A fella can hunt a long time, on fine land in Alabama, and never see a 140" or larger deer. 90% of Alabama hunters will die having never seen a 140" deer. And it ain't because so many bucks get killed young (although I will agree that hurts, really hurts)....it's because they just ain't there. NO brag, but I've killed a butt-load of 4yr old and older bucks, only one of which was right at 140". In 20 years I might have seen 10 deer that would surpass 140", and I hunt 3+ days a week, every week, every year. I have paid $3500 and leased land by myself, from Cleburne Co to Macon Co, and son there just ain't many of those deer. The total majority of 5yr old Bama bucks will be "average mounters". Now I like to kill deer, and I won't normally kill 3.5yr old skinny racked bucks (killed one marginal this season), so I don't know that I'll ever walk a CLEARLY mature 120" buck.
I don't have a problem AT ALL with folks who like to target really big deer, but shoot fire guys, that's got to be crazy hard! I got invited to join a club in Dallas Co one time that had a 140" minimum....I just laughed. I asked them how many they killed last year, never did get a clear answer.
Oh, and I believe most bioloigsts will say this too: Genetics, genetics, genetics, and then age. (Not a believer in artificial nutrition) I see too many stud bucks killed on total trash land, telling me that God's natural palate is plenty good.

Heck just passing up 3.5 years is a good start for a lot of areas.

If you believe in genetics, genetics, genetics, have shot a butt-load of 4 year olds and only one 140"er and want to shoot more ya need to find another place to hunt. IMO of course.

Not sure if you're agreeing with me, or saying I should've killed more 140's??? I think we've got about 9 narratives going on in this one thread! Hehehehe! Seriously, if you have hunting club land in Alabama that you believe has a huntable population of 140+ deer, I'd like to hear more about it. Photos maybe? And not just that one deer we've all gotten on a trail cam and still talk about for years, but a high probability to see and kill some 140, 150, 160 deer most hunting seasons. Seriously, IF that's the case, memberships would be $10,000 a year, but more than likely someone would have turned it into a pay-hunt paradise. You realize most Midwestern outfitters don't have that kind of land, right? If you consider my math, I'm averaging seeing a 140+ deer about once every couple of seasons--In Alabama. Frankly I believe that's OUT-DADGUM-STANDING! I have had to hunt more than you can realize, all over half the state to do that.

No doubt the season needs to be changed to include as much as two weeks into February, I guess the question is what part of the state. Using the states own conception dates as guidance, it seems the entire state needs to be extended. Average conception date samples show in the following counties the average sample dates of conception:
Colbert County - Jan 28
Jackson County - Jan 23
Limestone County - Feb 9
Madison County - Jan 29
Perry County - Jan 27
Randolph County - Feb 6
Walker County - Feb 3

Because of the various stocking areas of deer with different genetic breeding dates it is almost impossible to break the state into two or three hunting zones to allow the hunters the ability to hunt the rut.

Genetics Shemetics. I'll bet the average south Alabama 3.5 yr old who has good natural forage and or crops to eat will be bigger racked than a 2.5 yr old N AL or TN deer living in marginal conditions.

I am NOT anti-feed. I am pro habitat and trigger restraint. That produces big deer.

That, and I'm too poor to feed deer. So are most other folks.

I am pro habitat and trigger restraint. That produces big deer.

ikillbux, there are plenty of properties that consistently produce and have huntable 140+ deer every season. EVERY season. No doubt most AL hunters will never see a 140", much less kill one, but there are certainly properties that produce them very regularly. Those properties do it without protein feed, supplements, or anything special. They just do it. I agree with 2dogs. If you are looking for 140" deer and have killed one in 20 years, I would be searching elsewhere.

It's not individual properties that do it, it's more like areas. Certain areas do it often. Find one and hunt it.