I've heard a lot about the herd being depleted on Skyline in the high-pressure areas.
I'm more of a hike it out and stalk type of hunter. My questions are: a) How is the herd doing in the more remote hilly areas? B) Can you quarter and pack the deer on the WMA?

I've never hunted on Alabama public land, so I have no idea how to obtain a WMA permit/license, nor do I know the field dressing regulations and what needs to be checked in with the biologists. Any help would be great.

Buy the WMA permit anywhere that sales license (Walmart has them) and you are supposed to have a signed copy of the map print out on you too. You can print those off online or some of the entrances have boxes with a stack of them. You don't have to check anything in, just quarter away and pack it out.

I hunted there only once, back in the 90's and saw one deer. So I can't help on first question. As far as I know, there are no restrictions on quartering the deer. Other than make sure you fill out your tag before you move it. You can print out maps and regulations for every WMA in AL through this link.

http://www.outdooralabama.com/wildlife-management-areas

As foldemup said, if the map isn't signed, it's not a permit. The regulations for that specific WMA are printed on the map. Reporting your deer and turkey is mandatory starting this season. But the link above is a good place to start. Even though you can print the map from your printer, the maps that the WMAs put out are much better than what I print from my printer.

One more thing. Some WMAs do require you to check in at the check station. At least on certain hunts. Again, I'm not sure about Skyline. But if they do require you check your deer, it will be spelled out on the map, in the regulations.

Thanks for the info, everyone. I'm going to go walk the ridgelines to look for the big ones.

Let us know what you think after you hoof it up them hills. It can be a sure enough chore to hunt and even bigger chore dragging a deer up there.
Good luck

Thanks! I hoofed a 9 point muley through the hills in Idaho. The torturous walk is part of the thrill for me. Maybe stupid, but it keeps my legs nice for bikini season.

You are gonna fit in just fine on aldeer

If you are familiar with Skyline area, go up hwy 79 into Tennessee. After you get into TN, there is a small road called Cave Springs Rd that goes back down into AL through little coon. In my experience that is a spot not many people go. You can turn left off of that main road and go down the mountain to the bottoms as well.

Thanks, Recurve. I'm going up this weekend to take a look. I check that out for sure. Do you need a 4x4 to get down there?

No problem. This was a few years ago when I hunted off that road and little coon, so there may be more people hunting it. I can't remember how far it is, but there is an oak flat down that road on your right that was always eaten up with sign. You'll go down a steeper incline and curve to the right before you get to it. I believe its also past the road on the left that goes down into the valley.

You will need 4wd if you go off down the mountain usually. But, right now with it being so dry you probably won't have to have a 4 wheeler. But, after it rains that trail turns into the thicket mud you've ever seen. There is actually a little gravel parking lot where most park and drive in on a 4 wheeler. I believe its right past the yellow gate telling you that you've made it back into Skyline.

BIKINI SEASON????