Thumb Area Branch

QDMA Newsletter

Message from the President

Around ten years ago, I became a member of the Thumb Branch of QDMA. The decision was a no-brainer; I already had several friends on the Board and I knew almost everyone else. It wasn’t a bad deal: show up once a month (if you had time), vote on a few issues and then help out on a weekend or two throughout the year. This level of involvement made me a “Dedicated QDM-er”, and the job came with perks – I learned a lot, met a bunch of great people, made some good friends and had lots of fun. For me, it was more than an even trade-off for the time invested.

Now I am president of the Thumb Branch, and also Habitat Chair for the Thumb Branch of Pheasants Forever. Sometimes it takes up a little more time than I would like, but it makes me feel like I am trying – trying to make a difference here in the Thumb. Both the Thumb QDMA and the PF Branch are very strong, with great leadership and a strong core. Thumb PF has primarily remained the same group of guys, while the QDMA Branch has gone through a lot of changes. Half the board consists of a core group of members, each of which has over ten years of experience. The other half is fairly new, and these new members bring new life and energy to the board. They want to learn, they want to lead, and mostly, they want to make a difference. In fact, two of the last three members who have joined have already become officers. John Mason recruited two of those last three members - his daughter Julie and her husband Michael Joy – and I recruited Chris Stomach. I am writing now to recruit you (with the power of the pen!). If you love to hunt, if you love the outdoors, if you love the Thumb area, or Michigan…give us or any other volunteer organization a try. You may find that is a lot different than you think. You may find that it is a lot of fun, being around like-minded individuals. The rewards may be great…and the memories priceless.

APR-MAY-JUN-JUL 2014 thumbareaqdma@avci.net

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES: Weapon-a-Week Raffle (ongoing)

Sept 4 – Millington “Clashin’ Antlers” Co-Op Mtg, 7 pm call 989-871-4488 for more info

Send your events/pics to qdmnews@yahoo.com!

These volunteers were all recognized at the Thumb QDMA Branch Appreciation Dinner. We can’t thank them enough for the time and effort they

gave to help make this year’s REACH Banquet an incredible, resounding success. Volunteers are the heart of the Thumb Branch QDMA.

QDMA Youth – Our Next Generation!

Turkey Hunt with Dad - Submitted by Addison Stomack Me and my dad were going hunting. My dad asked if I would like to go hunting, I said yes. Me and my dad got in the little S-10 and drove away to JoAnne's. When we got there we closed the doors quietly and went to go to the shack. When we got to the shack we put down chairs and waited and waited. Then I went to sleep and my dad saw a woodchuck when I was sleeping. I woke up. I had a cramp in my neck - then my dad saw a turkey. To make me be quiet he put five fingers up. Then my dad got the gun and Bamm! The turkey was dead. He was flapping. My dad shot him in the eye. My dad picked up the gun, up high, and said yaaaa! I giggled. My dad drove the little S-10 to get the turkey. The End

Turkey - Submitted by Sara Dobson

Hunting is a big part of my family’s life, so it was just natural that I became a hunter. In my hunting career, I have taken two does, two bucks, a five and a seven point… but turkey hunting was a whole new ball game for me. Ever since my dad took one last spring I was hooked and wanted to try it for myself. During the weeks leading up to opening day, my dad had been showing me everything from how to use the turkey calls, to where to shoot the bird and how. When opening day finally came around I woke up at the crack of dawn and headed to a little log shack in the back of the property. A few hours later at 7:35 am I looked up and saw that a hen had made her way to the front of my blind, which immediately put me on high alert. Just as I was getting my gun ready, a nice tom came strutting in from my right, I waited for the hen to get out of the way but that opportunity never came and they walked down a hill in front of me. The next day a friend of my dad's, by the name of Mr. Todd, offered to take me to his leased property a few miles down from our cabin. I gladly accepted and that evening we drove down there to see if we could get me my first turkey. We sat there for a few hours not seeing or hearing anything, until a hen made a little appearance to our left only to disappear into the brush once more, but she was a loud one because for the next hour we

were “talking” back and forth. Once she was gone, we were left sitting there seeing nothing again... The final day I had to hunt that weekend, I was up bright and early in the little log blind again; I was only out for about an hour when ten or more deer made their way to the field. As I sat there watching the deer five hens made their way next to the deer and I once again got my gun ready but this time I immediately saw the tom in full strut huffing and puffing after all the hens. Once he got into range, I pointed the gun and just as I was about to shoot a deer stepped right in front of him. I waited, heart pounding, breathing fast, waiting for that deer to move. When it finally did, I let him have it and dropped him right where he stood! I really enjoyed getting my first turkey and I am looking forward to the many years of turkey and deer hunting to come!

