From bamaeyedoc:

Alabama deer season would be extended into February if bill passes

The opportunity to hunt all phases of south Alabama'€™s white-tailed deer breeding season is the driving force behind an effort to get state conservation department officials to extend the season to Feb. 15, organizers say. (File Photo)
A bill reauthorizing funding for the Forever Wild program, and another that would extend the state's deer season into February and legalize hunting deer over bait, could get a hearing in the Alabama Legislature this year.

On the first day of the 2011 session, Rep. Randy Davis, R-Daphne, filed a bill that would continue funding the land-acquisition provision of Forever Wild at its current level through 2032. Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Opelika, introduced a bill setting regular deer gun season from early November to 2 weeks into February. It would also legalize baiting deer during hunting season.

Two southwest Alabama co-sponsors of Whatley's bill, Sen. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, and Sen. Rusty Glover, R-Mobile, believe the bill is a way to begin seriously discussing extending deer season into February so hunters in the southern part of the state can take full advantage of the rut.

"I think white-tailed deer season is long enough, if not too long," said Keahey, who is a deer hunter, "but the problem is that white-tailed deer hunters are not able to hunt during all parts of the rut."

Keahey said he has already spoken to conservation commissioner N. Gunter Guy Jr. about scheduling gun season to come in through Thanksgiving so families can enjoy that traditional time in the woods together, then closing it up to three weeks in December. His plan would reopen the season before the Christmas holidays and close it on Valentine's Day.

Could muzzle-loader use spur spending by Alabama hunters?


Keahey supports the use of muzzle-loaders only in the first 2 weeks of February if the season is extended. He said that would spur economic activity since hunters who don't already have such a weapon would likely buy one.

"I think the help extending the season would provide to our economy locally would trump any reason not to have a muzzle-loader season in February," he said.

Keahey added that he would be willing to consider allowing dog deer hunting throughout December so those hunters wouldn't lose any more days in the woods. Dog deer hunting ends on Jan. 15 while stalk hunting only continues through Jan. 31.

Glover said he would allow hunters to choose the weapon they use during the extended season.

Twenty-nine representatives and 5 senators had signed on as co-sponsors of the Forever Wild reauthorization bills when they were filed. Forever Wild funding also has the support of newly inaugurated Gov. Robert Bentley.

The land-acquisition program, which has existed since 1992, receives 10 percent of the investment income earned on oil and gas royalties deposited into the Alabama Trust Fund. Funding is capped at $15 million annually.

The land-acquisition funding mechanism expires in 2012.

Greg Lein, the assistant director of the State Lands Division, said through September 2010 that Forever Wild has used the $164 million it's received to purchase 220,000 acres of land in 32 tracts across the state. The vast majority of the land is open for public recreational use, and 184,000 acres can be hunted.

About one-third of the funds came from federal grant programs such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Forest Legacy Program.

"We've married Forever Wild to those federal grant programs and really have been able to leverage the state's investment," Lein said. "Without that seed money, there are no federal programs except the Coastal Impact Assistance Program where you don't have to have a match. That's what makes Alabama unique. We had a ready source of matching funds."

Lein said if funding is not renewed, no new land could be purchased but a separate Forever Wild stewardship account would still receive enough money to maintain areas already in the program.

"It'd be a hell of a shame if it wasn't reauthorized," Lein said. "I don't think anyone wants that. This could be an opportunity to feel good about something in these difficult economic times."

Related topics: Forever Wild, Rep. Randy Davis (R-Daphne), Sen. Scott Beason (R-Gardendale), Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Opelika)