How does everyone feel?

[N2hepcoop]

How many KY hunters out here practice QDM?

[Highbow]

I do , and have for the last four years.

[KYhunter]

I am ok with the concept, but don't feel it should be mandated. Wouldn't mind seeing more WMA's with it. Problem with 270,000 deerhunters is they ALL have a different idea about what is a trophy, and not everyone has the time to hunt as much as others do, therefore with limited time one sometimes thinks he/she must take whatever walks by. Also not everyone realizes that QDM is not merely letting the little bucks walk, but for a more balanced ratio, therefore MORE does needing to be harvested(not enough being taken already). I also believe the average hunter does not realize that just because there would be more bigger racked bucks around, it does NOT mean they will be as "huntable" as those younger bucks.

[Boss Gobbler]

I have for a while now, very pleased with the results. If I could talk surrounding farms into it there would be a new state record.

[MULESKINNER]

I know for a fact it works.
I have been lucky enough to hunt on a privately owned piece of heaven for the last 8 years. The land was purchased by a group of 5 brothers strictly for deer hunting. Only family (excluding myself...haleluja!) is allowed to hunt on the property. For the first few years the only bucks they allowed taken were the "scragely" kind as they put it. Only odd, deformed or severly undersized racks were taken. Many, many of these bucks and a lot of does were taken. (I still can't believe the count of scragely racks hanging on the cabin walls.) I was begining to think that all the bucks out there were goofy.
Well starting in 1999 the results of QDM began to pay off. The place is a P&Y haven now. We don't score most of our deer, but I would say the average is 130 now. Thats a HUGE improvement from before. This past year 3 deer were taken that would score well over 140. None under 130. To some a 130 deer is no big deal, but if you could have seen the scrawny bucks 4-8 years ago there, you would think 130 was a monstrosity.

We don't plant anything, we don't use feeders or attractant other than the occasional mineral block if you want to call that an attractant. What we do though is, "take out the garbage".
There are a lot of us who hunt there. Ten in all. So by picking off the weak (ten a year for 3-4 years) we have drasticly changed the gene pool. This season is going to be doe season. Everyone has to take a doe as well.
I cant wait for the next 8 years.

L A T E R . . .

[MrBowhunter]

I think it's a great idea but think that the way the buck doe ratio is set in KY that it handles itself fairly well. It just takes us to let the little ones walk. I went deerless last year. Had a nice forkhorn come by and I just enjoyed watching it with it's odd habits eat and pick it's head up, sniff around and move on.

[gates]

I have practiced it on my 230 acres for over 10 years. Does no good with the neighbors killing anything with horns. I took a 125 class 8pt on my place a few years back with a bow. I have only seen 2 bucks worth shooting on my place in 10 years and I live in Butler County. One of the best counties in the state for big deer. I only shoot it if I am going to mount it. I have taken 4 bucks in the last 15 years, over 30 does. I think I am doing my part. If a place is large enough it will work. The farms in my area are too small with too many MEN shooting baby bucks. Let the kids shoot what they want and the men shoot only what you will be proud of or a doe. QDM shoud have provisions for first time and youth hunters. You cant make a kid wait 10 years, or a life time, for their first buck.

James

[.300Savage]

I hunted a farm where anything that resembles a deer gets shot at during gun season. I hunted this last year there, and I killed a 130 class 9-pointer on opening morning with a rifle. I got lucky that the people who are usually hunting there was hung-over from parying the night before. I took the deer over to their house and needless to say they were a little mad that they didn't make it out there that morning. They said that it was the best deer ever killed on that property too! I'm suprised that they welcomed me back this year. I'm the only bowhunter/muzzleloader on that property so I try my hardest to kill out before gun season, because it sounds like Fort Knox back there. I would like to use QDM back there, but it is hard to when I'm the only one participating.

Rocco

[CSS archer]

A good thing to consider is creating a refuge area. Even if it is only 40 or 50 acres, stay out of it. You'll hold more mature deer without the neighbor's whacking them!
<img src="http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/CSSarcher/bucks%207%20-2%203.jpg" border=0>

[thunderstorm]

I agree with KYhunter. I try to practice QDM, but it should be up to
the individual. More and more hunters will become somewhat picky as they have more and more opportunity...which we now have compared to just a few years back.

[N2hepcoop]

Would everyone say that the one buck/season aided in everyone to start practicing QDM? Or was everyone already practicing QDM 10 years ago?

[rlb165]

.300Savage, since you were welcomed back again this year, how about taking them some kind of gift, the day before season, to show your appreciation? My recommendation:

1) Vodka

2) Orange Juice

As far as practicing QDM, I won't shoot a buck that I wouldn't have mounted, but to be honest, what little I've read about QDM kinda freaks me out a little bit.

[dgibson]

I'm with gates; it's a great idea, but it doesn't seem to help much when your neighbors "shoot on sight." I'm all but begging people to shoot does in the area I hunt, but most won't do it--they'd rather shoot a dink buck than a doe. It gets frustrating sometimes, but that's the lay of the land.

[BULL MOOSE]

I passed up three bucks on public land in Laurel and Pulaski counties last year. It felt great.

KY's buck limits and season structure is the best in the country. If folks would let 1.5 year olds walk, then the trophies would triple.

QDM is about a healthy balanced herd. Shoot a doe instead of an immature buck.

[camo]

I passed up a small 6 pointer two years ago. He was with two does going down an open ridge during rifle season at about 100 yds. I pulled up on him, scoped him, then let him walk. I felt GREAT!! I thought "man, I'll come back and get him next year when he's big!". The buck had literally just cleared my sight when I heard someone shoot him. I walked over and sure enough, same buck.

[gates]

Camo,

I feel your pain. For the last two years I passed on a wide racked 7 pt. on a thick ridge. 1.5 years old 7 pts about 14" wide. 2.5 years old 7 long pts and about 19 " wide, 125" buck. This year I cant hunt the place because some idiot kept driving his bronco down into the cattle pastures with the 200 head of cattle. Last year he was a good deer. this year he should be great but I can't hunt within 10 miles of the place now. The farmer said he closed it to all hunting, I have hunted that farm for almost 20 years with out a problem. What good did passing the buck up do for me? Maybe some neighboring hunter will take a great buck this year!!!!!!! But if I did kill no one would have the chance to take him as a trophy class buck.

James

[MULESKINNER]

Gates,
Try leasing the place.
If not email me for hunting opportunity.
L A T E R . . .