QDMA Mission Statement:

"To ensure the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our
hunting heritage."


What is Quality Deer Management?

Quality Deer Management (QDM) is a management philosophy/practice  
that unites landowners, hunters, and managers in a common goal of
producing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existing
environmental, social, and legal  constraints. This approach typically
involves the protection of young bucks (yearlings and some 2.5
year-olds) combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to
maintain a healthy population in balance with existing habitat conditions
and landowner desires. This level of deer management involves the
production of quality deer (bucks, does, and fawns), quality habitat,
quality hunting experiences, and, most  importantly, quality hunters.


The QDMA Promotes:

  • Safe and ethical hunting.
  • Adherence to wildlife and trespass laws.
  • Adequate harvests of adult does.
  • Restraint in harvesting young bucks.
  • Hunter involvement in education and management.
  • Cooperation with wildlife biologists and enforcement officers.
  • Education of hunters and non-hunters toward a better
    understanding of wildlife management.
  • Stewardship and appreciation of all wildlife.
The QDMA's Four
Building Blocks

While QDM guidelines must
be tailored to each property,
there are four cornerstones to
all successful QDM programs:
Michigan's State Chapter
Quality Deer Management Association