we’re well on our way to success with the Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative.” One of the first cooperatives to form as part of the Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative, the Lenawee County-based LHPC is collaborating with the DNR at Lake Hudson Recreation Area, where multiple Pheasants Forever chapters are providing volunteer labor and funds for habitat improvements that the DNR budget would not allow for otherwise. This work will take several years but will produce prime pheasant habitat containing native grass plantings with wildflowers and food plots. Cooperative members hope that local landowners will continue to join in this effort and connect filter strips, buffers and other blocks of habitat to this site, as well as enhance existing habitat to create a changed landscape that will benefit pheasants as well as song birds, migratory birds, deer and other wildlife. The LHPC also recently hosted its inaugural meeting for 30-plus members, interested neighbors and partners, bringing local landowners together to learn about and discuss the cooperative’s plans for restoring pheasant habitat. “This meeting was for those who really do care about quality habitat and bettering the pheasant populations in the area. And this cooperative will help them all get together for a common cause, a common goal,” said Lauren Lindemann, Lenawee Conservation District’s Farm Bill biologist.
The Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative (MPRI) is a conservation initiative to restore and enhance Michigan pheasant habitat, populations and hunting opportunity on private and public lands. It will accomplish this through public-private cooperatives that improve habitat for pheasants and other wildlife on a landscape level. The MPRI works by acquiring state and federal resources to assist landowners in the cooperatives to improve wildlife habitat on their property and by improving habitat on selected state game areas and other public lands. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/pheasant.
LAND FOR SALE 31.24 acres recreational land. About 80% wooded, consisting of large oak, birch, cedar and more. Areas for food plots or building site. Plenty of deer, turkey and other wildlife. QDM practiced for eight years. Land is on a paved road with two tracks through property. Located 7 miles north of Cass City in Huron County. $149,000. Reasonable offers considered. Contact [email protected].
QDMA – Thumb Area Branch PO Box 82 Bad Axe, MI 48413
THUMB AREA BRANCH CONTACTS Mark Lemke (President) 989-658-8821
Jack Mason (Vice-President) 810-300-4588
John Misukaitis (Treasurer) 810-656-4551
Karen Rutkowski (Secretary) 989-658-8659
Jeff Adams 989-672-4853
Doug Gentner 989-550-2566
Mike Joy 989-295-7463
Tim Klee 989-553-3904
Julie Mason 810-278-3858
Paul Plantinga 586-2150-9678
Kevin Polega 810-245-8331
Randy Rutkowski 989-658-8659
Chris Stomack 989-553-0597
National Website: qdma.com State Chapter: miqdma.com
Branch e-mail: [email protected] Facebook: Thumb Branch QDMA
Newsletter e-mail: [email protected]
