I just wonder where this state sits as to being ready for an actual tag system where you phone/online check in and an actual tag put on the deer? There are still so many printing out duplicate sheets for more than 3 bucks, this we got now seems like it is getting abused more every year.

Won't happen.

I have heard lots of rumors about next year. A 3 buck honor system is useless.

never happen.

I don't think that tag system is the answer. I think that we need a telecheck system (phone check in). I also think it is time to limit doe harvest. Too many numbers hunters out there.

I think telechek is closer to reality than any kind of paper tagging system. For near future, online registration of kill data at outdooralabama.com is as close as we'll get to legitimate data collection.
Also believe state hopes renewed interest in updated, comprehensive FREE DMAP program will result in more data with better accuracy.
Since Gunter Guy took over, I know wildlife biologists have been required to do more with data collection than they ever have.
In southwest part of the state, a greater focus on mean conception date determination is a priority.
That obviously comes in the wake of the push to extend the deer season into February, but at least the state is spending the resources to collect the necessary information.
Main issue I see with a tagging system as some of you may be familiar with from hunting in other states is that participation is relatively low, even in some northern states where it's mandatory.
I have hunted in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia. All have tagging and/or mandatory check-in requirements.
Truth is, if I didn't want to check in the deer I killed, there was nothing but my conscience to keep me from doing so.
Fines are stiff if caught with an unregistered deer, but apparently folks are still willing to risk it.
Alabama's argument has always been why should the conservation department risk resources such as money and labor in a system that does not guarantee the expected rewards of greater returns of data.
Bottomline for me is that individual hunting clubs are going to have to commit to providing more harvest data to the state either through participation in DMAP or by convincing members to use the existing online portal. Both will achieve the desired effect of helping the state better manage the herd without creating another layer of expensive government.
Just my .02 cents.

Because there is little honor left in people.

I've been an outspoken critic of the DCNR's efforts to manage deer on privately owned and leased lands through mandatory regulation and restrictions from the start. It's not authorized by law, and it's one step among others in the wrong direction in recent years.

I sat with Chris Cook and the president of our club/lease one day recently and shared with him more than 12 years of a combination of official DMAP logs and identical logs we have kept since pulling out of DMAP. We have cooperated with state biologists and followed their reccommendations for our lease as long as I have been there, and before.

Deer management should be site-specific and flexible, and it should be a cooperative effort. What we need to do in NE Tuscaloosa County is far different from what should be done in Marengo County for example. DMAP is the proper way to do it, and such cooperative programs are exactly what the law encourages.

There is no reason why the Commissioner cannot issue buck tags under DMAP the same way that doe tags are issued. An individual statewide buck limit is worthless and infringes on the right to hunt. Property-specific buck tags issued under DMAP would preserve the hunter's rights while properly protecting the species in a cooperative effort. Fellow hunters would do a great job of policing the other participants in the program without much if any need to tie up game wardens when they need to be working on real and critical threats to our game and fish. I've never shared a hunting lease that didn't provide their own fines and penalties when the club/lease rules were broken.

DMAP for both sexes of deer is the right answer.

I also think it is time to limit doe harvest.


I agree 100% there.

In some areas, like mine, if the state doesn't step in soon, they're going to be restocking deer again in a few years.

The perception is the risk isn't too great.

When I was with a crew hunting in Iowa a few years ago, we were pretty mindful of reminding each other to tag the deer before moving it. Not at the hotel or farmhouse or processor ... had to be tagged before moving, with the physical tag.

I wouldn't say we were poopin' in our drawers about it, but we were concerned about the ramifications of dealing with the possum po-po if we were negligent. We were reminded by our hosts to not forget to tag the animal. They don't mess around there, or that was what we believed.

In Alabama? I don't think anyone worries about it, especially when you could print three, five, 10 "harvest reports" and keep right on going along.

Just as a side note and not to derail this thread, but I am really interested in what Auburn finds over the course of the research on coyote impacts on fawn recruitment that is set to begin in early spring 2013.
I think it's safe to say there is a great impact and if/when the research bears that out, it will be interesting to see how the state takes it into consideration when setting seasons and bag limits.
I do agree with 49er in that any management based on results of this coyote research should be site-specific.
I don't think anyone would want to be penalized if coyote predation is not a problem where they hunt but blanket rules are enacted just because coyotes are killing a disproportionate number of fawns in the county next door or several counties removed.
I have no doubt that coyote predation on deer and other animals will soon be part of the discussion when setting our seasons and bag limits.
Perhaps as part of the new DMAP, coyote info such as number of sightings, hunter kills, known predation incidents and other related info should be included.
I'll have to call Gary Moody and check on that.

I hope we're close to some other system. Not many folks have any conscious nowadays.

In Alabama the 5 bird turkey limit has been on the honor system as long as I can remember, yet I've never heard of a push for a turkey tagging system. I guess they are more honorable turkey hunters than deer hunters in Bama.

The turkey hunters that I know police themselves/each other. Anybody shoots one over and they'll get turned in or a good ol boy butt whipping.

Most common refrain I've ever heard is "Stuck on four, still trying."

+1 on both counts.

I do not want to have to take my deer to a check station or worry about checking them in online. How many people honestly want to drive an hour one way to the nearest check station at 6pm after a hunt to check in a deer? How many people have access to the internet at the hunting club? If people are cheating on the 3 buck system in the club you hunt then deal with them. Public land should be dealt with by the wardens. Not sure I know of anyone who has killed more than 3 bucks on public land in a long time.

The problem is not guys in clubs that the members don't deal with its the guys that kill 3 in a club and more on private land that is never talked about. Some kind of hard tags are needed

You have a neighbor near you that needs limiting for sure. The son is finally seeing the light, I doubt dad ever will.