Slayer_MN1 wrote:Awesome write up JJ, I wish more people would understand the benefit of QDM and let the little ones walk.
As much money as we all spend hunting, and on land management, its a no brainer. I grew up hunting in the McGregor area, living by the "brown it's down" mantra. After a couple years, shooting deer became almost clinical.
The hardest part for us, was getting past the old guys in the group, that believed every buck that crossed the fence was going to get shot. After a couple years of trail cams, and documenting bucks that we younger guys had passed on, showing up after season, and even the next year it was an easier sell. Now we are in the third year, and we are seeng the results in the camera's. Hasn't really shown up in our harvests yet, but that will come. After the first two years, our neighbors even saw the increase in quality, and of the controlling landowners who count agreed (with no convincing) that what we were doing was working. Now, our 200 acres, is closer to 1000acres of folks on the same page. We adjoin some WMA's and the guys hunting the public land will benefit too 9and that is cool to us).
It's a win-win, but it won't work in all areas, and if you don't have some private acreage, it won't do any good. Our goal is reasonable, with 3-4 good shooter bucks a year between both properties. Considering the fact we started with passing on forks, and 6's, and now we are passing on 8's, the future looks bright.
this years shooter
my wifes good one from last year
Also, pics of a good buck from last year, and this year.
"a man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box." Frederick Douglass