We didn’t hunt off of them, but we used to use em on Choccolocca when I was in high school. Old man I hunted with a fine pair of mules “sally and Suzy” If we killed one, use young boys would go get his mule, usually sally she was easier to catch, take it back up and drag out the deer with it. Never was sure If that was legal but it was sure easier. Lol

Unless there’s some freaky rule saying you have to bring it out whole, that’s dumb.

They could be of great help up here too, but I've never known of anyone using them. Most folks up here gut them and go down hill if they aren't close to a road or can't get a 4 wheeler close. Used to be a group of coonhunters hunted off mules up here , but I reckon it was a passing fad.

Don't know bout quartering , but I'd dang sure gut them.

Packing them out is way faster and easier than dragging all day. Fo sho

On a WMA; they have to come out whole. Unless they have changed the rules. No 4 wheelers off open roads.

On a WMA; they have to come out whole.
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When did that law get put in place? It must have been recently.

They have to come out whole on mandatory check-in days since they weigh them. I've asked about packing them out on non-mandatory check-in days and got mixed responses, but I don't see how you could ticketed as it isn't in the regs.

Not the one I’ve hunted.

Correction; Bringing out whole only applies to mandatory check in days

Can you still gut them in the woods?

Yes. That is not a problem.

That must be WMA specific.

You would be correct.

I don't know if it's a rule, or just a common sense "case by case" exception if you ask, but I've used a 4wheeler twice at Choccolocco to retrieve deer. Both time I was muzzleloader hunting alone during the week, both deer were extremely far from any road, in steep terrain, would've been basically impossible by myself even with a wheeled cart. Each time I contacted the WMA officials and they granted me permission. This was also about 10+ years ago (maybe 12-15 years ago), so who knows if they'd still do that today.

I've always assumed someone like Perry is consumed with hunting. What I mean is it's the only outdoor hobby they have, it's what they do and who they are 24/7/365. I usually lose interest in deer and start fishing by mid January, and give ZERO thought to deer hunting until October again. I don't Summer scout or anything like that (I might make some mental notes of stuff I find in Spring turkey season, but that's all). I know guys (like Perry) who don't fish or do anything else....they are deer-focused-101%, period. They walk ridges in the Summer, run cameras, do all sorts of crazy stuff on rugged public land even in 100 degree July. We're stopping on our first tournament hole on a Saturday morning in August, and they're already three ridges deep checking cameras and hanging a loc-on that same morning. They are shooting bows all Summer, going to the shooting range with a new scope, it's complete obsession. They probably take a few out of state hunting trips for other species in the parts of the year when it's not deer season in Alabama, like I say, hunting is what they do! And most of these guys are single, or have a wife who also hunts, otherwise nobody would tolerate the obsessive devotion they give to hunting deer.

When I kill a deer on public land, I'm just as surprised as the deer was

The unifying factor that most consistently successful public land hunters seem to have is time. Unlimited time in the woods seems to be the key to success. I don't have that kind of time to throw at it and I would bet most people are in the same boat.

Unless I missed it, Black Warrior WMA wasn’t one of them that required it. Maybe someone can post a link for the rule.

How does he get the deer out?

Agree 100%. A box stand on a green patch just seems awkward.

The thing is he said he's watched this deer for 2 years