Motor City QDMA Branch

Motor City QDMA Branch Founded in Metro-Detroit, Michigan

In a state known for its automotive history, vast wildlife, natural resources, and major challenges managing the deer population, it only made sense to form a Metro-Detroit Regional QDM Branch.

With headquarters in Troy Michigan, “Motor City QDM Branch” was founded in June of 2009 by Michael Kirby of PGK Engineering/Kirby Outdoor Products and Darren Peterfi of Pace Appraisal Services/Plots Pros Plus. Aligning its goals and mission with the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), Motor City QDM hopes to bring together a team of Metro-Detroit area sportsmen, families, and their affiliations who also share the QDMA vision.

Motor City QDM Branch has established objectives that include a Motor City QDM Cooperative and various sponsored annual events. Members are proud to focus on a key objective which is to promote Disabled Sportsmen Friendly Properties. Inspired by the Bible scripture “Serve one another in love; Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 (NIV), Motor City QDM proudly believes in and supports the Disabled Veterans and Servicemen who have sacrificed so that we have the “Right to Keep and Bear Arms” and thus the “Freedom” to hunt and fish and live in this incredible nation and enjoy the wonderful natural resources.

Motor City QDM Branch’s key objective is to provide disabled veteran sportsmen the opportunity to utilize “Disabled Sportsmen Friendly” private hunting properties as often as they would like at a reduced fee. For many hunters the hunting routine to and from a tree stand includes walking - at times stumbling through the dark with bow or gun in hand, backpack and/or tree stand slung over their shoulder, walking through a muddy corn field, and in and out of creek bottoms. This approach is often unrealistic for many disabled sportsmen and has likely been a major obstacle.

In addition to the planting and maintaining of food plots and habitat enhancement efforts, Motor City QDM’s disabled sportsmen friendly hunting properties will offer improved trail systems and creek crossings that will allow easy access to and from the hunter’s vehicle. Each property will offer multiple ground and elevated blinds to suit the hunter’s preference. Transportation will be provided to and from the vehicles along with other assistance, making the hunting experience simple and exciting while enjoying God’s Great Outdoors.

Motor City QDM is currently in the process of forming an experienced team of board members including long term automotive executive and CEO of PGK Engineering, Patrick Kirby. Patrick has been a Chairman of several boards within the automotive and educational sectors. An avid sportsman, Patrick is family oriented and takes and active role in mentoring today’s youth. Wade Fleming, a member of the Troy City Council, automotive executive, and sportsman, has also joined the board. Wade is interested in working toward a solution to control urban deer population challenges in the city of Troy and surrounding communities. Troy is located in Oakland County which has one of the highest deer populations in Michigan. Additional board members will be announced in the near future.

Motor City QDM is excited about the future and looks forward to being part of the QDMA family. For more information regarding the Motor City QDM Branch, please visit its group page at www.kirbyoutdoors.com or email kirbyoutdoors@gmail.com.

What is Quality Deer Management?

Quality Deer Management (QDM) is a management philosophy/practice that unites landowners, hunters, and managers in a common goal of producing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existing environmental, social, and legal constraints. This approach typically involves the protection of young bucks (yearlings and some 2.5 year-olds) combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to maintain a healthy population in balance with existing habitat conditions and landowner desires. This level of deer management involves the production of quality deer (bucks, does, and fawns), quality habitat, quality hunting experiences, and, most importantly, quality hunters.

A successful QDM program requires an increased knowledge of deer biology and active participation in management. This level of involvement extends the role of the hunter from mere consumer to manager. The progression from education to understanding, and finally, to respect; bestows an ethical obligation upon the hunter to practice sound deer management. Consequently, to an increasing number of landowners and hunters, QDM is a desirable alternative to traditional management, which allows the harvest of any legal buck and few, if any, does.

QDM guidelines are formulated according to property-specific objectives, goals, and limitations. Participating hunters enjoy both the tangible and intangible benefits of this approach. Pleasure can be derived from each hunting experience, regardless if a shot is fired. What is important is the chance to interact with a well-managed deer herd that is in balance with its habitat. A side benefit is the knowledge that mature bucks are present in the herd - something lacking on many areas under traditional deer management. When a quality buck is taken on a QDM area, the pride can be shared by all property hunters because it was they who produced it by allowing it to reach the older age classes which are necessary for large bodies and antlers.