Deer Management… for Harvesting Mature Bucks

- Submitted by Mick Perez-Cruet

The Rubicon deer cooperative was created for quality deer management. Multiple landowners in the area agreed to only harvest deer with at least eight points and allow younger bucks to mature. Attempts are also made to harvest does to provide a more optimal doe to buck ratio. Most years I would only harvest does but also less desirable older bucks with poor antler growth and mass in an attempt to improve antler genetics among the deer herd. Often, I would pass on very desirable young ten and even higher point bucks (3 ½ olds and younger). My hope was that these bucks would evade hunters and become true wall hangers as mature bucks. My efforts paid off this last season.

It was the second day of gun season. I was sitting in a stand when, a half-hour after day-break, the sound of gunfire started. A deer coming down into the creek bottom alerted my attention. I caught a glimpse of gleaming antlers and knew this was a good buck based on the antler mass, tine length and size of the deer’s body. I slowly raised my shotgun. The buck looked like he was looking for the thickest cover to hide in. Little known to him - I was sitting in it! I saw his massive shoulders and placed my crossed hairs on him. I took the shot and knew it was a solid hit but just to be sure got off another one. He only ran 10 yards and dropped. The shakes started and I gave him a good 20 minutes before I started toward him. I was pleased to see he was a mature ten point deer with great antler development and mass. On further inspection I noted that he had a broken back leg. I called a buddy who was hunting nearby and asked for help

pulling the deer out of the creek bottom. We took pictures to capture the moment and dragged him out. My buddy’s son noted that there was a peculiar part of the fur on the deer’s hind chest that would inflate and deflate as we pulled the deer up the hill. Later while I was skinning the deer, I discovered that this area was an old arrow wound. To my amazement, I realized that I had shot this deer during the previous bow season while in a stand not more than 50 yard from where I had been sitting. The previous year I had seen him coming down a trail following a hot doe. He had stopped about 35 yards and presented me a good broadside shot. At the time, he was the largest deer I had seen while hunting deer in Michigan and I was excited just to see a deer of that quality. Unfortunately my arrow was deflected by a tree limb and hit him further back in the chest. I knew immediately that it was not an optimal hit. I felt sick to my stomach at the time. I thanked the Lord that I was able to harvest such a beautiful animal. I really don’t think he would have made it through this past harsh winter, especially with the broken hind leg and record snowfall. As far as I could tell, he fully healed from the arrow injury. I thank my fellow Rubicon deer cooperative members for their efforts in quality deer management. As it turns out, another member of the cooperative also had his eye on this buck.

The Deer Hunter’s Mind - Submitted by John (Jack) Mason

Over the years, I have heard stories about studies of specific groups, species or demographics. A recent news story about one of these studies got me thinking: what if deer hunters were the focus of some research scientist’s study? Pondering this got me thinking about how the Whitetail Deer influences my thoughts and actions. Many things came to mind and eventually it came right down to how I live my life and how the choices I make affect everything. This is not a scientific study by any means. It is strictly based on primary observations and notes I have made myself. First and foremost, deer are always on my mind (second only to my wife). It seems that no matter what I am doing or what is going on in my life, my “deer hunter’s mind” carries me to deer, deer hunting, or my private hunting property, Whitetail Haven. This can happen at any moment, without warning. I can be driving, cutting the grass, plowing the snow or splitting firewood. I may be awake or sleeping (so I am told); the list goes on and on. Pondering this phenomenon, I began to wonder how “significant” life events affect these thoughts. It became obvious to me that as humans we are involved in many things daily, weekly, monthly, annually, etc. The effects of these events can be both short and long term. A summary of my primary “events” follows:

Family: my wife is first and foremost.

