Originally Posted by ValleyDawg
Originally Posted by jlbuc10
So what time frame was there not any deer in Alabama that caused the restocking program? I'm sure those times weren't the good ole days. I feel like I've heard stories on here of folks saying they never even saw deer growing up.


I have heard similar stories from family members and guys i work with. They said for years they never saw a deer. I found this article from 2004 on the forestry site. Deer Restocking

According to this article in the 1930's and 1940's many counties in Al didnt have deer. Major state sponsored restocking efforts began around 1950 it looks like. Pretty interesting read. Around the time it was written it appears the deer population in AL was booming. I was living in GA then. Seems like the population today, at least in my area, is on the decline again.

My papaw has some good hunting stories from growing up around oak ridge Tennessee. When I go visit him and hunt with him he still seems to know everybody and thanks to some good hearted folks we get to experience a little bit of the old days of being able to hunt with different folks on different land all over that area.

Originally Posted by Hogwild
Most of the guys my father's age and older (mid-70's) remember not only the 1st deer they ever saw, but even the 1st deer tracks!

But, they say that you cannot kill them out.......

Originally Posted by ronfromramer
we've got many, many deer here in S Montgomery Co., but I know old timers that still talk about the first deer track and first deer they ever saw in this neck of the woods

Thanks fellas that's what I'm talking about. The old timers complain about how hunting is today, but some how forget that there were hardly any deer in this state 50- 60 years ago. I would argue that even though you can't hunt every bit of other peoples that you want any more and public land might be "crowded" the deer herd and deer hunting is way better than it was when all you old farts were kids.