Bogart, Ga. – Since March 1 of this year, Quality Deer Management Association staff have weighed in on deer-related issues in five states. Kip Adams, QDMA Director of Education and Outreach for the Northern U.S., has been very active in support of the Advocacy element of the REACH education and outreach program.

“Not only are we able to take QDMA members' interests and desires to state agencies and legislatures,” Adams said, “but we are able to provide input that is based in science and biology.”

Here is a brief outline of Adams' advocacy efforts in recent weeks, by state:

Pennsylvania – He provided input to the Pennsylvania Game Commission on the agency's recommended 2006-07 deer seasons. In his comments to the Commission, Adams noted that antleress harvest in any state has clearly been shown to be best predicted and regulated through adjustment of license numbers rather than the number of days available to hunters for antlerless harvest. Adams also voiced QDMA's support of Pennsylvania House Bill 420, which sould permit the use of leashed tracking dogs to help recover wounded big game animals.

New York – Adams contacted the New York State Legislature's Environmental Conservation Committee to officially state QDMA's support for Assembly Bill 1537, which would allow 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt big game with archery equipment.

Delaware – Adams testified before the Delaware Legislature to oppose Delaware House Bill 387, which would legalize the fatal removal of nuisance wildlife year-round without need for a hunting permit. He noted that the measure contains biological, social and political shortfalls that would be detrimental to the state's effective deer-management program.

New Hampshire – Adams reported, to the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department, QDMA's support for recommendations to reduce the state's harvest of yearling bucks by shortening the state's hunting season. He further offered QDMA's assistance to the state in developing and implementing educational programs to help hunters better evaluate bucks in the field with a goal of reducing harvest of yearling bucks.

Wisconsin – Adams provided input to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on plans to adjust regulations in Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management units. He reported Wisconsin QDMA members' desires to maintain some kind of earn-a-buck (EAB) approach to antlerless management in areas where the general hunting population is pushing for changes to enhance its ability to harvest a buck.

“It's nice that, through our continuing strong growth and the large number of professional deer managers who are active members, QDMA is widely regarded as the most respected whitetail organization in the country,” Adams said. “It enables me to effectively engage state agencies to provide input that will help them further their missions.”

Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization with 40,000 members in all 50 states and several foreign countries. Membership in QDMA is open to anyone interested in better deer and better deer hunting, and committed to ethical hunting, sound deer management and the preservation of the deer-hunting heritage. To learn more about QDMA and why it is the future of deer hunting, call (800) 209-DEER [(800) 209-3337] or visit www.QDMA.com.



–QDMA … better deer, better deer hunting–