Children: I have four - 2 boys and 2 girls. My eldest daughter just celebrated her first wedding anniversary and I am looking forward to grandchildren.

Work: my job plays a large role in my life, daily, weekly and annually.

Dad: my aging father weighs heavily on my mind. Siblings: I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. My baby

sister just fought a battle with cancer; this started one year after our mother passed away.

The world: The state of our nation and society.

Deer, habitat management, deer hunting regulations, and all of the other stuff relating to deer.

For me, the “study” shows that, no matter what, my mind drifts back to deer. Early this summer I captured several pictures of a promising buck. Shortly after that I was talking deer hunting in my sleep. My wife kept the conversation going and eventually I opened my eyes, looked at her and exclaimed, “You kill it, you grill it!” and then went back to sleep. She told me the story the next day and I had no recollection of the event.

When my mother was nearing the end of her life and it became quite obvious that my schedule was going to be interrupted for the next couple of weeks, I sought refuge at “Whitetail Haven”. While I was there, taking time to reflect on my mother and our lives together, I got our fall food plots planted and finished up the “must do before September” list. Most people might think it’s kind of odd that I would retreat to an isolated place with no water or electricity. Notice that it

was my “deer hunters mind” preparing me for the event of my mother passing, as well as guaranteeing that I would be there for her at the most critical times. In this case my “deer hunters mind” was soothed and prepared for the loss of my mother while ensuring the deer were cared for. In conclusion: The “deer hunters mind” is a busy place. As an avid hunter, we may find that hunting is always in the back of our minds. Whether or not this can be demonstrated through scientific studies, I believe there is a strong existence of a “deer hunters mind”. We are loving and caring people. We strive to do the right thing. We need nature more than we think and nature needs us too. If you are a deer hunter, hunting anywhere in the world, you should be a member of QDMA. Please make an effort to “Learn More, Get Involved”. Go to www.qdma.com for more information or join the QDMA family on Facebook. Join a Co Op if there is one in your area. If not – start one! We will help you get that done.

A trail cam photo submitted by the author of “Deer Hunter’s Mind”.

(Wonder if he’ll be dreaming about this deer, next?!)

http://www.qdma.com/

Deer Steward Certification -Submitted by Julie Joy

Did you know that QDMA offers a three part comprehensive course regarding whitetail deer, habitat, biology, and most importantly, herd management? Luckily, a group of us from the Thumb Area Branch were able to attend Deer Steward I this past April in West Monroe, Louisiana! The course covered an extensive amount of valuable information about whitetail deer ranging from the history, biology, food habits, genetics, food plots, hunting pressure, data collections, surveys, and supplemental feeding. All of these topics were presented by QDMA’s leading biologists, researchers, and mangers.

Upon completion of the course, the students were able to participate in a “field trip” to the Duck Commander Warehouse home of the popular TV show “Duck Dynasty”. The purpose of this course is not only to increase knowledge and improve the management of deer herds, but it is also important for QDMA to create representatives that will continue to promote QDM and help spread our hunting heritage. If attending one of these courses may be something that interests you, be sure to check the QDMA webpage or Quality Whitetails magazine for further updates! Overall it was a great experience, and I would highly recommend others to participate! I'm thankful I was given the opportunity to become certified in Deer Steward I.

CONGRATULATIONS to the 2014 QDMA Softball Team (co-sponsored by Budweiser of Bad Axe). What a great season!

QDMA – Thumb Area Branch PO Box 82 Bad Axe, MI 48413

Thumb Area Branch Contacts Mark Lemke (President) 989-658-8821 Mike Joy 989-553-3848

Chris Stomach (Vice-President) 989-553-0597 Tim Klee 989-553-3904

Julie Joy (Treasurer) 989-553-3858 Paul Plantinga 586-215-9678

Karen Rutkowski (Secretary) 989-658-8659 Kevin Polega 810-245-8331

Doug Gentner 989-550-2566 Randy Rutkowski 989-658-8659

National Website qdma.com

Branch email thumbareaqdma@avci.net

Newsletter email qdmnews@yahoo.com

State Chapter Web miqdma.com

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