More bucks are being killed as a result of the extra 10 days but it’s not really affecting the “age structure”, other than taking more young bucks out of the future equations, because 98% of the ones being killed are the same ones being killed all season long. If not killed in the extra 10 days, they’ll be the first ones shot next season with their head in a feed trough. Younger bucks. Walk into any processor, anywhere in AL on any Saturday night. If there are 40 bucks on the floor, most will be 1 and 2 yr olds with a few 3 yr olds thrown in, while there might only be 1 or maybe 2 bucks over 4 yrs old, out of those 40, and a lot of times 0. There simply are not that many truly mature bucks ( 5 yrs and older) in Alabama’s current buck age structure to be killed. Why, because almost all are shot long before they get there. There’s not a dumber deer in the woods than a 1-2 yr old buck.

The buck age structure in this state is already massively screwed up from years and years of repeated annual severe over harvest of the younger age class (1-3 yr old) bucks. It’s been promoted by the states ultra liberal harvest regulations and now the baiting and longer seasons are just enhancing the damage that’s already been done. Corky Pugh finally recognized the problem/issue and tried to do something with the 3 buck limit in 2007 but that was about 30 yrs too late and with zero enforcement, he was just pissing in the wind. Damage was done and the buck killing, “I need to kill any buck or bucks to prove I’m a good hunter” culture was already deeply ingrained throughout alabama and that’s not changing anytime soon unless it is forced on the alabama hunting population and fully enforced. Anyone that hunts other states regularly sees the difference first hand and it’s like night and day.

Last edited by abolt300; 12/29/24 01:09 PM.