The state dnr is almost a joke
The cab is a dog and pony show could be good but no sense in them really existing because decisions are made or things decided before the meeting so really no need to have a meeting and listen to what folks say when it falls on dead ears or closed minds.
Most wardens are doing a job they chose and enjoy and are fair in doing there job some like all law enforcement are on a power Trip but most are good people that are under paid same for the biologists
Sykes needs to be gone as he is detrimental to the dept and to the hunting industry in Alabama as a whole.
Alabama does a poor job in managing wildlife in this state...especially deer, a deer herd can't be managed state wide it's got to be done at the most by county.
Game check is a failure yet they still use it.
This whole cwd scam i(will go the same path as swine flu,coronavirus,)isn't helping things but yet you never hear talk about ehd which is in Alabama
Overall if I was gone grade them I would say 3 or 4 at best
Changes need to be made to some things I have a few ideas that I believe would help the area I hunt.
And possibly other areas of the state.

A few things come to mind: Return the close date of deer season in North Alabama to January 31st, at least in Morgan County. Fully staff the enforcement section by filling all vacant warden spots in every county and then add two more GW's per county. Increase focus on youth hunting and fishing programs along with recruitment. Department, along with Forever Wild, should continue to expand opportunities for public land hunting/access.

Make me more deers an tukeezizz in the marshall

1. Are the biologist really in tune with deer density in their respective area?
2. Does the department listen to biologist and their recommendations?

I have no major problems personally. Only questioning the small density numbers in some areas in Madison and Jackson counties.

Should be made legal. Should not have to pay for the "privilege" of hunting over a food source.

What would you like to see changed?

Not for me to say, I was on the inside looking out. Those on the outside looking in , more qualified to make those suggestions, I am like the officer in Crenshaw ,as my career went forward I came to realize that I worked for the hunters and fisherman. We were all in it together. I haven't been gone long enough to have clarity on what changes would benefit both the Dept and the hunters. I believe any change should benefit both mutually, with the resources well-being, being of the utmost concern. Thats a difficult balance, so I think maybe , sometimes the powers that be, should be given the chance to explain their reasoning on any changes. Never going to make everyone happy.

With what you've seen posted, so far, do you think anything could be done or would be beneficial to accomplish the concerns?

Basically, has the responses been helpful?

The responses seem reasonable to me, especially those concerning season suggestions in different regions of the state. I do not know enough about the places that were mentioned. The biologists would be the ones with the expertise to answer those. I just asked this question out of curiosity . I have no axe to grind, or agenda. Was just curious as how the Dept I worked for for 30 years was perceived by the hunting public.

I'd like to see deer season end January 31st.

Being a recently retiree of 30 years, I was just curious about the things you’ve seen come and go in the Department. I was just curious of what you would’ve liked to seen brought back or done away with.

Either sex up to Thanksgiving then close it and reopen it for a week of Christmas
Close it Feb 5
Put a limit on doe kills leave buck limit at 3
Until the numbers recover then evaluate bag limits as needed
That would be a good start

I don't believe I can give an educated response, at this time. Bout the only thing I could say is that I would hope that everyone involved could be open minded and try to put themselves in each other's shoes. What I mean by that is the Dept should put themselves in the hunters shoes, and hunters should do the same ,with the overall goal of what's best for the resource. The resource has always been the most important thing to me and to all those I knew who worked with me and before me. I am not saying that the Dept has not been listening with an open mind. I was never at any advisory board meetings.

Local GW's get a 10,everyone else maybe a 3.All the corn money is for hiring people to pick up all the empty corn sacks on the side of the road!!

Some very good points made by Ar1220...I think the buck limit to 3 has really helped the quality of bucks being killed nowadays but this doe slaughterfest where I’ve seen numbers around Tuscaloosa and other places I hunt just diminish has got to stop...having the longest gun season around plus 2 does a day plus corn is exactly what the insurance companies want with no regard to those who hunt.

Also, I want to see us enforce and strengthen our poaching fines like they do in Kansas where they seem to care more about the hunter and less about the powers within. I mean it’s a joke here...

