I'm sure you've killed some studs...my point is the guy that's trying to kick start this project seems to want to kill 170+ bucks on somewhat of a regular basis and seems to be a pure antler hunter, not a mature buck hunter. Just aint going to happen in Al. regardless of how old they are.

I would flip those. I've seen many, many locations with more than adequate numbers of mature bucks, yet those buck aren't growing large racks. Why? Lack of nutriton. Nutrition is #1 in growing large antlers. Age is #2. And before anyone says you can't grow large antler on young bucks no matter how good the nutrition, you need to work with me in KY and IL, and see the number of 150+ 3 1/2 and even 2 1/2 year-old bucks those areas are producing.

no offense, but your opinion and view on the topic is a little biased, isn't it? I have no personal issue with what y'all do as long as you keep it in a fence, but what you do and what we (free range) landowners do shouldn't be mixed and mingled...

I might be missing something, but the difference is their deer are in a fence... can't mingle with the native deer... and it's illegal, by the way, to bring bucks from other states, isn't it????

They aren't bringing in any deer from out of the state. That is illegal. Thousands of deer are released in Alabama every year that are bought from breeder facilities. They are released in high fences and in the wild. I know people who do this every year and has been going on for over 15 years now. The breeding facilities are state regulated.

For the post on these deer being in a high fence, last time I checked a wire fence didn't stop any disease, so my original question stands. why is this any different that releasing them in a high fence? And don't tell me they don't mingle with other deer, EHD is transmitted through insects bites.

Bryan, You are obviously a big supporter and sponsor member of QDMA. I understand your stance since the QDMA is against deer breeding operations. But here is my question. There is a guy in Marengo County named Mark Buxton. He speaks at many QDMA events and has even been given awards. He buys and releases many deer into Marengo County and even operates a small breeding facility on one of his management properties. Why doesn't QDMA come out against him. He has been doing this for years and still gets asked to speak at QDMA functions. Seems very hypocritical to me.

Longbow, I think you know exactly who bsk is. You show up here and immediately dive into this debate? What is your agenda? What stake do you have in this? If we are going to debate then lets atleast be honest about where our loyalties lie.

Could the agenda be someone that want's to make a lot of $ selling deer and could care less about the wild herd or average Joe hunter?

That encompasses everyone involved in the deer farming and penned "big buck" industry. And no one should forget that any harm done to wild deer populations by these industries helps these industries. Why wouldn't they want to corner the hunting market? They have absolutely no vested interest in protecting the wild deer populations from any harm they might do.

longbow76,

My opinions are my opinions. I do not represent the QDMA. I have been and still am a member and supporter of that organization. However, I do not agree with everything the organization does.

Bill, I live in Marengo County. That is where my loyalties lie. When I first heard about this project I was skeptical and had some of the same thoughts you all do, but being a resident here I felt like I should research what they are doing before I made any assumptions. There is no scientific evidence whatsoever that supports BSK's claim that this could be dangerous. A lot of quotes being used from people at the state are being taken out of context. From what I am hearing around town, you will see something in the paper in the next couple of weeks that has the real story of what Dr. Ditchcoff(spelling) and others in the State have to say about this, and it doesn't line up with what QDMA is reporting.

And there isn't anyone here who has told me why this is any different than what private landowners are doing in the state already. There are already lots of these deer being released into the wild all over the state. They have been doing it for over 15 years. Also, quail, bass, ducks, and various other animals are raised and released on a much larger scale than deer in Alabama. Why is that ok but not deer? I think you are barking up the wrong tree by attacking the guys who are trying to help out a poor community by adding some excitement and interest in one of the county's only revenue streams. If you have a problem with it, you should be talking about the state laws, not the people who follow them.

Let me get this straight, private landowners have been turning pen raised deer loose in Alabama for over 15 years. Who, where and more importantly, where did the deer come from , and where did the breeder deer for those turned loose come from? Has this improved genetics at all? Any data?

Provide specifics -- not just "a lot of people" but specifics -- on these two things:

-- those who have turned loose deer in the last 15 years "all over the state"

-- who in "the state" cleared this Big Buck project, because the DCNR says they have not and were not contacted.

The more longbow talks the clearer his identity ,and agenda, is becoming

Most of the questions you are asking are on their website. And you should just pick up the phone and call them if you want to know instead of assuming, that is what I did. If you look on the front page of their website there is a guy named Roy Jordan who has been doing it for years. Look him up and call him, I know him personally, he studied genetics at Auburn. He is a well known cattelman in our area.

On the second question, just pick up the phone and call Tutt Land Company and those guys will give you all the information you are making up things about, as well as the person with the state that this was cleared through. Those guys don't have anything to hide and enjoyed talking to us about it. They are aware of the criticism and said they didn't mind if anyone calls and asks them questions about it. They were very transparent with me. Just call them instead of assuming on this blog. Then come back on here and I will discuss it with you after you know exactly what they are doing and trying to accomplish. If you don't have a different outlook, I will respect your disagreement, but I for one am in favor of their efforts.

If these deer come from Alabama that are being released, that should show anybody that this project will not work.If they could not grow TROPHY antlers in the wild but they can in a fence,why do they think they can be turned loose and now they are going to improve the deer herd!?!? I ain't the smartest fellow around,but it don't take a genetic's phd to see this.I'm just a dumb ole doghunter.

Because they are not the same bloodlines. The breeder buck was the child of an Alabama doe that was inseminated with semen from a huge buck from somewhere else. In other words, his daddy wasn't from Alabama, but his mama was. You can import semen, just not live animals.

Also, I saw a quail hunt in Alabama where the quail were bought and the property was populated with pen raised quail. How is that any different?+

Longbow , you keep saying "they" when it looks like you mean "I."