Clem,

I've been with DCNR 2 months short of 25 years. Our current commissioner, Gunter Guy, has never been employed by DCNR as legal counsel. You may be thinking of Will Gunter - I don't know.

Unless I misunderstand your post, the statement regarding his serving in that capacity is not factual. Just trying to set the record straight.

Generally speaking - not directed at Clem,

It has been mentioned that Charles Kelley was in power at a different time and that is perhaps the best assesment of what's really going on now. It is true, Charles was one of the most astute political animals to ever have been associated with DCNR. Issues were much simpler then, his political prowess notwithstanding. Corky, in my opinion, rode on Charles' inertia to begin with but it became evident in his last years he saw the handwriting on the wall. He was opposed to turkey decoys, it happened; he was opposed to antler restrictions in Barbour County, it happened; and he was opposed to buck limits of any kind, it happened. Despite his best (and IMO misguided) efforts these things were run over him like a bus.

If you ask me, and I am aware no one has, it's kind of like saying Bear Byrant would've done this and done that. He was a man for a different time - I don't think he would've negotiated college football with the same results in 2015 as he did in 1978.

These guys are trying their best and have been forced to deal with issues that other commissioners and directors have not faced. I think Chuck would be the first to tell you he did not come into the job as a politician - he's not. Consequently, he tells the truth instead of what folks want to hear. I have seen his poltical skills develop during his time as director but he hasn't become a politician. I hope he never does. If you dismiss this as a$$ kissing that's fine - but keep in mind I'm 58 days from official membership in the KMA club and frankly, I've never kissed any a$$ in my tenture with the department. That's not my style.

Lastly, I do understand the frustration out there regarding "the government". But I can tell you if you are angry with the present state of affairs nationally, or statewide, that's OK - so am I. However, whether anyone will believe this or not, my agency truly just wants to do the best job we can do without screwing over our customers. We consider our hunters and anglers customers because they are - they don't have to purchase our product and if they hunt on their property, they can still use the resources and services without buying a license.

But the things folks want cost money. Money for protection, money for public land and the upkeep of that land, and money for management; and a whole other lot of services that many never even consider. The desire to get deer and turkey reporting is not now nor has it ever been viewed as a law enforcement tool. We've gone far too long without good information to assist us in making decisions. That's all we want - good information. I've frequented this forum since the old days when you didn't have to log in - we're damned if we do and damned if we don't. "Y'all don't have any data - what the hell? Y'all are trying to intrude on my privacy and take a big dump on me with this plan to get data!" Hell, which is it?

I hear all the remember when - well remember when was easy - we had so many deer we didn't know what to do. There's no consensus of the hunting community that is just happy seeing lots of deer now. We have a very broad spectrum of desires now.

I ask you to consider this: Hunting and fishing is a 3 billion dollar economy annually. If someone gave you 3 billion dollars or a 3 billion dollar gross business, or hell, $500K - would you not want competent finanical managers armed with the latest financial data managing that asset? Would you instead, just let grandaddy's buddy Charles take care of it using good ole tried and true principles like half a percent interest down at the First National Bank of Yesteryear? I don't think many folks on ALDEER would opt for the blind hog option given that scenario. Why then, are we asked to just that as if that's a good thing?

Some will never believe this, but in our case, yes, we are from the government, but we really are here to help. Misplaced anger about the current and sorry state of government is no excuse to criticize an agency staffed by folks that love wildlife and wild places as much as anyone on here; folks that have devoted their lives to working in this field and serving our fellow hunters and anglers; folks that aren't getting rich doing so and if the truth were known, likely share many, many of the same values as those on here taking us to task. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not their own set of facts. If you take exception with our policies that's fine - just don't do so on half truths and enuendo.

There is no way the state biologist can suggest hunting rules for the entire state, way too many different types of cover, hunter numbers, food, deer population and terrain. The hunters have to use good old common sense about the deer management on their land. Also, a lot of us could care less about managing for trophy type deer. Just have a good time and let the youngsters shoot a few deer.

That we will all look up in the near future and wish we had stopped wishing for more rules and regulations to follow to go enjoy hunting with our family and friends.

Never understood what the problem was with hunters managing their land for the hunting experience they want.

Carry on though. I'm still trying to remember to carry a pen and to record my buck before I move it.

This x2 and,

The more we post pictures of good bucks on the internet the higher the lease prices in Alabama are going to climb. Think about it. And I Like seeing pictures as much as anybody.