Turkeys? What turkeys? Why the push back in season that when questioned, officials said it was to make it fair that others weren’t getting to hunt midweek before others...all the tax money spent on “research” by the Auburn University people has literally done nothing to help our turkey population...should have used that money to set up a program that puts an incentive to trap nest predators if they actually cared about our turkeys

My two cents...

A statement, then a question.

I do not know Chuck Sykes nor anyone whatsoever in the DCNR. I have never known anyone in the DCNR. I don't work in a business where I have any common ground with DCNR dealings. What I'm saying is I don't pretend to know how a DCNR works, and I always wonder how and why so many people on this site do? Y'all make some passionate, angry accusations against the department as a whole, as if you have deep and complex knowledge of it. Maybe you do, I just don't know how or why.

My question is what does Sykes (or the DCNR) do or not do that you just cannot stand? This isn't me arguing with you, like I said I sincerely don't know (and frankly almost couldn't care less). It seems the biggest problem I see hunters complaining about nowadays is the doe harvest, but that was done by the previous regime. From a low-information viewpoint (which is what I am, along with 99.9% of all other hunters in Alabama) it APPEARS that the current administration is trying to improve the herd structure (my words). I've read the responses above and they are all just "generic", I can't ascertain what specifically he is doing wrong.

Read "Entitlement programs in wildlife management". Remember when reading, the subject of buying license is...meh. We can discuss it. I have a Lifetime license so I would pay little attention to it. But I am a landowner and to be referred to as no better the thug in the hood, on my entitlement program. I have spent thousands and thousands of dollars and hours on the wildlife on my properties. Have worked my a$$ off for over 40 years for the wildlife. Granted, I did it by choice and don't expect a "thank you" but I dang sure don't expect to be belittled for it. Really, does any hunter in Alabama feel a soldier home on leave from fighting in Afghanistan or a wheelchair bound 8 year old that wants to go hunting as being on an "Entitlement program" because they are not required to have a license. Really? Do you? Chuck Sykes does!!

The February deer season extension in North zone has been highly discussed topic. Some of the biologist at least, maybe all, we're against this move. The one I spoke with was adamant against it. Against it with biology to back it up. But the DCNR led by Sykes who is a biologist chose to go against biology. Do we need someone over the States resources who will go against biology in decision making.

The CAB meeting delaying Turkey season. There was a female CAB meeting that was new to the board. I was told before the meeting she had taken a new job and moved to Georgia meaning no longer a resident of Alabama. Was that true? I don't know. But at the meeting she proposed delaying the start of Turkey season. It was excepted. After the meeting she resigned from board spot and.....you guessed it, moved to Georgia at a new job. Sure reeked of a Georgia resident sitting on the Alabama CAB and making decisions for us Alabama hunters. If what I knew was true, should we think no one else on the CAB or DCNR knew she had moved out of state?

I will give my answer to that statement. These are the folks ,who regardless of their expertise about DCNR workings are entitled to their opinion valid ,not valid, stupid ,brilliant or otherwise. They pay for it. DCNR is wholly funded by their dollars in one form or the other. Conservation is a user pay model. Also ,everyone that works for Conservation is a govt employee and govt is for the people , by the people. My experience through the years taught me that being criticized went with the job, and that the folks were entitled to do so. It helped me become better, showed me where I needed to be better. I made plenty of mistakes and hope I learned from them. The biggest I made was,I didn't do good job relating, conversating with the public, which alot of the time is all they want, just your time to discuss what concerns them and for you to take it seriously.

I will add that, maybe folks should give Chuck the benefit of the doubt, he came from the private sector with no experience, he has had to learn as he went in the most high profile job in the Department. He is still learning how to do that job better. I am sure. He has given the hunters alot of what I heard them asking for through the years, legal feeding during hunting season, February season and finally legal baiting. Those are some of the things I heard from the time I went to work in Jan 1990. I was a big Charles Kelly fan, but Charles had a wealth of experience before he got the Director job.Chuck has been there less than 10 years. I say give him the benefit of the doubt a little longer. Not required to. I understand and respect that, just remember he is still learning. Took me at least 18 to 20 years to truly understand my role as an officer. I am a slow learner