Implementing quality deer management on your property (2015)

Abstract

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are the most popular game species in Missouri, and the state's deer population is estimated to be about 1.4 million. The current success of Missouri's deer management program is a tribute to the science of wildlife management, the increase in suitable habitat and regulation of season length and bag limits. Historically, deer managers concentrated on increasing deer populations by protecting antlerless deer from harvest. Recent research has demonstrated that the overall quality of a deer herd can be improved through management practices commonly referred to as quality deer management (QDM). Numerous landowners and hunting clubs across the United States have successfully adopted this approach to managing white-tailed deer populations. An increasing number of Missouri deer hunters and landowners are interested in the potential for implementing QDM strategies on property they hunt or own.