But much of it is equal to the Eastern part of Kentucky. Just look at what comes off Bankhead. And just because folks don't post P&Y bucks off private land in Alabama doesn't mean they aren't there and some won't post em if they've killed them. A P&Y is 125 net typ. There's plenty of those but having them and killing them is two different things.

Not everyone discusses what kind of deer they have or see on their property by posting it online or telling others.

Also, variety and diversity in hunting strategies, methods and goals is not a bad thing.

Both statements are very true. If those shooting, house field hunters that over hunt an area would get out in the woods and thickets we'd prolly have more 125" bucks posted .

It obviously takes a long time for some to come around to the idea that forcing what they want on everybody else is a bad idea, especially if they are not willing to put in the time, effort or money to have the hunting that they want!! If a person wants to hunt deer like they have in Kentucky go hunt in Kentucky and stop trying to convert Alabama deer into Kentucky deer, or Iowa deer, or Illinois deer, or Missouri deer, or Kansas deer, ad nauseum!!!! Oh and don't forget to add in the corn baiting cause they do that in several of those States too!!

Shoe leather and smarts, or as Clem said woodmanship, goes a whole lot farther than the jumping up and down whining.

If passing younger bucks and waiting on a trophy is what makes you happy, then thats great. If I get myself all fired up for a 1.5 year old 6 point and I'm just tickled to death every time I get one, then who are you to tell me that is bad?

What I do isn't going to affect you, so mind your own business. The 3 buck limit is already enough limitation. Hunting is about the pursuit of wild game, not about measuring your you know what with inches of antler. Live and let live.

The rest of the country is envious of our long seasons and liberal limits. If you want a trophy then buy some land and get to managing or just hunt and lay off the trigger till you get one. Stop looking to the government to solve all of your "problems".

I agree with TooTall. If you want to make some rules, go buy or lease 1,500 acres.

A pope and young is killed with a bow. I'm pretty confident there aren't more than 1 or 2 that kill a net 125 year in and year out, with a bow, on this forum. I'm sure there are several who do it with a rifle every year, but that's apples to oranges.

You mentioned Bankhead, I think it's a great example. What do you think makes Bankhead so productive for big bucks? My opinion is very few days gun hunted and vast amounts of land results in older age class deer.

Either way, pointless to argue about it, as I said earlier, I would not advocate a 1 buck a year rule. I do think the population needs to be addressed on a county by county level. Seeing deer once every 3 or 4 hunts isn't fun for anyone, especially new hunters. It's become common place for people who can't afford $1500+ on a membership.

Bankhead is a genetic abnormally resulting from re-stocking with Northern deer; hence the earlier Rut.

Maybe we should re-start that practice.

I agree with many of the comments, but looks like some here are taking my comments personally. Not trying to dictate/regulate how anyone should hunt, but in a short note on a forum, I can't cover everyone's special situation. I'm Sorry to step on anyone's toes if you are hunting legally and ethically.

I have never been a trophy hunter, but do enjoy getting a good mature one occasionally. I've never thought that a score on inches of horn should dictate whether or not it has been a successful hunt. Nothing against trophy hunters either, but I only kill what I'm going to eat.

My hunting has generally been DIY on public lands, some clubs on leased land, and have been invited to hunt some private lands. I don't think the government is the solution, we just need to regulate ourselves. After all, isn't this forum about serious deer hunting?

Why do the 3 other counties that recieved Michigan deer not produce like Bankhead? Or the counties stocked with Ohio and Wisconsin deer?

Dilution of the bloodline due to the encroachment of native deer.
Many areas of Bankhead were secluded and had natural geographical features that slowed that encroachment. Combined with a low density, the genes remained more 'pure' over time.

However, I am sure that you already know that is the hypothesis and somehow disagree with it.
Do you know of some other reason why they are nearly through breeding there while many areas of the State are still in bachelor groups?

Big Mac if you want trophy deer in AL i know plety of clubs for you to get in and u can " manage" as you wish ! Sadly the ideology you are of comprises much of our CAB that passes down the regs to us commoners ! So just be patient im sure the state will come through for you by means of more laws and regs !

Amen brother. I don't want anybody telling me what I should shoot just because that's the way they want to do it.

You're talking about the method and skill of the hunter versus how many 125 class bucks are here. I'm stating there are quite a few 125s . Just because they aren't killed with a bow or posted doesn't mean they aren't here. If we only had a two week gun season or whatever Kentucky has , there would be more bow hunters in the woods and more 125s killed.

The Bankhead stock came from Michigan I'd say is the main factor. I understand it isn't overpopulated , you won't see a lot of deer , but when you do ! There are plenty of areas that are remote with limited hunting but they don't crank out the truly high end bucks Bankhead does. Those other areas were stocked with deer from LA. Jackson Co. was stocked with deer from LA BTW. If Jackson Co. had Midwest stock , well you know.

I was actually genuinely curious on your take on it. I still think that having mature deer has more to do with it than genes, but genes probably help on Bankhead.

I'd say you're correct.

Of course , they must live long enough to max potential , what ever that may be.

I think so, too. Mention Bankhead to probably most hunters and you'll get responses like "too far to drive" or "too tough to hunt" or "can get lost in there, ain't going" or "all the locals shoot the big bucks" or "public land sucks," among probably a few others.

In short, they don't want to put in the time or effort, IMO, especially for anything other than the special gun hunts. And that creates some more time for bucks to age.

The genes may help but I'm not 100% sold on genetics still being the main reason, or even one of the main reasons, after 75+/- years. I think like Atoler said, it has more to do with other reasons.

But because Bankhead NF has shorter/smaller/dedicated rifle seasons doesn't mean I would want those for the entire state. Good for Bankhead. Woohoo.

But by that "limited firearm" measure, Wheeler NWR with only two(ish) weeks of flintlock hunting and the remainder being bowhunting, and some areas totally closed, it should be pumping out Booners pretty regularly every year. By that measure, Swan Creek WMA with its limited bow season should have some stud whopper bucks.

I myself hope this mentality doesn't get passed to the next generation. I don't like the 3 buck limit and definitely don't want it decreased even though I've never killed more than 3 bucks in a season. I don't want a shorter season either. Some people actually like just having the opportunity to hunt and be in the woods. Some of the best memories adn times from hunting can be the time spent together and the camping or time at club houses. Hunting isn't just about big bucks. The trophy mentality is ruining hunting. The idea that killing less deer will make your herd similar to another state is also ignorant. The potential in out state varies greatly. With respect to trophy deer we have some areas in our state with good potential and some that don't. Limiting the buck kills will only allow deer to reach their potential it won't increase it. If it did our lease would be producing world class deer by now because we have killed a very limited amount of deer in the last 25 years. The best thing that can be taught to our children is the importance of freedom and liberty. I think a verse in the bible sums it up
1 Corinthians 6:12 (KJV)
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Hunting and especially hunting for big bucks controls people. It does so to the point that they don't care about what others desire and enjoy. They just want to push their agenda on others despite what freedoms or privileges are taken away.

Oh, c'mon. Don't you know that only shooting mature bucks will stockpile them and create mature bucks every year like Ohio, Kansas, Wisconsin and other states?

It's just common sense. No one needs more than on ... er, three bucks a year. Think about all those bucks that get saved in those other states with such troph ... er, qualit ... er, "common sense management plans."