Back in the 80s and early 90s there was not a huntable population in North Alabama. Everyone I knew who deer hunted then, went to TN or S Alabama. Exception being Bankhead. I was a diehard squirrel hunter back then and never saw a deer track much less a deer up here. Late 90s and 2000 that has changed. I have killed several deer on TVA property where there used to be none. I don't know how much S Bama has changed during that time frame but N Bama has more deer now than it did 25-30 years ago.