[Matty]

Im wondering if my idea is crazy, let me know.

With a lot of emphasis on QDM these days, but a lack of available private lands to practice it on, couldnt the state designate certain WMA's in each zone as QDM-WMA's (Quality Deer Management Wildlife Management Areas)?

In other words, each zone would have at least one WMA that is managed for quality deer hunting. This offers hunters looking for quality deer the opportunity without worrying about other hunters shooting the young bucks they pass. Hunters seeking a less restrictive set of harvest rules still have the majority of other WMA's to hunt as usual.

Biologists could recommend the specific number of deer that need to be taken on an annual basis. (How many does, how many bucks). Also, you would be required to p [no swearing please] up young bucks with either a certain point restriction, or an estimate on age and points/inside spread. (Basically its a public land "ranch")

These WMA's could have a "ballot box" at the parking areas where hunters could submit a check-in-card for the deer they shot or some sort of check in system that allows the number and gender of deer harvested on that WMA to be closely monitored. This way, if enough bucks or does have been taken, deer hunting for that property would be closed. If enough bucks have been taken but not enough does, then it would remain open to doe hunting, or vice versa. (Similar to the way they can close bear season.)

Furthermore, to hunt the QDM properties, a stamp would need to be purchased (minimal fee of $10 or so). This would help pay for food plots, and land management in these WMA's.

So what do you guys and gals think? Think its possible? Anyone forsee problems with a system like that?

Just an idea that came to me before.....figured Id share it.

 

[hkdonfishn]

I think it is a great Idea. Only problem is trying to convince someone that would handle this and plus that make more work for the state and we all know how much they like to work? But I would be the first to back the Idea. I would even go as far as to not allow Bucks of any sort to be shot avery other year and then only open it to a lottery By WMA permit only at which the cost be no more then $10 dollars for each WMA you apply for. Great Idea try to get it to the state for review.[up]

 

[mysticguido]

all of Jersey should be QDM, this way Jersey could be a Big Buck State too.

 

[Matty]

Yeah the possibilities are endless, they are only limited by our collective ideas.

I was thinking more along the lines of one stamp for ALL the QDM-WMA's, but maybe one stamp for each would provide more funding for all the work that needs to be done.

I know the state is already low on funding, and finding workers to check ballot boxes on a weekly basis would be tough to say the least. Perhaps a volunteer system could help.

Closing buck hunting on certain QDM-WMA's every other year or so is a fine idea. Can you imagine the monsters running around if that happened? Along with a land management plan, it would be like hunting a $3000 ranch for the cost of a stamp and license. I guarantee it would bring more people into the sport. The idea of having managed public lands is enough to get most hunters excited Im sure, while not discluding anyone who doesnt want to manage for trophy deer.

WMA's chosen for QDM could be recommended by biologists based on the potential of the land and herd, along with the proximity to other zones QDM-WMA's. You wouldnt want them too grouped together, because thats unfair to people who live in the area and dont want to participate.

Im sure I will end up submitting something about this to the state, I just want to hear everyones ideas, and thoughts first.

 

[jerseyhunter]

Yea and those big bucks that are allowed to grow will beat feet to the safty zones a s soon as the orange army shows up. Great Idea for Bow hunting though.[up]

 

[mysticguido]

safety zones should be for bow hunting only...

 

[Matty]

Yea and those big bucks that are allowed to grow will beat feet to the safty zones a s soon as the orange army shows up. Great Idea for Bow hunting though.

True to some extent, but bucks dont normally leave their core areas, no matter what kind of pressure they receive. They will simply stay in the thickest nastiest cover available (where they normally live) and avoid hunters. They did studies back in the early nineties with radio collared bucks and some hunters were walking within mere yards of mature bucks and never even knew it. They dont run for the hills like most people think, they hunker down and go nocturnal.

Besides, these WMA's would be limited access. Only hunters purchasing a QDM stamp would be allowed in.

Another thing to consider would be that these areas would be one buck per year per hunter with the QDM-WMA stamp. AND there is no guarantee you will get to use your buck tag in the QDM-WMA because. A) You may not get a chance at a buck big enough. or B) Other hunters may fulfill the biologists buck quota before you get a chance at "your" bruiser.

I think that any serious "trophy hunter" would be in favor of this program, however, Im curious as to how others feel. Hunters not in favor of restrictions and such. Would you be pissed that certain WMA's are managed using strict QDM plans, or would you be happy that other areas would still be open to the normal regs, or an even less restrictive set of regs?


Mystic, if the UBNJ can get it through, we may be looking at 150ft safety zones for bows (opposed to the 450ft rule now).[up]

 

[mysticguido]

I think that any serious "trophy hunter" would be in favor of this program

should have said Rack Hunter... I'm a trophy hunter, but my trophy is meat.... so can you please use rack hunter not trophy hunter. so there is no fighting

 

[Matty]

First of all, I hate all those terms, meat hunter, trophy hunter, etc.... but I didnt create them.

So, thats the commonly accepted term for people who hunt "TROPHY" bucks. Get used to it.

You are a "meat hunter", and I am a "trophy hunter".

