Thanks for the props guys.
Sorry if some of my stuff doesn't live up to certain standards at times, but I'm going to keep writing about it.
Maybe, one day, I'll do something that makes everybody happy.
Seriously, if y'all have questions that you think need answered about this or any other issue, let me know.
Before this thread blows up with questions about how the heck did they decide which area would see a season shift, let me say, I'm not sure either.
A line had to be drawn and this is it.
I do believe Guy when he says he and department biologists took long hard looks at existing mean conception date data.
I also believe the fact that 12,000-plus people signed extenddeerseason.com's petition in support of February hunting and that they've been blowing up department phone lines and email accounts for the past 18 months played an equally large part in the decision.
Based on past statements, I really did not think we'd see February hunting proposed this soon. I thought there would be more fetal studies done. Biologists have said many times that they needed 3 to 5 years of data. This spring will be the third year of ramped up data-collection in southwest Alabama.
I quoted Guy saying that he was "comfortable" with the season shift and that it was "warranted" in the new SW zone because existing science says deer breed later there, it was biologists' opinion that the season shift would not negatively impact deer living there and it's what the people wanted.
I think Guy is counting on the new mandatory Telecheck system to provide more immediate data. This data combined with ongoing research should give the department an accurate vision of current herd conditions so IF it is found that folks are absolutely decimating local deer herds with their additional February kill totals, the state will be able to respond quicker than it has in the past to unexpected harvest rates if they occur.
Remember, Guy has said that this first year will be a bit of a test case to see how things go and that adjustments either in increasing the size of the new zone or even decreasing the size of the area could be possible.
I believe the biggest threat created by the proposal is to doe populations.
Unless hunting clubs make their own prohibitions against killing does in February, it could get out of hand, especially on clubs where out-of-state hunters prevail.
Honestly, if I'm paying out-of-state license fees, I would probably want to take something home in my cooler every time I go to the expense to travel here to hunt.
Most of you know I was not in favor of February hunting. I still think there exists the potential for bad things to happen. My concerns appear to be irrelevant now.
In the end, I decided that if I don't want to hunt in February, the state is not forcing me to hunt just because they created such a season.
Full disclosure: Now that it is very likely a February season will exist in some form or fashion down here, I'll probably take advantage of it.
