Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Public land reports

Just wondering what everyone’s experience on public has been so far. For me; Cahaba WMA lots of acorns, sign and deer since archery-Lowndes WMA had lots of acorns, not much deer seen and only fair amount of sign including pig. Talladega near sillycauga few acorns, no deer seen yet but decent sign. Tuskegee had few acorns, little deer or pig sign and no sightings. Wheeler had loads of acorns, sign and saw deer regularly. I mainly have hunted Wheeler and cahaba.

I have yet to see a deer on any Alabama public land in the last ten years of hunting. There are literally zero deer on much of the states public land and even fewer turkeys

I saw plenty early season. It turned warm and they shut down.

I hunt Bankhead and Mullberry in addition to two leases. One lease adjoins Mullberry WMA. There’s a 40 acre 7 year old cutover on Mullberry that is a HUGE bedding area. Not uncommon to see 8-10 deer watching one edge of that 40. Got a couple spots in Bankhead that produces sightings 80% of the time.

I’ll ride the dirt roads in and around the management areas/forest after a good rain. Gives me a chance to “speed” scout sone areas by finding fresh tracks. From there I’ll look at a topo and sat map and try and find funnels on those trails. I’ve had pretty good success doing this then going back and actually seeing deer.

You might want to rethink your tactics.

Cahaba - 2 sits, plenty of coyote sign, little deer sign, seen zero deer, weather was cold. Hollins - 2 sits, seen zero deer, weather was cold. Sam Murphy - 3 sits, 1 was rainy and 2 were cold. The most deer sign I've seen but seen zero deer. Mulberry Fork - 2 sits, lots of deer sign, weather was warm, seen 2 does.

Nah it’s really just that bad. I’ve tried everything

You hunting Mullberry?

Down year for me.

I haven't hunted Wheeler since early season but I last year I saw deer every sit, this year I haven't seen one out there.

Perdido River: 8 sits, one sit saw 6 does and missed one, one sit killed a coyote. Other than that not much sign and even less movement.

That’s good stuff. I hunted Bankhead pretty intensely for first couple weeks of gun season several years in a row. Had a couple decent spots that are hard to hunt. Shot an 11 point around 168” at high noon. When I hunt there, I try to hunt all day.

Skyline is empty. Having to many gun hunts and people joy riding on four wheelers

I know for a fact two bucks were taken Sunday morning near the gas pipe line. They are out there.

I know for a fact two bucks were taken Sunday morning near the gas pipe line. They are out there at Cahaba WMA

Years of either sex gun hunts and clubs surrounding it legally feeding corn has made it pitiful.

4 sits at Talladega NF. Seen a couple of does. Acorns have been scarce but lots of sign.

I have been surprised at how few deer I've seen in Talledega NF during turkey season. It kept me from ever deer hunting there. Plus, where I did see them I'd rather not have to deal with getting one out.

Hunted Bankhead and Sam Murphy this year. So far seen deer probably 60-70% of my sits. Shot two does and should have a third. Shot a basket rack buck that I couldn't find:( Possibility he survived. Neck shot at 10-12 yards, scared he was gonna see me and spook before giving me a vitals shot but should have waited. Passed completely thru, found the arrow about 40 yards down trail but very little blood. The way he responded when he ran off didn't look to injured.
Seen a second niceish buck, but about dark and about 50 yards.
All the above on public land. Some of these places take work, but they're there, Nightwatchman, just got to find them.

Sometimes.... I have hunted just about every WMA in this state and one doesnt seem to be much better than another