2020-2021 Game Check Statistics

Haven't seen a thread on this yet so thought I would post the link to this season's Game Check numbers for 2020-21.

https://game.dcnr.alabama.gov/Report/County/Deer


It may be worthwhile to discuss these numbers, how it compares to previous years, county analysis, buck vs. doe harvest, or just whatever.
Looks like almost 200,000 deer were reported.

About 82,000 deer were reported killed in the first year of Game Check in 2016-17 season. And Sykes estimated that was about a 35% compliance. So with close to 200,000 reported killed this season does that translate to 80%+ compliance? (theoretical compliance)

http://www.deerfriendly.com/deer/al...-year-of-game-check-march-6-2017-alabama

Is that higher or lower than normal. Do they tell how many deer were really killed?

My question is how many kills were recorded last season? Next observation is that there must be a bunch of hungry hunters in Tuscaloosa and Baldwin counties. Those two counties both basically doubled the total harvest in almost all of the traditional high deer density blackbelt counties. Heck both even outpaced Jackson county by almost 20% and we all know that High Jackson is the best place in the entire state to hunt deer or turkey.

It'll be next year before u can really compare...lots of hunters didn't report last year because it wasn't mandatory at the processor like they did this year

My processor said several of their best customers didn't bring them a single deer to process this year . Hmmmm

A lot of deer in Baldwin county..well, there used to be..

What were the official GC stats for the 2019-20 and 2018-19 seasons?
I can't find a link to that info.

Here is the thread from 2/16/2020. The links don't work but the numbers are discussed in the thread.

http://www.aldeer.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3043647&Searchpage=1&Main=214662&Words=%2BGame+%2BCheck&Search=true#Post3043647

I dont think those numbers really matter too much anymore since there was a major change in participation........We dont know the new participation rate........How much did the baiting law effect success rates? All we can do is form a new trend line now as the participation rate stabilizes again........ Correct?

We will never know an accurate number until a tag system is in place. I will most likely be a more outlawy type person if that happens.

2018-2019 estimate 191,054

Ya'll are missing the point.

It is entirely possible to extrapolate information and deduce facts from other known facts.

So does anyone have the official dcnr links to the previous 2 seasons?

I don't think a lot of the numbers are very accurate. The reason being I know several people that killed quite a few and process their own deer.

When you kill one on wma you have to enter which one. I’ve yet to find where you can check kill total for hunts on wma. Looks like it would be easy to find?

Seriously??? I have my doubts about that. If you are going through all the trouble to haul your deer to a processor, you aren't going to let a phone app interfere with that, in my opinion.

So why are there categories called "Unknown Land" and "Unknown Genders"?? All of the boxes in those categories are ZERO (0) so exactly what good are those categories other than for making a typical government matrix look bigger and mo' impotent!!

More useless information that makes the whole GC thing less important and useless.

Some people feel really strongly about the govt staying out of their business.

As long as there are only a handful of wardens working the game check is a waste of time. The mandatory reporting helps when folks drop off at a processor but guarantees nothing otherwise. I have a buddy who has two sons and between them they killed 8 deer and processed every one of them at home.

I might start marking mine unknown gender and dare anybody to screw with me about it.

In these days, how do you know how the deer identified? Useless statistics that are being used to justify funding, jobs, etc.

Just to clarify for a few about the deer that were dropped off at a processor or taxidermist. This was basically just to make sure they were game checked. The processor nor taxidermist sent any numbers to the state or anybody else. We were only told not to take a deer unless it was checked. Local GW came by and checked my inventory twice.

There's always going to be outlaws that don't report, kill over the limit, spotlight, etc. I put all of those in the same category. The deer are a resource for all of us. I wish there were no outlaws. But, as long as there are folks willing to teach their kids to skate the regulations, there always will be.

As to the gamecheck #'s, I was really surprised at the Buck/Doe ratio.

She was saying she knows they still were killing deer but processing them their self . Simply, They don't like the check in system . When you outlaw guns only outlaws will have guns . When you make folks report their deer kills they will do it themselves. She was almost glad they didn't bring them any , I think she said they did over 400.

All of the talk of processors going out of business because of it was absolutely ridiculous. All of the ones I know around here was either about normal or above normal.

It didnt take me any longer to check a deer in than it ever has.

Thanks for those links.

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Those two links look like surveys and statistical estimates (not GC reported totals) - and looks like both of those years the average estimate was about 200,000 deer killed each of those two previous years. ---->>> So this past season was close to the prior two season estimates for total deer kills.