Do I like being labeled, hell no, but for the sake of simplicity, thats what we are called.

I hunt for meat just as much as the next guy, but Im not about to shoot small bucks for it when there is an excess of does. So should I be called a "Meaphy hunter" or a "Tropheat hunter"????
Like I said, the names are stupid, but Im not going to change widely accepted names to suit one person.

 

[mysticguido]

(Quality Deer Management Wildlife Management Areas)

would be for the health of the deer not the size of it's racks, remember that...So using the term Trophy hunter would be miss used.

 

[Matty]

Are you going to add anything constructive to this post MG? Or are you just trying to be a prick?[confused]

 

[mysticguido]

Are you going to add anything constructive to this post MG? Or are you just trying to be a prick

I will be very constructive. But the term you are using is not right, Or is it ok for you to tell me that when I talk about the "RUT" that I'm wrong. Your being oneway Matty. Not Good.... AS for you calling me a prick..... Well I wont say what you are on here, it wouldn't be nice or right to call others names like you just did.


AS far as QDM goes, Your plain seems good but more work needs to be done to it..... You would need to have all zones be apart of the State wide QDM for this or any State to have Good Health Herds. You'r Ideals seem to be just for Bucks, and thats not good QDM way to think.

I worked on 2 hunting ranches in TEXAS ( and NO I not think I'm better then anyone else ) but you seem to come off as the Deer hunting Guru here, WRONG Your not.....

Take your plain and rethink it over for the over all QDM that it should be....

 

[hkdonfishn]

Okay guys calm down we all hunt different and what I think Matty is saying is to just have more strict QDM plan in place for those hunters that are looking for a B/C or P/Y buck. This would not be all WMA it would only be some and only parts of some. Like for instance. Whittingham has more then one area to hunt. They can choose one area of Whittingham and Designate it as a trophy QD area for antler sizes of 6 points or better and leave the other areas open to hunters choice. Same with Berkshire Valley, there is allot of land in Berkshire valley and this kind of setup would work well there whether you are a meat hunter or a meat hunter looking for a trophy 6 point or better to mount. We all consider our trophy's different but the first thing that comes to mind with most hunters when they here the term trophy is big racks and this is normal. I for instance find a trophy to be whatever I feel like hunting that day. If I am going for meat and I bag a Doe then that is my trophy. If I go out and bag a 4 pointer then that is my trophy but a larger deer with 8 point or so will all ways be a trophy that any hunter would want to take fulfilling there meat trophy and there antler size trophy. Play nice guy's we all see our trophy's different. I think it is a great idea because we do see allot of immature deer taken that could grow to be a very nice size deer.

 

[Matty]

I never called you a prick, I asked if you were trying to be one. Theres a difference.

I know Im not a deerhunting guru, but I have knowledge about this stuff. You cant deny that. As far as how I come across on here, I guess thats just the internet. Because if you met me, I think Im a pretty easy going nice guy, and I think most of the people who have met me would agree. I dont try to come across as a know-it-all and I certainly dont think I know everything. Just so you know, Im not the only one that comes across that way.

Maybe you missed the part where I mentioned land management as well, and a biologists recommendations on how many deer of each gender to take. THIS IS QDM.

You are right though, since my emphasis would be on bigger antlers, maybe we should just make it a TDM program.

 

[mysticguido]

True, But not everyone will follow the QDM, TEXAS, IOWA TO NAME 2 found that most areas can't be QDM ares because of the hunters that wont go by the rules. TEXAS almost had the hole state under a QDM, and now it is just the ranches that want it that way.


PA is on the right track with there QDM plain with points per side...

 

[mysticguido]

maybe we should just make it a TDM program

NOw that sounds better. I did read everything you wrote Matty. Alot sounds like it should work.


I know sometimes I come off in the wrong way too. But I try not to make it sound like I know everything or I'm better then anyone else.


Send your plain to F&G and DEP and see what they think.

 

[buckhunter1]

great idea... i have a friend who hunts state ground in ill that is bow only, 8points or better and man you have to see the bucks he shoots in there... last year he saw a numerous amout of 140 cl [no swearing please] bucks. he was holding out for a 150 or better.. my point is its a great idea and if it works out there i could work here aswell..

 

[imb21]

PA is on the right track with there QDM plain with points per side...

Thats right, Went they first did AR I was against it, but now I have seen a BIG difference!!! Come to the other side, come to PA nd you will never look back LMAO

 

[hkdonfishn]

NOw that sounds better. I did read everything you wrote Matty. Alot sounds like it should work.

I know sometimes I come off in the wrong way too. But I try not to make it sound like I know everything or I'm better then anyone else.

See we can all be friends. I think you both have some valid points. Now what needs to be done is to take these valid points and Ideas and get them to the state so they can review them and find the best way to make this work.

 

[mysticguido]

hkdon, I'm the guy that sits in the back and speaks my mind. I don't go out and start trouble and I don't want trouble come looking for me. Out of all the States I have hunted ( and I have hunted alot ) and seen how they manage big game and worked on the ones in TEXAS, I see things different then others.



Matty make up your plain and send it in and see what happens... They may or may not like what you have to say, but you need to look at all realms of QDM first.