Bogart, Georgia – The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) will award a scholarship to each of its three Deer Steward Level I certification courses offered this year so that students interested in a career in wildlife conservation can attend the two-day course free of charge. High school seniors or juniors or college students who are interested in applying should have a strong interest in wildlife conservation and the Quality Deer Management (QDM) philosophy.
To receive an application, interested students should contact Kip Adams, QDMA Director of Education & Outreach, at kadams@qdma.com or (814) 326-4023.
QDMA’s Individual Certification Program includes three levels of potential achievement: Deer Steward I, II, and III. The Deer Steward I level provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the four cornerstones of Quality Deer Management: herd management, habitat management, hunter management, and herd monitoring. The Deer Steward II level focuses on the application of these principles through hands-on field experiences. The Deer Steward III level, the most prestigious, must be earned through an individual’s long-term service to the QDMA and/or the white-tailed deer.
This year’s Level 1 courses will be offered at:
- QDMA National Headquarters in Georgia on April 11-14;
- Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana on April 25-28;
- Mississippi State University campus on May 16-19.
Each Deer Steward I certification course includes nearly 20 presentations by deer management experts over a 2-day period followed by a half-day field trip that provides participants with the opportunity to observe deer and habitat management programs, including forestry and food plots.
Details of each course are posted at www.QDMA.com. Registration for the Deer Steward I courses begins on February 1. Registration for the Deer Steward II course will begin April 1, and those who attained Level I status in 2007 will be given preference. You can register for the course of your choice through our website or by calling 800-209-3337. Each course is limited to a maximum of 50 participants, so register early for your preferred course location and dates. Registration fees for both levels are $800 for non-members, $750 for QDMA members, and $700 for Life and Sponsor members.
Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization with 48,000 members in all 50 states and several foreign countries. Membership in QDMA is open to anyone interested in better deer and better deer hunting, and committed to ethical hunting, sound deer management and the preservation of the deer-hunting heritage. To learn more about QDMA and why it is the future of deer hunting, call (800) 209-DEER [(800) 209-3337] or visit www.QDMA.com.
