Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

changes occur in herd structure and habitat quality. Herd structure
and habitat conditions do not deteriorate over a short period of
time nor will improvements occur over a short time.
Over time, does often become more difficult to harvest under
QDM. Increased pressure on the female segment of the herd causes
these deer to become more wary than under a more traditional management
approach. Hunters often fall into a routine of setting up on
planted wildlife openings in a manner and at times that become predictable
to the does using these areas. In many cases, these does may
simply wait until dark to feed or they may feed at odd hours of the day.
Often hunters new to QDM erroneously arrive at the conclusion that
increased doe harvest has detrimentally affected the deer herd. To enjoy
a successful QDM program, hunters must often adopt new hunting
strategies to effectively adapt to changes in deer behavior resulting from
increased doe harvests.
Other limitations and influences on the success of QDM are
land base size, neighbors with conflicting harvest goals, and land use
considerations. Small tracts of land limit the degree to which a deer
manager can make significant changes to herd density and structure.
Larger landholdings help insulate against the effects of dispersal and
neighboring hunters that harvest bucks indiscriminately. Large blocks
managed for maximum pulp fiber production often are difficult to hunt
effectively. Again, soil fertility and habitat quality will produce a ceiling
of performance with respect to physical indices. All of these factors
must be considered when implementing and evaluating a QDM plan.
Deer hunters and managers should consult with a professional wildlife
73