Thornapple Riverbottom Deer Management Cooperative

Thornapple Riverbottom Deer Management Cooperative Like-Minded Landowners and Hunters As January 2011 there over 1,800 acres of land entered in the co-op. that flows south from M-50 to Gresham Rd.

We are an Informal group of "Like-Minded Landowners and Hunters" who work together to improve the quality of the deer herd and our hunting experiences. We encourage hunters to pass on young bucks and small-racked bucks so that they grow older and develop into larger heavy-antlered bucks! The main area of the co-op generally runs along the Thornapple River drainage. However, there are participants

throughout Chester and Vermontville Twsps. We don't exclude anyone who wants to participate. There are no rules, fees or memberships. Everyone decides what works best for their property. Some co-op members try to only take deer that are at least 2-1/2 yrs or older, others use point restrictions, inside spread, gross score and other types of self imposed restrictions. Some members choose to take does and some don't. And some members belong to The Eaton County QDMA branch. As a general guideline we attempt to target bucks that have spreads as wide as their ears (when alert). This guideline is the simplest way to protect the majority of 1.5 year old bucks, and some 2.5, in our geographic area of Michigan. We also control excess deer numbers through antlerless harvest.

Summer BOYZ camp! Two months from today it’ll be game on!
08/01/2022

Summer BOYZ camp!
Two months from today it’ll be game on!

11/28/2021

The MDNR is in need of deer heads for testing.
If you kill anything the rest of the season, please reach out to me and I can arrange pick up.
Thanks,
Tony Smith
517-231-9107

When June turns to July fawns become much more visible as they're able to keep up better with Mom and they're dietary in...
07/12/2021

When June turns to July fawns become much more visible as they're able to keep up better with Mom and they're dietary intake includes more forage.
I've seen several sets of triplets within the loose boundaries of our co op and, of course, many nice bucks that are really putting on the inches.
Another cool observation recently has been multiple sightings of bald eagles. Several sightings of mature birds on Allegan between Brick and M50 as well as multiple sightings of juveniles on Needmore east of Mulliken Rd.
Lots of mosquitos in the woods have the deer out in fields and moving. Use extra caution as you travel!
Who else is seeing cool things in our neighborhood this summer?

File photo.

FYI
12/02/2019

FYI

We’ve been getting lots of questions about legal fi****ms that can be used during the December muzzleloading season. The season runs from Dec. 6-15 in zones 1 and 2 and Dec. 6-22 in zone 3. Hunters in the CWD Core Area and CWD Management Area in the Lower Peninsula may use any legal firearm (all regular firearm equipment rules apply). This includes Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lenawee, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa, and Shiawassee counties. Hunters in the remainder of the state must use muzzleloading fi****ms or archery equipment during the muzzleloading season. See page 23 in the hunting digest for more information.

Congrats to David Yeomans Eaton Co QDMA president and co op member, on a fantastic 7 pt stud of a buck.Dave killed him t...
11/03/2019

Congrats to David Yeomans Eaton Co QDMA president and co op member, on a fantastic 7 pt stud of a buck.
Dave killed him this morning at 8:59 and recovered him at 1:00 but not before the coyotes found him first.

04/23/2019

QDMA is pleased to announce the Michigan Military Youth Hunt, hosted by the Eaton County and Capital Area QDMA Branches, was recently recognized as the 2018 Branch Event of the Year. The award was one of several given out at QDMA’s Whitetail Weekend in Athens, Ga., April 12-13. “It’s very hear...

John Deere flex 71 2 row planter for sale. Comes with 5 sets of plates, manual and pallet for easy storage. also have a ...
04/06/2019

John Deere flex 71 2 row planter for sale. Comes with 5 sets of plates, manual and pallet for easy storage. also have a bunch of roundup ready corn and soy bean seed. Great shape and stored indoors. $1600 pm Brad Spitzley if interested.

Be sure to take 5 minutes to fill out and submit the MDNR annual on line Hunters Survey! You're information matters!
12/17/2018

Be sure to take 5 minutes to fill out and submit the MDNR annual on line Hunters Survey! You're information matters!

It is important you complete this report even if you did not hunt or harvest a deer this year. As you fill out this report, your answers will be used to prepare the next question asked. Thus, it's important to provide complete answers before moving to the next question. Answers will be auto-filled f...

A buck I named Slim has made it to 3.5 (99% certainty), 😎
09/12/2018

A buck I named Slim has made it to 3.5 (99% certainty), 😎

Address

Vermontville, MI
49096

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 11pm
Tuesday 8am - 11pm
Wednesday 8am - 11pm
Thursday 8am - 11pm
Friday 8am - 11pm
Saturday 8am - 11pm
Sunday 8am - 11pm

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