Event Posters

QDMA Whitetail Trivia Night

Hosted by: Renfrew County  Branch

Registration Open for QDMA's 2017 Deer Steward Courses

ATHENS, GA (January 23, 2021) - Registration has opened for QDMA's 2017 Deer Steward courses, which will include a Level I offering in Missouri and Level II courses in Arkansas and Michigan.

QDMA's Deer Steward certification program is in its eleventh year of in-person courses. Registrants also have the option to take the first level online.

If you're looking for the personal touch of an in-person class, the 2017 Deer Steward Level I course at the Missouri Department of Conservation Northeast Regional Office in Kirksville, Missouri, will be accompanied by an exclusive tour of the Heartland Bowhunter farm, as seen on their feature cable television show on the Outdoor Channel, as well as on their two free webshows, Behind the Draw and Full Strut, via CarbonTV.

If you're already a Level I Deer Steward, this year's Level II courses will be held in Arkansas and Michigan. The first Level II course will take place in Hazen, Arkansas, at the Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA, and the second Level II offering will be held in Hastings, Michigan, at the Thornapple River QDM Cooperative.

2017 Dates and Locations
Level I Course:
May 19-22 - Kirksville, Missouri - Field Trip: Heartland Bowhunter property

Level II Courses:
June 23-26 - Hazen, Arkansas, at the Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA
September 8-11 - Hastings, Michigan at the Thornapple River QDM Cooperative

The Deer Steward certification program is a personal learning experience designed to offer hunters an opportunity to learn from the world's top experts about Quality Deer Management (QDM). The first two levels are courses, Level III is an application; all three need to be taken in succession. By taking both Levels I and II, graduates are able to design and implement their own comprehensive property-specific white-tailed deer management plan. So, for the price of a new firearm or bow, attendees gain enough knowledge to become advanced deer managers.

Each course follows the four Cornerstones of QDM as a guideline. Level I courses include nearly 20 presentations over a two-day period, followed by an optional half-day field trip; Level II courses involve more hands-on experience. Attendees will learn techniques on aging deer jawbones; taking soil samples and interpreting soil test results; determining acreage of food plots and calibrating equipment; population surveys; forest and early succession habitat management; analyzing harvest data; making property maps; and much more. Level III status is the recognition of those who have given back to the resource over a long period of time, rather than something you can learn in one weekend.

Online Deer Steward
Through a unique partnership with Clemson University, individuals who have a high-speed Internet connection also can choose to enroll in the Level I class on-line, making Deer Steward as convenient and affordable as it's ever been! Once registered, attendees gain access to a digital recording of one of our previous Deer Steward Level I courses (filmed in front of a live audience) and will have up to 180 days to complete the series of six sessions (approximately 17 one-hour topics) at their own pace. Speakers include Kip Adams, Dr. David Guynn, Joe Hamilton, Dr. Craig Harper, Dr. Karl V. Miller, Brian Murphy, Matt Ross and Dr. Grant Woods.

Graduates of the online version of Deer Steward will be eligible to take one of the in-person Level II courses upon completion.

Registering for a 2017 Course
To register, call 800-209-3337 or visit our Deer Steward webpage for registration forms and information about program costs, what's included and much more!

Lanark County Branch - 1st Annual Banquet & Auction

First Ever QDMA Level I Deer Steward Course in Canada

September 8-12, Cayamant, Quebec at Eastern Canadian Outfitters
with a fishing package included

The Canada course will be unique in that it's composed of both instruction and R&R time, is limited to 20 attendees and is all inclusive with on-site lodging and fishing for lake trout, northern pike and bass. The course will focus on the four Cornerstones of QDM: Herd Management, Habitat Management, Hunter Management, and Herd Monitoring.

The Deer Steward I courses provide a comprehensive understanding of these cornerstones and includes Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits from the Society of American Foresters (SAF).

Program Overview

Deer Steward QDMA's individual certification program. This program includes three levels of potential achievement, and each must be completed in sequence.

• Deer Steward I will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the key principles of deer and habitat biology, ecology and management.
• Deer Steward II will teach students how to apply the principles learned in level one through hands-on and field experience.
• Deer Steward III, the most prestigious, must be earned through an individual’s long-term service to QDMA, and/or the white-tailed deer

Sample Deer Steward I Agenda (PDF)

Program Costs

In-person Canada Course (Level I only):

    $1,300 Non-QDMA Members (includes a QDMA membership)
    $1,250 Regular QDMA Members
    $1,200 QDMA Life Members, Sponsor Members and Corporate Sponsors, Partners and Supporters.

Early Bird discount ($50 off per level) will be applied if paying on/before February 19th, 2016. Special group savings also available for QDMA Branch officers/directors (up to 25% off). Discounts cannot be combined. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more info.

Cost includes instruction, most meals, a course handbook and CD, five 1-year QDMA gift memberships ($150 value), coupons for "The Shed" and Life/Sponsor memberships (10-35% off) and a framed course certificate. Travel and lodging are not included. Once your course application form has been received and processed, you will be provided instructions regarding lodging, directions to course venues and a list of suggested readings prior to attending the course.

How to Register

• By phoning the QDMA National Office at: 800-209-3337
• By faxing a completed registration form to: 706-353-0223
• By mailing a completed registration form to:

QDMA
P.O. Box 160
Bogart, GA 30622

Click here to print the Deer Steward I Registration Form

Once all openings for the courses are filled, applicants will be placed on a waiting list for the next available course in the order their applications were received.

More information is available on the QDMA.com website.

Big Buck Day

2016 National Convention