If the rules are implemented based on past learnings and they are designed to preserve the activity that we all love I am ok with some changes. I believe that the DCNR contains good people with good intentions. My biggest fear is that some lawyer or government agent decides to manipulate the regulations by enforcing them in a way that they were not designed. It may not happen now, but someday, someone else could get into office and add more restrictions. Then the next thing you know we are all looking back at how great things used to be.

That we will all look up in the near future and wish we had stopped wishing for more rules and regulations to follow to go enjoy hunting with our family and friends.

Never understood what the problem was with hunters managing their land for the hunting experience they want.

Carry on though. I'm still trying to remember to carry a pen and to record my buck before I move it.

I think all hunters are Ok with regulations that preserve the sport.

Problem is when I see public lands with antler restrictions, statewide antler restrictions on your 3rd buck, County wide antler restrictions....its not difficult to see what direction we are moving and what we are catering to.

In my 15 year 'serious' hunting career I have seen:

1) Bag limits on does be reduced from 2 does per day to 1 doe per day

2) Bag limits on bucks reduced from 1 buck per day to 1 buck per day with a limit of 3.

3) The beginning of point restrictions on bucks statewide implemented on your 3rd buck.

4) Dog deer hunting be eliminated county by county

5) Beginning of the harvest record.


When the harvest record started, Game Check also started but people got pissed because it was too much at one time. So, they made it voluntary but kept it out in the public eye so people would get used to it. Remember "What the heck is Game Check". The harvest record that could be tore up and reprinted over and over was never intended to be the final method for controlling what hunters do, just a stepping stone to what will continue to happen.

Have you noticed on your license for years that it has a blank for the confirmation number for the bucks? Does anybody believe there isn't a purpose to go ahead and have this shown?

Have you noticed that there are 5 blanks for does killed also? Why 5 blanks for does? See the confirmation number blank there as well? Does anybody believe there isn't a purpose to go ahead and have this shown?

A mandatory check in for deer killed has been in the works for a while and we are being trained to be ok with it. Little changes over time is what tranforms most things from what we used to know into the unrecognizable state that it becomes.

How easy are we manipulated and trained?

What is going on with hunting isn't a lot different than what has happened to our society as a whole over the years. Small subtle changes over time until you find yourself waking up one to say what the hell happened to the way it used to be.

Damn shame really.

I think all hunters are Ok with regulations that preserve the sport.

Problem is when I see public lands with antler restrictions, statewide antler restrictions on your 3rd buck, County wide antler restrictions....its not difficult to see what direction we are moving and what we are catering to.

In my 15 year 'serious' hunting career I have seen:

1) Bag limits on does be reduced from 2 does per day to 1 doe per day

2) Bag limits on bucks reduced from 1 buck per day to 1 buck per day with a limit of 3.

3) The beginning of point restrictions on bucks statewide implemented on your 3rd buck.

4) Dog deer hunting be eliminated county by county

5) Beginning of the harvest record.


When the harvest record started, Game Check also started but people got pissed because it was too much at one time. So, they made it voluntary but kept it out in the public eye so people would get used to it. Remember "What the heck is Game Check". The harvest record that could be tore up and reprinted over and over was never intended to be the final method for controlling what hunters do, just a stepping stone to what will continue to happen.

Have you noticed on your license for years that it has a blank for the confirmation number for the bucks? Does anybody believe there isn't a purpose to go ahead and have this shown?

Have you noticed that there are 5 blanks for does killed also? Why 5 blanks for does? See the confirmation number blank there as well? Does anybody believe there isn't a purpose to go ahead and have this shown?

A mandatory check in for deer killed has been in the works for a while and we are being trained to be ok with it. Little changes over time is what tranforms most things from what we used to know into the unrecognizable state that it becomes.

How easy are we manipulated and trained?

What is going on with hunting isn't a lot different than what has happened to our society as a whole over the years. Small subtle changes over time until you find yourself waking up one to say what the hell happened to the way it used to be.

Damn shame really

If the rules are implemented based on past learnings and they are designed to preserve the activity that we all love I am ok with some changes. I believe that the DCNR contains good people with good intentions. My biggest fear is that some lawyer or government agent decides to manipulate the regulations by enforcing them in a way that they were not designed. It may not happen now, but someday, someone else could get into office and add more restrictions. Then the next thing you know we are all looking back at how great things used to be.