Click any picture to see full size photo. In operation as a Quality Deer Management (QDM) http://www.qdma.com/ property since 2004, we subscribe to the QDM philosophy that unites landowners, hunters, and managers in a common goal of producing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existing environmental, social, and legal constraints. This approach typically involves the protection of young bucks (yearlings and some 2.5 year-olds) combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to maintain a healthy population in balance with existing habitat conditions and landowner desires. This level of deer management involves the production of quality deer (bucks, does, and fawns), quality habitat, quality hunting experiences, and, most importantly, quality hunters.

A successful QDM program requires an increased knowledge of deer biology and active participation in management. This level of involvement extends the role of the hunter from mere consumer to manager. The progression from education to understanding, and finally, to respect; bestows an ethical obligation upon the hunter to practice sound deer management. Consequently, to an increasing number of landowners and hunters, QDM is a desirable alternative to traditional management, which allows the harvest of any legal buck and few, if any, does.

QDM guidelines are formulated according to property-specific objectives, goals, and limitations. Participating hunters enjoy both the tangible and intangible benefits of this approach. Pleasure can be derived from each hunting experience, regardless if a shot is fired. What is important is the chance to harvest a quality buck - an opportunity lacking in many areas under traditional management. When a quality buck is taken on a QDM area, the pride can be shared by all property hunters because it was they who produced it by allowing it to reach the older age classes which are necessary for large bodies and antlers.  

This unique hunting property operation is based out of an authentic 1920’s back woods Missouri log cabin and already shows incredible potential as a blue ribbon hunting property. Big Cavern Lodge is located on 700 acres in the heart of scenic Pulaski County in south central Missouri. Deer and turkey are abundant across the property.  Opening morning, 2005 of turkey season I passed on 4 Jake Gobblers hoping to harvest an exceptional long-beard. Another year of growth for these 4 birds should produce the quality I am looking for. This fall’s archery season opening evening I watched a mother with twin fawns for a half hour feeding on the plot I was hunting after being in my stand only an hour and a half.  

As part of our QDM practice we have established extensive food plots and two sanctuary areas; one 60 acre and one 80 acre area which are totally off limits to all hunting and trespassing and over time are what we feel will be the ultimate key to trophy potential and production on our property.  

This past year we planted almost 5 acres of food plots.  Brassica, Rape, Chicory, Turnips and Wheat comprise the 200# of seed mixture sown upon this falls food plots. The plots were fertilized and limed heavily last year and tremendous growth results can already be seen in the pictures of food plots only a few weeks old.

The property boundary is totally fenced and the existing 5 miles of quad-runner trails are slated to double in size within the next couple years. The cavern system on the property is an added bonus.  We have located three cave systems on the property. Big Cavern Lodge was named after the largest of the three and is home to a large winter population of the endangered Indiana Bat. The largest cave has many branches I have never explored. “The Great Room”, “Fang Hall”, “Bruce’s Branch” and “Death’s Drop” are just a sampling of the names we have given to the different subterranean rooms and passageways we have discovered.

Local folklore claims Jesse James was chased into the cave and the right branch was dynamited in an attempt to seal him in. There is clear evidence of a cave-in 20 meters inside the right branch.  However we can also access the right branch from one of the subterranean tunnels under the main cave which could explain how he escaped.

 We are offering two unique one year, Big Cavern memberships. Each membership entitles one hunter and his family a year of access to the property and the cabin. A yearly membership allows for unlimited family use of the cabin and property and access to one hunter. Contact Bruce for details at brucearchambault@juno.com  

Good hunting!

Bruce