I will reiterate what several have posted about Alabama. It is so different from Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, etc that you cannot look at what those states have done and apply it here. Those states have large properties that are intensely managed to raise the age structure and health of deer. Supplemental food (for nutrition and bait) and cameras have been a huge aid in saving bucks that need a few more years to reach their potential.Alabama has such an intensely high level of competition between adjacent landowners that these things can certainly be detrimental to the local deer population..In most areas, it is kill em before the neighbors can. I should add that we are so far behind those other states in deer management that a 3.5 year old 10 pt here is considered a deer of a lifetime and shot without a second thought. It's hard to argue with that as the neighbors will certainly do the same.