Originally Posted by hallb
You don't have to shorten the season, just put a cap on the number of does per person. In GA it's 2 bucks and 10 does, granted they have better genetics than us for whatever reason but something seems to be working for them.

Georgia has a different type wildlife management structure and evidently a different type of hunter than the majority of Alabama. Why, because they have a significantly better age structure within their herd and it is by design. 2 bucks per year, one of which must have at least 4 points on one side and a 15" outside spread. That 15" outside spread reg, all by itself, would save 50% of the bucks killed in AL every year. They have 9 counties within the state that are considered trophy managed and county wide in those 9 counties, no bucks, zero none, zilch, can be taken possessing less than 4 points on one side and a 15" outside spread. 4 counties do not allow any firearms hunting at all. State is divided into 5 management sections for doe harvest. Doe days by section are as follows: 8, 13, 32, 85, 85. You're allowed a maximum of 10 does per year, so in total, you are allowed 12 deer period. They are also more serious about enforcement and fines. If you are caught hunting over bait on public land or anywhere where baiting is prohibited, the fine is $5000 and/or up to 12 months in jail. Heck you could probably shoot a GW in AL and not get that. It's all about attention to detail, enforcement and doing what is best for the wildlife resource and the people using it. I'll also mention that baiting is allowed on private land and there is no baiting permit BS. Hogs can be hunted at night, with a light, year round and there is no night hunting permit BS.

In short, GA is waaaaaay better managed than AL and the hunters over there follow the regs a whole lot better than the hunters in AL. Most likely because there are real fines and real penalties for breaking the law over there. Whereas AL hunting regs remind me of Joe Biden's catch an release border policy. Break and game law in AL and you'll be fined, maybe a couple hundred bucks and court cost, and you can go straight back to breaking the law and doing whatever you were doing that got you busted. And........that's only if you actually get caught by our severely understaffed wardens that are being asked to patrol entire counties and sometimes multiple counties here in AL. Bama's game and fish management department (not the wardens, the management. I've never met a what I would consider to be a bad GW in Bama that didnt take their job seriously) and the CAB are both really nothing more than a joke.

Last edited by abolt300; 02/02/24 01:03 PM.