Deer

The Spring Island Trust’s implementation of Quality Deer Management (QDM) maintains a healthy herd with larger bucks on the island. QDM is a strategy that involves herd habitat, hunter management and herd monitoring. Data are collected on every deer’s age, sex, body weight and antler spread (points and circumference) as well as reproductive success.

Effective QDM produces healthy deer herds that are characterized by large, mature bucks and balanced adult sex ratios. This approach typically involves the protection of young bucks and an adequate harvest of female deer to maintain a population that is appropriate for existing habitat conditions.

Most does produce twin fawns every year because of the high quality habitat on Spring Island. Older females are harvested, allowing the younger animals to mature. This improves the social dynamics of the herd and results in larger buck size, which creates a more exciting hunting experience.

Spotlight surveys are conducted annually to estimate the herd size. The results are tabulated before targets are set for the coming year.