Athens, GA -(AmmoLand.com)- Registration has opened for QDMA’s 2016 Deer Steward courses, which will include Level I offerings at Iowa’s Honey Creek Resort State Park and Eastern Canadian Outfitters in Quebec, and Level II courses at the Cedar Ridge Plantation in South Carolina and Anseeuw Farms in Illinois.
QDMA’s Deer Steward certification program is in its tenth year, and for the fifth-straight year 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 2016 Deer Steward Level I course at Honey Creek Resort State Park in Moravia, Iowa, will be accompanied by a unique tour of Bill Winke’s property from the popular Midwest Whitetail television and web show.
The other Level I course, a first in Canada, will be unique in that it’s composed of both instruction and R&R time. It’s limited to 20 attendees and is all-inclusive with on-site lodging and fishing for lake trout, northern pike and bass.
If you’re already a Level I Deer Steward, this year’s Level II courses will be held in South Carolina and Illinois. The first Level II course will take place in Bradley, South Carolina, at Cedar Ridge Plantation, and the second Level II offering will be held in New Windsor, Illinois, at Anseeuw Farms.
2016 Dates and Locations:
Level I Course:
- May 20-23 – Moravia, Iowa – Field Trip: Bill Winke’s Midwest Whitetail property
- September 8-12, Cayamant, Quebec at Eastern Canadian Outfitters
Level II Courses:
- June 10-13 – Bradley, South Carolina, at Cedar Ridge Plantation
- July 8-11 – New Windsor, Illinois, at Anseeuw Farms
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.
Just like the in-person classes, registrants must pass an exam to graduate, and Continuing Forestry Education (CFEs) credits from the Society of American Foresters and The Wildlife Society will be available. In addition, 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 2016 Course:
- To register, call 800-209-3337 or visit our Deer Steward webpage for registration forms.
Program Costs
In-person U.S. Courses (Deer Steward Levels I and II):
- $800 Non-QDMA Members
- $750 Regular QDMA Members
- $700 QDMA Life Members, Sponsor Members and Corporate Sponsors, Partners and Supporters.
In-person Canada Course (Level I only, lodging and meals included):
- $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.
Cost includes instruction, most meals, a course handbook, and a framed course certificate. Travel and lodging are not included.
Online Deer Steward (Level I only):
- $200 Non-QDMA Members
- $175 Regular QDMA Members
- $150 QDMA Life Members, Sponsor Members and Corporate Sponsors, Partners and Supporters.
- FREE for Active Military in Combat Zones
Online fees increase $50 per level with CFE’s. Cost includes instruction and a course certificate.
About QDMA:
Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. To learn more about QDMA and why it is the future of deer hunting, call 800-209-3337 or visit www.QDMA.com.
QDMA can also be found on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.