What were the actual GC totals for the two prior years? And 5 years?
I could not find a link, but IIRC the DCNR published end of the season GC totals for the last many years since GC was implemented.
And there were links with discussions on Aldeer about those end of the season totals each years. Google isn't helping me find them. Neither is the Outdoor Alabama website.

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Here are some things I find noteworthy:

1. the actual official and final GC numbers for 2020-21 are very close to the annual statistical estimates of the two prior years for total deer killed.

2. if the first year total reported deer kill on GC of 82,000 was 35% reporting then 195,000 = about 83% reporting. That is the main thing I was interested in exploring - what is the estimated compliance rate at this time? It has clearly GONE WAY UP from where it started 5 seasons ago. And appears to be OVER 80%.

3. I never believed the old deer total estimates from way on back that said Alabama hunters were killing 400,000-450,000 deer a year.

4. I also never believed the DCNR estimates that there were 1.7-2 Million deer in Alabama.

5. Looks like buck vs. doe kills are getting more equal which is better then it was before buck limits.

Those are the kind of issues and questions I was interested in.
Obviously, the compliance with GC rate is WAY UP so the DCNR must be pleased with that.

Fixed it for you.

Tuscaloosa County got hammered. And that's just what was reported.

Game Check Totals for prior years:

2019-2020: Bucks - 55083, Does - 39863, Total - 95082
2018-2019: Bucks - 48751, Does - 35363, Total - 84148
2017-2018: Bucks - 45669, Does - 30338, Total - 76040
2016-2017: Bucks - 45569, Does - 36871, Total - 82496

You have to click County Comparison from the drop down at the top under Seasonal Statistics then choose the All County Comparison.

Where is Not county?

County not specified.

I guess for lost hunters ?

Probably located near the country What.

/pulpfiction/

appreciate that!

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I found more links to prior years statistical studies:

https://www.outdooralabama.com/research/hunter-survey-results

It appears to me that the high end of the statistical estimates the last several years - 220,000+ seem to be close to what the real annual deer kill is.
Perhaps a little higher but not much. Maybe 230k-250K max.
So the GC compliance rate appears right in the 82% - 85% range.
Obviously, requiring processors and taxidermists to have the GC confirmation number has more then doubled GC compliance.

I'd guess that probably was the expectation with forcing the processors and taxidermists to comply. 220K +/- doesnt sound too farfetched, to be honest, on an average year.

It appears what we have learned is you can reach the same conclusions regarding the total deer killed (harvested/found and claimed) with an estimated 30% compliance rate that you can with an 80%+ compliance rate. And that the government can keep piling on more rules and regulations to get the same effect as not piling on more rules and regulations. But rest assured that will not stop them from that and never publishing the reason for all the rules and regulations for their experiments. Carry on.

What has changed since Alabama rolled out game check? Nothing, therefore game check is a waste of time.. All it is is a tool that Alabama uses to actually say they doing something and someone is using the system to keep their gravy job🤔

X1000!!! If “they” would publish some sort of goal or direction “they” want to go then all this BS would be easier to swallow. Bigger numbers? Smaller numbers? Better bucks? Etc. etc.

The buck limit in 2006 was touted as producing healthier bucks, a healthier herd and better bucks.

Fifteen years later, are we seeing that? Are we definitively seeing more mature bucks, more "wow, hey, something's working!" bucks and a population? Not just in spotty areas or where QDM-style managmenet has been in place for a while. But overall, in our state, after 15 years of a 3-buck limit, are we better off in any way that can be proven biologically and not just anecdotally?

Or will we have to wait another 10-15 years after the checking system data is in, and thus 25-30 years after the buck limit, and probably with more regulations and mandates in that time, before we hear if the buck limits and check system and anything else is working?

But, "do something" so we can be progressive like all the other states. Gotta get in lockstep.

Additionally, there is a push nationally for "data" with wildlife. I'm seeing it with check systems for other animals and not just big game. Someone is pushing this, or something's going on in regard to data collection and requirements being placed upon the citizens.

Yeah yeah , and it all means doodly sh!t. We counted some dead deer

I think the numbers are way lower than actual kill total. I know some farmers that laid several does down last week of the season. No reports. I'm sure they're not the only ones. One of these guys laid down 9 deer in one afternoon a couple years back. He considers deer a pest eating his crops.

I'm willing to bet the illegal kills, night hunting, totals are equal to the reported kill totals.

None of the totals even add up correctly, how is that?

Each year also has "Unknown Gender" totals, which I didn't copy here.

State # has gradually gone up 1-2 deer every day . Folks finding ones they lost ; folks just getting around to reporting them ; anyone know the answer ?

I always figured the illegal kill was pretty near the legal kill numbers

It increased daily for at least 10-14 days the last three seasons, too.

