09/04/2025
Hello Members,
Hope you all had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to getting in the woods this fall!
Michigan Cooperative Harvest Survey - 2024 Report:
The Cooperative Harvest Survey was available for cooperative members to fill out after the 2024 deer seasons. 33 of our members submitted a survey. Members averaged 40.58 years of hunting experience, ranging from 14-63 years. Members represented an ownership or access an average of 212 acres, ranging from 20 to 775.
Buck to Doe harvest ratios among all cooperatives combined was 1 buck to 1 doe. 33% of respondents did not harvest a deer in the 2024 deer seasons.
It was very apparent that our deer numbers are lower than other cooperatives.
General Comments:
Deer Population Concerns:
Not enough mature deer; most are less than 2.5 years old.
Illegal baiting is negatively impacting cooperatives.
Neighbors are shooting too many small bucks.
Overall low deer numbers, especially mature bucks.
Disappointment due to not seeing any deer after many days of waiting.
Environmental Issues:
Gypsy moth infestations have severely affected oak trees, leading to fewer acorns and a decline in deer numbers.
Oak trees are dying in high numbers, contributing to the lack of acorns.
• Observations:
Consistent sightings of twin fawns.
Stable number of does, but only a few young bucks.
Increased sightings of bucks due to White Oak acorns and early summer rain.
Feedback for how cooperatives can be better supported in Michigan:
• Feedback and Suggestions:
Neighbors are shooting too many small bucks.
Desire for habitat improvement and farm tours.
Limit the number of does taken to allow the deer herd to grow; herd size is not as large as DNR estimates.
Interest in discounted food plot seeds.
Promotional Ideas:
Belief in the importance of advertising and word of mouth for positive momentum.
Suggestions to sell larger fruit-bearing plants.
Use banners, signs, or billboards to promote the "let em go to let em grow" initiative within the cooperative/area.
Additional Proposals:
Consider re-establishing the 2-gallon baiting practice.
Financial assistance for landowners affected by gypsy moth infestations.
I am in agreement with Harold Wolf from SMWMA, the largest co-op in the state, and our neighbor. He is urging his group to simply lead by example. If your area needs more does harvested, harvest more does. If you're not seeing enough deer, then shoot fewer does. If you are one of our members that think a One Buck Rule would be beneficial, self-impose a OBR within your own camp and share with your neighbors what your camp is doing and lead by example.
We hunters ultimately are the ones pulling the trigger and it's up to us if we want things to change. We must be willing to "BE THAT CHANGE". I like the quote "if not me then who, if not now then when" It's time to stop pointing fingers and start pulling thumbs.
NQDM is the 2nd largest co-op in the state. The last 12 years have proven we can change the hunting culture for the better here in Michigan, one hunter at a time and thereby improving all of our overall hunting experience. From our first meeting in February of 2013, we agreed to be 100% voluntary with no rules or regulations, only recommendations to let 'em go to let 'em grow.
We can achieve remarkable things working together. Let's "up our game" this season and continue to show the hunters in the rest of the state what's possible.
Good luck this fall, have fun and stay safe.
Tom
Let 'em go to let 'em grow / Hunters in the know let the young bucks grow
