QDM Cooperatives

What is a Quality Deer Management
Cooperative?

A Quality Deer Management Cooperative (QDM
Cooperative) is simply a group of property owners
and hunters working together to improve the quality of
the deer herd and hunting experiences on their
collective acreages. Cooperatives vary in size,
number of participants, and organizational structure
depending on the needs and objectives of members.
By forming a cooperative, members gain the
management advantages of a larger landowner.
Cooperatives are voluntary affiliations and in no way
entitle neighboring hunters access to your property or
diminish the landowner’s control. They are simply
collections of landowners and hunters that establish
and abide by agreed deer management guidelines to
enable improved management over a larger area.


Benefits of forming a QDMA Cooperative?

  • Increases total area under management
  • Allows small landowners the  opportunity to
    participate in QDM
  • Provides the ability to better control herd sex
    ratios through adequate antler-less harvest
  • Provides the ability to better control herd age
    structure
  • Provides the ability to better control herd density
  • Higher quality deer herd with more mature bucks
  • Improved relationships among adjoining
    landowners & hunters
  • Reduced trespassing and poaching
  • Better sense of community
  • Enhanced hunting experiences
  • Enables pooling of harvest data to provide a
    better “picture” of the local deer herd
  • Enables sharing of resources and equipment

Getting a co-op started

  • Identify a core area
  • Identify landowners and obtain contact
    information
  • Seek assistance of a local biologist and law
    enforcement officer
  • Contact landowners and schedule an
    organizational meeting

Identify a few leaders
  • Well respected Landowner
  • Dedicated to the cause
  • Can commit time to the co-op

First Meeting
  •  Invite all landowners in the focus area.
  • Select a central meeting facility, date and time.
  • It may be beneficial to have other successful co-
    op leaders there for your support
  • Try to have a biologist attend


The above list is simply a guideline to getting a co-op
established. You will find much more information from
www.QDMA.com or with the help from established
QDMA branches and co-ops. To find out if there is a
branch or co-op in your area of Michigan click here
QDM Co-op Meetings
Herd Management
Youth Events
Educational Events
Fun At the Banquets
Michigan's State Chapter
Quality Deer Management Association