I definitely believed that at one time, not sure any more. People are too lazy to poach.

I think there are just as many or more not reported as reported. I have heard of several people that don't and wont report deer. They are legally killed not poached and within the limits but not reported. Believe it or not there are a lot of people out there that have private land that manage it well and kill as many deer as they want/need to and don't report them. Doesn't hurt a thing IMO. If "they" are going to use data to do whatever it is "they" are trying to do then use the data you have whatever the number and stop changing how you much you get by guessing how many are not reported. that number simply doesn't matter.

[] "I think there are just as many or more not reported as reported." []

5 years ago *obviously* - but clearly not now.

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There is no way that illegal kills are as many as legal kills.
That would mean that THIS SEASON about 450,000 deer were killed, which would be bs.
And it would mean that in those years where the hunter survey estimator/statisticians estimated 400K-450K deer kills there were
really 800,000 to 900,000 deer kills, which is also bs.

I am confident at this point that there are about 220k to 230K maybe 250K tops deer killed in this state.
If that is only half the actual number of deer killed then there wouldn't be many deer in this state as they would be wiped out.

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The real question is, now that they have good accurate stats and numbers, what more bs are they going to force on the hunting community?

"The real question is, now that they have good accurate stats and numbers, what more bs are they going to force on the hunting community?"

I agree with this 100%

The thing is they will never be able to control the deer or turkey kills. Ppl will do whatever they want and when they want to do it. For what we spend every yr the last thing we need is more bs to go by. We as hunters can control ourself better than any government. Heck look at the white house. The president dont know if his wife is his sister or really his wife. Everyone will have their own opinion on hunting and how it should be done and thats fine its your opinion but dont let your opinion and ways ruin it for others. Nearly every club I know of and have been a member of have ways they manage their own club and thats how it should be. We shouldn't have to buy a permit to hunt over a darn corn pile. We shouldnt have only 3 bucks to kill. If they are worried about ppl killing way to many deer then why in the he'll do we have the entire season open to kill does???

We hunters are de facto agents of the department's management plan to help keep the population in check. That's one reason for the liberal doe seasons.

We need more GWs, plain and simple. Of course, no one wants to pay for them, so we won't get them.

The solution to what we are facing in the future is not a simple one......There's actually a LOT to be considered in the decision making process on how we should do things.... more so than what most of us take into consideration when we want to bitch about how something is being done......I'd love to go to a more bow hunting oriented system but how does that effect the $$$......While we like to make $$$ out to be evil all the time the fact remains that it does matter in the decision making process.......You want to shorten the season??.....How does that effect folks economically??......It matters.......No one hardly ever talks about habitat loss and land use changes but those are major drivers that have effected wildlife management in our state too and will continue to have an even more dramatic impact if we do not begin to look at alternative ways of managing the land that reduces continued fragmentation......All of this number counting won't really matter and won't do anything other than tell us what we already know.....

We use to stack them up on dog drives in the 70’s and land was $2 per acre to lease. I’m not so mad with them now and kill maybe 2 a season but this year I didn’t kill a single deer. Not to mention I believe they’re less hunters now. So what’s the big deal. It all boils down to $$$$ signs.

I don't think there is any real problem that needs any so-called "solution" or any further government intervention.

I am thankful for the buck limits that were instituted long ago.
Perhaps there are some places in the state that need to further limit doe harvest - and that has been discussed before.
But at this point I think the DCNR just needs to leave things and hunters alone. Just encourage people to practice QDM.

The state has run at a GW deficit of about two dozen officers for at least 25 years, and probably longer. It's a never-ending issue.

The solution I'm talking about will come after our current endeavor. When folks get tired of all the additional hoops we have to jump through just to go hunting.....I dont think the way we're doing things now is the best long term path.....It may be the one we take anyways but....

I was thinking last night about duck hunting.

Years ago you needed a fed and state duck stamp, state license, WMA permit if you hunted on it, and ammo.

Now you need state license, possibly a waterfowl permit in some states, the mandatory HIP past-season check (for each state), federal and/or state stamp (depending on state), more expensive non-toxic ammo, WMA permit, WMA daily map pemit thing, WMA check-in and check-out, and depending on the state you may be hit with more regulations or limits. Like in Arkansas, with a one-box limit on public, or non-residents excluded other than certain times.

More hoops.

Jump, citizens!

"Yas'sah, sir! Thanky much for the privilege!"

Shhh ! Clem , state folks haven’t thought about all that for deer hunting yet ?

dead on Clem, dead on.

Managers gonna manage and administrators gonna administrate. It has become an issue at all levels of Govt.