Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum New Season Date Proposal

This weekend should be a nice one weather wise, so those numbers should show an uptick, last weekend of the season too....

Here's something for you to ponder on CNC. If you'll notice, the counties that are really down are essentially the entire blackbelt counties from one side of the state to the other. Counties to the north of the BB have harvest rates that are up, with the further north you move from the BB the better it looks, and the counties to the south of the BB have harvest rates that are somewhat lower but appear to be staying pretty stable. It also looks like the SW is down more than the eastern side of blackbelt That to me would indicate that it's something specific to just the BB and not Covid or corn related.

I feel like legalizing corn just about had to have had an impact. To say that you suddenly let everyone sit over a pile a corn and it doesnt change anything just doesnt seem at all realisitic.....What I do wonder though is if it had an equal impact across the board or if some areas were more heavily impacted than others for whatever reason??

Another variable to throw into the mix that might account for a county like Dallas showing a dramatic decrease is disease......Maybe that had a major EHD outbreak or something

JFC

This is something to consider about how the baiting may be impacting one area differently than the other. The graph represent what I think you would likely see after baiting is legalized…..A spike in the number of deer killed initially followed by a decline then a new stable line at some point…..the amount of decrease is questionable. What could possibly happen is that some of us are at different points in this process due to habitat fragmentation. The numbers we’re seeing in north Alabama may not be as great as the map makes it look currently if they are still in the upward swing and the decline is yet to come. Baiting in most of north Alabama should spread the deer out more and allow each small property to have a greater impact.

That's a cute graph.

Based on ZERO quantitative data...

Here's a few examples.....These are the numbers for the last three seasons for these individual counties.....What does that graph line look like to you??


Butler Co
3549....... 3803....... 2740

Clarke
4612....... 4959....... 3553

Dallas
5363....... 5578....... 3804

Monroe
3488....... 3539....... 2531

Wilcox
3647....... 3789....... 2753

You're making suppositions based on nothing but your own biased views. There is no causal link between your theory on corn use and harvest rates. There could be several reasons for the current lower numbers in southern counties, primarily the late January/early February rut in many of these areas.

The current data shows virtually all northern counties with harvest rates (according to Chucky Check) at or above last years.

Got a graph for that or do you just want to cherry pick a small sampling to support your hypothetical BS?

Harvest numbers can and do vary due to a multitude of influences stretching beyond a direct population correlation. More hunters equal more game taken, fewer hunters, less taken. Poor weather during the rut, fewer taken. Great weather during the rut, more taken. Hunter burnout…. Tired of dragging deer, cleaning deer, or paying for processing (especially in this economy and current high as heck processing fees). “ Trophy hunting” as opposed to filling the freezer. This list can go on and on but the point is made. What can’t be made is an assumed cause because of a “perceived” pattern. Perceived patterns within a relatively short time span generally lead to incorrect assumptions of cause. Global warming is an example of seeing something that doesn’t exist. Wait long enough and you’ll likely see a cycle.

Here’s you a few more……The graph is the same graph as the one above that you liked. Again, I would suspect that we arent all going to follow it the exact same due to differences in things like hunter density and average property size. Next year will really be a telling year

Autauga
2590....... 2956....... 2374

Baldwin
5328....... 5748....... 4379

Barbour
4152....... 4273....... 3591

Coffee
1910....... 2101....... 1662

Conecuh
2958....... 2994....... 2328

Crenshaw
2934....... 3088....... 2348

I would bet that Baldwin goes up big time this week

Our deer rut hard during the month of December so this whole concept is a big NO for me.

Just further evidence to add to the list of my disdain and displeasure with the Feb extension in North AL. Never should’ve happened.

Were seeing more hunters like it’s opening day traffic. Last 2weeks and the next weeks folks will be after them. Killing hard working buck trying to spread the love.

Lots of factors on why the numbers differ year to year. One that affected me personally and maybe others. Christmas and new year's eve/day were both on a weekend. Limited to no hunting those weekends. Maybe not enough to sway the numbers in a noticeable way, but just an example of non corn related factors.

Since we made this map update on Jan 31......we'll be able to revisit this in 10 days to see just how much of an impact the 10 day extension is having......or at least how much it has this year

Be interesting to see what an impact the holiday falling when they did. And how many were kill on each day all year. Get the pie chart running

Areas that rut in November and December are going to be moved into Zone D……See post #3841819 made on 1/20/23 a couple pages back

So just so I’m clear on what some of y’all are suggesting…….Are y’all saying that you believe legalizing baiting had ZERO impact on our harvest numbers??? Am I understanding that right???