Conservation Delivery at the Nexus of Game Management and Landscape Ecology: Strategic Use of Deer management Cooperatives in Habitat Networks

The purpose of the award is for the QDMA to work with the University of Georgia, State wildlife agencies, and deer hunters to evaluate the spatial extent, arrangement, and configuration of Deer Management Cooperatives (DMC) in the landscape to quantify their potential as conservation planning tools in a habitat network approach using data from six states (MI, TX, MO, NY, GA, and FL). Quantify those parameters that constitute a â¿¿successfulâ¿¿ DMC as measured by hunter success and satisfaction as well as deer herd management and deer health. Develop educational materials (manuals, webinars, and publications) for state, federal, and NGO natural resource professionals to effectively implement DMC into landscape-level conservation planning. Quantify the benefit of DMC to other game and non-games species, specifically species of conservation concern in accordance with Landscape Conservation Cooperative goals.