Brian MurphyCEO / Wildlife Biologist

Quality Deer Management Association

Quality Deer Management and Prescribed Fire – Natural Partners in

Wildlife and Habitat Conservation

• 22-year-old nonprofit conservation organization with nearly 50,000 members in all 50 states, Canada and several countries, including more than 3,000 wildlife biologists and natural resource professionals

• 180 Branches in 35 states and Canada

About the QDMA

National Headquarters & Education Center

Athens, Georgia

QDMA Mission“To ensure the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife

habitat and our hunting heritage.”

QDMA’s Mission

QDMA Educational Resources

Current National Issues/Trends

Whitetail hunting generates over 50% of the entire$67 billion U.S. hunting industry

“Whitetails are the backbone of the U.S. hunting

industry!”

Four times more hunters hunt deer than the next closest species

There are numerous current and potential threats to whitetail herds and hunting

Available online at: QDMA.com

Economic & Industry Impacts

Expenditures by deer hunters represent 53% of all hunting expenditures

Deer Population Trends From 1985 to 2005, the U.S. whitetail population

doubled from 14 to 30 million

0

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

30,000,000

35,000,000

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2005Year

U.S

. Whi

teta

il Po

pula

tion

Whitetail Densities

1999

2005

Decreases in East

Increases in West

> 45 deer / sq. mile30-45 deer / sq. mile15-30 deer / sq. mile< 15 deer / sq. mile

Increased Deer / Human Conflicts

Fewer Hunters as a Percentage of the U.S. Population

Source: American Sports Data, SUPERSTUDY

%H

unte

rs in

U.S

. Pop

ulat

ion

Decreased Wildlife Agency Budgets and Services

Can’t do more with less money and staff

Increased Private Wildlife Services

Wildlife consulting is growing as the number and needs of recreational landowners is increasing.

Increased Private Ownership of Recreational Lands

In fact, from 1991-2006, the number of hunters purchasing land increased 56% and now exceeds 1.34 million throughout the U.S.

Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Increasing Involvement in QDM and Habitat Management on

Private Lands

Without question – these are the “Good Ol’ Days”

The approach under which young bucks are protected from harvest combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to produce healthy deer herds in balance with existing habitat conditions.

What is Quality Deer Management?

It is NOT Trophy Management!

01020304050607080

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

Percent Yearling Bucks in the Nationwide Antlered Buck Harvest (1989 -2009)

21% reduction in 20 years –resulting in 735,000 fewer yearling bucks harvested today

Prescribed Fire and QDM:Opportunities and Barriers

Four Cornerstones of QDM

Prescribed Fire can be a Valuable Tool for Managing:

1) Hardwood Stands2) Pine Stands3) Old Fields

Many landowners’ hardwood forests look like this…

Managing Hardwood Stands for Wildlife

But, they can look like this…

Growing-season fire- September – October- reduces woody understory- stimulates herbaceous cover- best adapted to drier sites- every 3 – 5 years

Dormant-season fire- reduces litter- stimulates woody sprouting- dry or relatively moist sites- every 3 – 4 years

Sept 24

March 27

Fire Timing and Frequency

Fire may damage hardwoodsFire may damage pines also!Low intensity is key!Don’t burn to mineral soilBurn with moist duff layerMove debris from around trunk

Burned April 19

“Won’t fire kill my trees?”

Nutritional Carrying Capacity (14% CP mixed diet) following silvicultural treatments, Chuck Swan SF, 2007 - 2008

0

100

200

300

Control Fire SW SW &Fire

RC &Fire

RC &Herb

RC &Herb &

Fire

dee

r d

ays/

ac

20072008

Fire Effects on Deer Carrying Capacity

28 Apr 2006

Managing Pine Stands for Wildlife

18 July 2006

Nutritious forage and fawning cover available

Managing Pine Stands for Wildlife

QVM Untreated

Nutritional Carrying CapacityNumber of days 1 deer can be supported on 1 acre

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Dee

r-da

ys/a

cre

Late-rotation Loblolly Pines

Edwards et al. 2004

Control: 106 lbs / ac Control: 114 lbs / ac

QVM treatment: 387 lbs / ac RC w/ fire: 641 lbs / ac

Cowpeas: 485 lbs / ac Cowpeas: 3072 lbs / ac

Mississippi Tennesseepines hardwoods

Comparative Results:

Adjust the composition- kill undesirable plants- promote desirable plants

Maintain successionPrescribed fire

- 2 – 5-year interval- alternate seasons

Disking- on quarters- season of disking

Herbicide applications

Managing Old Fields for Wildlife

Remove the “Carpet!”

nothing planted

…quality early successional cover

From a Tall Fescue Field to….

White-tailed deer~ 70 % summer diet

prickly lettuce

ragweed

pokeweed old-field aster

partridge pea

Increasing Forb Availability for Wildlife

Species Selectivity CP

old-field aster high 23

prickly lettuce high 22

pokeweed high 32

ragweed med 18

goldenrod med 16

3-seeded mercury med 25

Forage Quality and Use by Deer

EXCELLENT cover, EXCELLENT forage

The Perfect Composition…

Barriers to Increased Use of Prescribed Fire by Private Landowners

#1 -- Fear! 1) Uncontrollable wildfire

2) Damage – property, structures, neighboring property, etc.

3) Liability

4) Smoke management

5) Unknown

When / Where Did This Fear Originate?

#2 – Lack of Awareness of Value- Continued education and outreach

#3 – Lack of Training - Increased training opportunities for private landowners

#4 – Lack of Awareness of Available Resources (e.g., GFC)

Other Barriers

Questions?