Somebody at state must have land there.

I commend them for making the change. They listened to the data telling them that they needed to bump the start of gun season up to allow for more quality hunting opportunity in those areas for those who gun hunt. Deer in those areas start pre-rut and rut activity as early as the beginning of November. By bumping the start of the season up for those areas they are giving people a better chance to hunt peak times with a rifle. These areas also lose 2 weeks on the back end of the season so it evens out.

Yankee deer transplanted there starting in the 30's still maintain the northern rut timing.

That makes sense for zone D. But is it also true for E?
Honesty I have no idea, just curious. One section of the E zone is down in SE Alabama.

^^^^^

That is basically it.

They’re like the CDC: I can never tell when they’re actually utilizing real science, or just using the term ‘science’.....for some other agenda.

Appears they’ve also cut back doe days almost everywhere EXCEPT those two new areas....which would seem to conflict with early rut biology, somewhat.

Im not really sure about zone E either. I think I have heard something about an area down around Point, Ga that has a really early rut as well. Cant speak to it however.

Those zones were decided by real science collected over many years of reproductive studies and supportive data. There has been a lot of work to get that done. Deer in those zones breed earlier than anywhere else in the state. A good portion of the rut (especially pre rut behaviors) are often missed with the traditional opening of rifle season. Now those areas can have the same experiences as other hunters in the state. It’s certainly a step in the right direction. Managing local deer here’s based on unique characteristics to that herd over a blanket season from Huntsville to Mobile is very nice to see.

Once again they overlooked us on the Elk river run. But whatever. That’s Danny Crawford’s area and he’s a politician.

Matt we’ve got quite a bit of data just east of there that shows an early December rut. However, I’ve seen enough of your pics to know some does are being bred in November and likely October too.

Yea I know it gets caught up in a broad brush but the river of elk from the TN river mouth up to state line has a def early rut. My deer are done by dec10 every year. 2nd rut done by early Jan. We’re small fish tho.

Zone D only has 2 1/2 weeks of doe days. Zone A is all season.

We have family land in Zone D. Before the dates came out, I joined a club in Zone A. 2 more weeks for me and my daughter! My wife is thrilled, lol!

Sikes say you all need more regs to confuse youse

They got it right for Zone E in Cleburne. Definitely would miss pre-rut activity in most area it covers if you didn’t bow hunt. I have no problem with it. Usually wasn’t worth going after the first week of January unless you were trying to jump shoot one.

This seems to be a necessary change, made with sound biological information and good judgment.
That would suggest chuckie wasn't involved at all.

I’ve hunted exclusively in Zone D just about all my life (screen name) and I can assure you the state got it right on this one. When they gave us a February season a few years ago no one wanted it because rarely does anyone hunt till the end of January. You usually will see bucks dropping antlers that last week of January at my place.

We have land in zone E. The rut is around Thanksgiving every year. As Matt has said, now we get to hunt the seek phase.

Lauderdale misses nearly all pre rut activity

Depending on the date of opening day you might get a week.

Could close it here January 1 and it wouldn’t matter.