Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Club rules on antlers

This is FAR from truth in a huge part of AL.

Hmm. Interesting. Plenty of 5 year old bucks in Alabama that are 120”

Plenty more mature bucks in Alabama that will never see 120 unless it’s on a scale.

FIFY

Antler restrictions of any kind just allow old crappy bucks to continue to grow old and crappy, and young superstars to get shot as soon as possible.

Yes, agreed. I just threw out a number. I don’t know why everybody thinks that if we just let a buck get old he’s gonna be a “trophy” deer.

Many many years ago we shot most any good 6 or better. My grandpa was a hunter that did not discriminate much. After the grandkids started laying everything down he imposed a 3 on one side rule. I’d have to say that over all I think it helped. Now back then we used to see 40+ deer in a one acre plot on many evenings. These days we see 2-10 maybe. I’m sure that is caused by many other factors surrounding us but I’d say land size, neighbors, and genetics play a part
In your management program.

I’m with you. I killed a great 3 maybe 4 yo. This year with a bigger rack than most way more mature deer for our area. I’ve got several smaller racks on camera that I would be just as happy killing that are way more mature.

These were some numbers from a study that was conducted in MS of what a deer would score at the age of five if he could live that long. What you have to take into consideration also is most of those that could have reached 140-150-160 more than likely get killed as a 120” three year old. I would say these numbers would be pretty close for most of Alabama. People have to have realistic expectations of what the potential is for bucks in this state.
60s - 1%
70s - 2%
80s - 4%
90s - 5%
100s - 15%
110s - 23%
120s - 24%
130s - 16%
140s - 7%
150s - 2%
160s - 1%

The guidelines on my place is 4.5 yr old, 180 lbs or 110” any one and your good.

I seen two deer standing next to each other one year not no further than 25 yards, both 8 points, one would be lucky to score 100" the other was taken 2 weeks later and scored 139 B&C. The latter was not even a 4 yr. old according to the jawbone test. What if this deer was in an area it could have grown to age 7, which is the age studies have shown they grow their best set of antlers then it could have well been a 200" deer.

120" minimum or a mature deer. Mature deer trumps any size requirement.

It's crossed my mind in the past to make it mature deer only and have members take and pass a flashcard quiz to identify mature deer before they can hunt.

Some interesting stuff in this thread

Rules are for guys that you don't trust to do right. Get rid of those guys and your drama and rules go away. On my leases we just shoot what makes us happy.I
Some of y'all need to remember it's just a Damn deer.

helped a guy get one to a processor in north al this week.Probably 10 older mature bucks in cooler none of them were big symetrical antlers that you would really want to mount.Plus some were smelling pretty stout and sure wasnt going to be the best eating.Everybody getts excited by big antlers but if you dont have a huge amount of land its hard to manage for that.

There’s a club right up road from my house that has 200lb cow horns walking around you can’t shoot because such rules

One club is four on one side and minimum 13” inside spread.

My other place we are pushing for 4+ harvest but if he meets one of the following below you’re good to go. We do have an approved cull bucks list with pics that we allow the members to shoot as well.

15” inside spread
20” main beam
4.5” base
185lbs

12" inside

For people that know what they’re doing. 4.5 years old. For guest or people that can’t age 8 points and outside the ears

This