Alabama Game and Fish Magazine recently had an article showing deer harvest citing the reason for low deer harvest numbers since the 2016 phone in requirements are attributed to what they call growing pains. In other words some hunters are not participating. There are charts included in the right up showing in the season prior to phone in requirements the state estimated we harvested about 300.,000 total deer as opposed to our 2017-2018 season harvest of only about 75,000 total deer. Either the estimates prior to the phone in requirements were hugely exaggerated or the majority of hunters opted not to phone in.

It's puzzling. Do other states make such claims about low hunter participation? I honestly don't know.

That's the big question. Why such discrepancies in the numbers. Im not buying into those giant harvest estimates that were prior to the phone in requirement. That's roughly a 225,000 deer harvest difference. Even with lots of hunters not phoning in, we have an issue.

We have a lot of issues. This scenario and these numbers is like opening the door and letting you peek inside.

To report a deer you first have to buy a license. I would estimate probably 1/3 maybe closer to 1/2 the people hunting private property don't even have one.

The biggest problem we have is an attitude problem that cannot be overcome based on our level of enforcement. We need more Game Wardens writing a lot more tickets.

Nor should they, if they own the land, or are first degree relatives. They are still supposed to get a HELP number and report kills though.

I think everyone should purchase a license. They benefit from the system they don't support as far as research and enforement (call Game Warden on Poacher, etc.). The deer don't belong to them they belong to the State as well. They are a public resource.

I don't want to derail this thread so let's stop there.

Just a hunch, I'm betting it's a combination of a few things...

1. The 17/18 numbers were over-inflated
2. 18/19 kills were down, *combined with*
3. Lot of folks didn't report, and
4. the DCNR, in general, couldn't find their azz with both hands and a map

That’s probably because, like myself and many others you don’t own hunting land and won’t incur any additional cost. Just more decisive politicking. Pitting the perceived have nots against the perceived haves. Any animal entering or existing on what land I do own does so by the grace of my blessings regardless of any rules. I expect no less for those owning more.

No but the ones I am familiar with have not done/designed a survey that would give them a true picture of participation/compliance numbers.

Ignorant comment

WTH????

Now you're just making stuff up as you type!!

"Game Check is a tool that will allow improved management of Alabama’s deer and turkey populations. Over time, this valuable information can be used by WFF biologists to see harvest trends and set seasons and bag limits. ".

That's from a DCNR website.


Coming up on year 3 and I see no reason why the GC #s will change. Now what?? How much time before these numbers are used to set limits and seasons?? We can't drop.the limit much more if any on 3 bucks. That would result in less people hunting, leasing land, joining clubs, out of state hunters coming in, decreased processor business, and ultimately hurting DCNR. Season changes, well we already extended that. As I said, now what?

I have a my own place but I also have a lifetime license.

Ok - I misspoke... technically you don't have to have a license to get a number to report your deer but to me they coincide. The guy that hunts private land doesn't have a license and doesn't have the number either. That's my experience. They just disregard the rules. The attitude is I don't need a license and I don't need to report my dead deer getting the number and reporting is a hassle. I don't need the number unless I kill something.

You're experience might be different but that's my experience.

Is there a rule that you have to have the number if you just go hunting? Seems like a huge opportunity to write some tickets. Most of the people I talk to in this category don't have the number.

tags and then check in stations

Tags? Maybe. I could see that happening. I really have no opinion on them. Check stations? That would get less participation than GC.

I think you have to prove what they're hunting for. Are they coyote hunting with a .270? I've certainly done that before.

Honestly i don't see why everyone bitches about game check, it's easy, I bring my laptop and do everybody in camp. We have a game warden that stops by regularly and I try to make it a non-issue.

At some point the lack of participation excuse will not fly.

I agree. I just can’t understand what more or less “kill” numbers will mean- higher participation? Higher kills?