The Quality Deer Management Zone (QDMZ) was put into effect in 2003 after receiving numerous requests for such a management area.  In order to determine the best location for the QDMZ on the installation, biologists utilized a Geographic Information System (GIS) and biological data collected from bucks at the annual whitetail deer check stations.  By analyzing the data with the GIS, a "block" of training areas consistently came up for parameters like main beam length, total # of points, beam diameter, and body weight.  This block of training areas was designated the QDMZ.  

While other training areas on the installation are producing comparable bucks to the QDMZ, they are widely scattered.  Additional management is being implemented in the QDMZ in order to produce an even adult sex ratio, bigger bucks, and healthier does.  This additional management includes a greater law-enforcement presence and an intense food plot regime to include both cool and warm season plantings.  Summer annuals like cowpeas and lab-lab are planted in late spring/early summer to provide an abundance of high protein forage while does are rearing fawns and bucks are growing antlers.  Also, annuals like rye, wheat, and oats are planted to provide fall/winter forage.  In the future, biologists plan to establish a mixture of both warm and cool season perennial plantings in food plots.  These perennial food sources will provide year round forage for potentially 5-7 years without the need for replanting.  Additionally, pre and post season surveys are conducted to monitor herd density, adult sex ratio, fawn recruitment, and buck age structure.  Other management activities being conducted are the disking of old fields and timber thinning/control burning.  Rotational strip disking provides a flush of native forbs that benefit not only deer, but turkey, quail, and numerous other wildlife species.  Timber thinning opens up the forest canopy allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor.  This in conjunction with prescribed burning promotes an abundance of native ground cover that benefits every native species living in the longleaf/wiregrass ecosystem.  Perhaps the most important management strategy that has been implemented is antler restrictions on both bucks.  This will allow the overwhelming majority of males to reach an age of at least 3.5 year of age.  The check station data shows that at 2.5 years old, only about 15% of bucks harvested from the QDMZ over the last 10 years met the QDMZ antler restrictions.  This means that as long as hunters follow the regulations, at least 85% of 1.5 and 2.5 year old bucks will make it to maturity!  By 4.5 years old, 100% of these bucks will meet the harvest regulations (determined by analyzing this age class of bucks from check station data).

As you may know, herd monitoring is one of the 4 cornerstones of quality deer management.  In the past, spotlight surveys were used to estimate density and adult sex ratio.  In an effort to gain additional data and more accurate data, managers have implemented an infrared camera survey that will provide more accurate information (density, adult sex ratio, fawn recruitment, quality of bucks) about the deer herd inside the QDMZ on Ft. Stewart.  These pictures demonstrate the potential of our bucks if they are allowed to reach an age of at least 3.5 years old. 

August 2008.......

January 2009.......

Reporting Harvest....

The graph below shows the yearly reported deer harvest for both bucks and does since the inception of the QDMZ.  Wildlife managers cannot stress how important it is to take harvested deer to the check station (on weekends), writing down all harvests on kill cards, AND turning harvest cards in at the end of season.  Harvest data is vital to the sound management of your resource.  Without adequate information, wildlife managers cannot make sound management decisions.    

Harvest Success Stories.....

The QDMZ can be expected to produce bucks of this quality IF they are allowed to reach 3.5 years old or older.  Below are some examples of what the QDMZ is capable of producing.  If you are fortunate enough to harvest a mature buck from the QDMZ on Ft. Stewart, please bring it by our deer check station (during posted hours).  This allows us to collect valuable information about the deer and showcase to others what can be accomplished if we all work together.

Above:  Ricky Burkhalter, 140 lb 11 point, 10.5 years old.

Above:  Mark Kicklighter, 137 lb 8 point, 5.5 years old.

Sammy Wilson, 147 lb 7 point, 4.5 years old.

Thomas Hill, 124 lb 8 point, 5.5 years old.

Thomas Hill, 185 lb 8 point, 4.5 years old.

Bruce Blow, 170 lb 10 point, 4.5 years old.

Brian Anderson's 8 point.