My point to the posts above was simple. If you control some or all of the major factors, then you can grow quality deer. It's not reasonable to assume that here in the Southeast, without the huge amounts of ag land in the Midwest, without the high mineral content of South Texas, and without the restrictive license policies in trophy areas, that we will ever see regular numbers of 150+ whitetail bucks.

Does anyone on here want to sign up for a deer program that requires you to apply for a tag to hunt? And maybe get drawn every other year?

What if the state were divided into zones, maybe as many as 60, and your tag was only good for your zone. No more hunting at home in Etowah County, running down to Sumter for a weekend with your buddy, or going to your brother's club in Opelika. That's what it's like for some of the states famous for monster deer. One tag, for one buck, in your area only. and you have to stop hunting when you fill your tag.

Alabama is where I started hunting deer, way back when a successful season might indicate that you actually SAW a deer, depending on where you lived. It is still my favorite place to hunt, because of the number of deer, and the ability to actually shoot some of them.

I think the zones really wouldn't be that bad but not 60. It's no secret that North Alabama doesn't have near the population that South Alabama does. I've seen South Alabama guys post about seeing 40 deer in the field at once. It would take years of strict management on a large piece of land to get those kind of numbers in North Alabama. The state is trying to get there with the doe day thing but personally I think there's still too many getting killed in North Alabama and way too many young bucks being killed. I understand most will disagree with me but that's just my opinion.

Yep no deer in N AL. They all died off. Better hunt S AL to see real good deer

I don't know what it takes to get to where you are seeing 40 deer/hunt but I know for a fact that at my house about 8-10 years ago I would hunt a lot and not see anything (200 acres). When I would see deer it would 1 or 2. Cameras were showing that I had zero groups of does only singles and pairs. As best I could tell I had maybe 7 does on the place (or at least that frequented the place).

So I quit shooting. I shot absolutely nothing for a few years, then adopted the mentality of a turkey hunter in that my few does were precious and if I wanted meat I shot a spike (that would likely get dispersed anyway).

I started to see a difference last year. I had multiple groups of 2-3 does and felt like I had at least double the does from before. And this year the difference is extremely noticeable I now have 4-6 (or more) does visiting every field regularly. If I have a good fawn survival this summer I "may" let my son shoot a doe at our house next year, if so it will be the first one killed in probably a decade.

40 deer in a hunt is crazy i probably dont see 40 deer in a season

Heck, I've seen over 200 deer in one afternoon hunt before.....

you need to quit eating the mushrooms on the way to the stand

got dang paw paw

How is 200 deer in one area, or even 40, a healthy and/or balanced population on a per-acre basis? How is that a management goal for anyone truly interested in conservation?

you got something to say, say it in English bud. and I don't take well to being called a liar, thats twice by you. I wouldn't do it again.

actually I saw over 250 deer in less than 2 hours on a place I lived on in Hale Co, right before dark during deer season.

dang Clem, who said it was sound management? zi just telling ya what was on that place, Port Royale, in 1985 er so.

heck, I saw over 150 deer in ONE winter wheat field one evening at Nanafilia, Horse Creek HC, late 70's. Hunting with Dave Barr Tutt.

It's not. That's why ALFA, ahem, I mean the DCNR changed the seasons to drastically lower the populations. It aint hard to figure out, follow the money.

BTW phuck tropy hunting!

That's the issue. It's not sound management, but a lot of people "just like to see a lot of deer" and don't care about the management aspect.

They're happy with overpopulated deer so they can see a bazillion of them, then not pull the trigger.

And I have no doubt of your numbers from those days years ago. Those were different times, for sure.

You are correct, Sir. I guess the reason those folks just don't go to the zoo is the zoo has a low population .

Just don’t come too far South and West Mobile County is a wasteland as for as deer population goes.

Those days are long gone for most of the State. Now a lot of people just wish they could see 40 in a season lol

Ive seen 75 in a fld in Nanafalia, over 100 in a Fld in Washington County. We consistently see 20 an afternoon on our farms in Wilcox, and Butler County. So those days aren't long gone for this state you just have to be patient and put in place a management plan. Bhamfred, Mr Tutt was one of my Grandfathers best friends God rest his soul. We actually bought our place in Wilcox County from him 20 yrs ago.

I am guessing he is either fishing or is young and doesn't have a clue about the blackbelt in the 80s.