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REACH Certification
 Program Overview
We are pleased to announce the 2010 dates/locations for QDMA’s individual certification program, which fulfills the “C” component of our national REACH 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
2010 Program Availability
Deer Steward I:
QDMA will offer three Deer Steward I courses in 2010.
- February 25-28, Kingsville, TX at Texas A&M University
- April 16-19, Highland, NY at Indian Ridge Farm
- June 4-7, Clemson, SC at Clemson University
2010 Deer Steward I Agenda (PDF)
Each course will be 2˝ days in length (including an optional half-day in the field) and restricted to 50 or fewer participants. The courses will focus on the four Cornerstones of QDM: Herd Management, Habitat Management, Hunter Management, and Herd Monitoring. The Deer Steward I courses will provide a comprehensive understanding of these cornerstones and includes 16.5 Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits from the Society of American Foresters (SAF).
Deer Steward II:
QDMA will offer two Deer Steward II courses in 2010.
- July 23-26, Chestertown, MD at Chesapeake Farms Research Center
- August 20-23, Garnett, SC at Webb Wildlife Center
2010 Deer Steward II Agenda (PDF)
The Deer Steward II course will focus on the application of principles covered in Deer Steward I. Those principles being the four cornerstones of QDM: herd management, habitat management, hunter management and herd monitoring. Level II will include a mix of classroom and field instruction, and the course will end by having the students apply their knowledge and develop an actual deer management plan. Level II includes 16.0 CFE credits from the SAF.
Deer Steward III:
Deer Steward Level III is the final step in QDMA’s Individual Deer Steward Certification Program. Unlike Levels I and II, Level III is not a course and no test is required. Level III is achieved through personal achievement and long-term service to the white-tailed deer resource and/or the QDMA. For many, Level III status will take years to qualify. Fortunately the effort needed to meet the qualifications will be replaced with pride and satisfaction upon attaining Level III status.
Deer Steward Level III Application (PDF)
Program Instructors
The course instructors are a “Who’s Who” of the nation’s leading whitetail biologists, researchers and managers such as:
- Kip Adams, Wildlife Biologist, QDMA Director of Education and Outreach – Northern Region
- Marc Bartoskewitz, Assistant Area Manager - Natural Resources, King Ranch
- Al Brothers, Retired Wildlife Biologist and Co-author of Producing Quality Whitetails
- Mark Buxton, Wildlife Consultant, Southeastern Wildlife Habitat Services
- Dr. Mark Conner, Wildlife Biologist and Manager, Chesapeake Farms Research Facility
- Dr. Randy DeYoung, Professor, Texas A&M University Kingsville
- Ryan Foster, Wildlife Biologist and Property Manager, Tecomate Wildlife Systems
- Joe Hamilton, Wildlife Biologist, QDMA Director of Education and Outreach – Southern Region
- Dr. Craig Harper, Professor, University of Tennessee
- Dr. Mickey Hellickson, Chief Wildlife Biologist, King Ranch
- Dr. Dave Hewitt, Professor, Texas A&M University Kingsville
- Dr. Karl Miller, Professor, The University of Georgia
- Brian Murphy, Wildlife Biologist, QDMA Chief Executive Officer
- Matt Ross, Wildlife Biologist, Forester and QDMA Certification Programs Manager
- Dr. Grant Woods, Wildlife Biologist/Consultant and President, Woods and Associates, Inc.
Note: not all instructors will be at each course and others may be added.
Click here to review speaker bios (PDF)
Program Costs
- $800 Non-QDMA Members
- $750 Regular QDMA Members
- $700 QDMA Life Members, Sponsor Members and Corporate Sponsors, Partners and Supporters.
Cost includes instruction, all meals, a course handbook, and a framed course certificate. Travel and lodging are not included. Once your course application form has been received and approved, 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
Registration opens January 4th, 2010. Early bird $50 discount for all students if register by January 31st.
- 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 (PDF)
Click here to print the Deer Steward II Registration Form (PDF)
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.
Scholarship Opportunity
For each of the classes the QDMA will also award a high school junior or senior, or college student, interested in a career in wildlife management a scholarship to attend free of charge. Applicants for the scholarships should have a strong interest in wildlife conservation and the Quality Deer Management (QDM) philosophy. Applications are due by January 22, 2010.
Click here to print the Deer Steward Scholarship Application (PDF)
Cancellation Policy
Applicants shall be entitled to a full refund of course fees if the QDMA National Office is notified within fourteen (14) business days of the course date. Cancellations made less than fourteen (14) business days from the course date shall entitle the applicant to a fifty percent (50%) refund of course fees. No refunds shall be made for cancellations less than two (2) business days before the course date.
Questions?
If you have questions regarding course availability or registration, please contact the QDMA National Office at 800-209-3337.
If you have questions regarding course content, please contact
Matt Ross
QDMA Certification Programs Manager
Phone: 603-978-7427
Email: mross@qdma.com
Click here to learn more about the QDMA. |
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Quality Deer
Management Association
PO Box 160
Bogart, GA 30622
1-800-209-DEER (3337)
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