Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Disappearing Bucks

CNC, I know we can’t paint the whole state with a broad brush, and that’s why I like deer zones and site specific recommendations, but there are plenty of areas where doe harvest isn’t going to negatively impact the population. There are others it could.

Certainly wouldn’t hurt our area to have more does harvested

Yeah I’ve been saying for years there’s areas of NW and west central AL that have populations higher than any time in my lifetime, and they seem to be increasing steadily, despite the harvest. I hang out at a local processor often, help them skin deer, and just talk to hunters. It’s amazing how many deer people are seeing and killing and it’s not slowing them down one bit. 😂

Dang sure ain't hurting for does here or deer in general.

Easy now , in another thread he basically told me all I know is what goes on on my property, I'm the one painting with the broad brush. I reckon he knows the rest of the state, every square mile of it.

If I could create a GIS buffer map of the state it would be a lot easier to illustrate what is happening…..The “red” areas are likely going to stay red…..The quail plantations arent going to change much…..Its the yellow and green areas that are going to constrict. The impact pretty much revolves around property size, hunter density, and fragmentation. Btw.....I wouldnt say there are "plenty" of areas where increased doe harvest isnt going to have a negative impact.....There are SOME.....but there's a lot more areas where it will

Never a more true statement

Yeah, if the crowd that thinks the deer have disappeared would get out of their recliner off the plot or corn pile and get out in the woods , they might find their missing deer. I'm already hearing it around here . The pressure of running in, checking cams and filling up feeders along with plenty of acorns is keeping
them in the woods this year .

So the same hunters that killed an additional 48% over the last 3 years suddenly cant find bucks now because they’re just in the woods???.....Maybe they cant find them now because they aren’t as many bucks……since according to the data we killed a bunch of them…..That seems like pretty simple logic to me but iffin you just want to argue I suppose you can come up with anything to avoid agreeing…..even if it means cutting your own nose off with your Feb extension argument.

" I suppose you can come up with anything to avoid agreeing......." Pot meet kettle.

I know this is gonna hurt , but there are areas in Alabama that simply will not support large deer numbers.

2020 is when you started having to provide your confirmation number when you dropped a deer off at a processor. I know game check was “mandatory” before then but people were not using it. I’m not sure how to account for that but my gut feeling is that the huge increase in harvest is ant least partly do to an increase in people finally complying with the rules.

Exactly. See southern Marshall county. Those same areas, need to have a season bag limit to match the habitat.

Hmmmmmmm.

Cnc and Matt are on to something it’s happening big time around me the last two years. Every 2-3 year old buck is getting shot as more people are starting to hunt my little area. Last year I had one 2.5 yr old make it this year I started with 7 2-3 year olds on camera and I’m already down two and another mia.

I agree it could have and probably did have some impact on the numbers even though the hunter survey and game check are not the same thing…..Its hard to tease out how much each factor contributed…..According to the survey there was a 22% increase in harvest the year following baiting being legalized and the confirmation number being required…..Since then there has been another 14% increase in the two years following. All we can do right now is wait and see what happens from here…..What’s done is done. I’m predicting you’re about to see see a pretty significant decrease in buck harvest numbers across many counties though due to a decrease in “opportunities”......Keep in mind that its not impacting everyone equally.

I agree with southwood I also think y’all keep worrying about what everybody else is doing you are going to get ulcers. I don’t get this you got to hunt like I want you too. You got to kill what I think you should. That’s one of the main reasons I quit fishing bass tournaments

I guess parts of the state are different. Farmers in Jackson county said they had more damage this year than ever. They want people to kill more . Guess what the deer that ate those fields aren’t eating in the fields right now but are still alive. They are some where not always easy to find but they are somewhere. But then again they might not No what they are talking about. I don’t give a flip about charts or graphs or lists there are plenty of deer

There’s gotta be a line in the sand somewhere…….They didn’t seem to have a problem moving the line when they legalized bait…..So why should we not be allowed to make a case for why it was moved too far and should be moved back??

Can't be deer doing all that damage Danny , just can't be . Ain't enough left in ol' Hi-Jackson to eat Grandpa's garden.