I just read the post from a Kentucky hunter wanting to come to Blue Springs WMA for a hunt. As someone who has hunted in Alabama for 49 years (70 years old), and hunted in Kentucky for more than 20, I want to offer some of my personal observations and ideas.

First, Alabama's deer population has not improved in quality. I believe that as long as we continue to shoot the young age class deer, spikes, 3 pointers, etc., we will never approach the quality that Kentucky offers. You are only allowed one buck in Kentucky, and most hunters will wait for a good one, or shoot a doe rather than a young buck for meat. I just got back from Kentucky's late muzzleloader hunt, and although I saw a ton of deer, I didn't pull the trigger.

Second, My processer says that he is just amazed at the number if little deer killed each year,about 65 -70% are either yearlings or two years old. How many hunters look for the mature age class, or how many just look for horns?

We need to do a better job of educating our sons or junior hunters if we want a better crop for the future. Like farming, you plan for growth to get a better harvest.

Some parts of Alabama are overrun with deer, but they are small, stunted, and seem like Chihuahuas when compared to Kentucky's deer herd.

Finally, I believe we will need a better management plan if we want better hunting opportunities in Alabama. Let the little ones grow up! What say you?

Doesn't matter what the buck limit , size limit is, Alabama can not equal Kentucky. Much of Kentucky has more row crops growing in much better soil , not to mention those deer should be a different sub-species .


Far as management plans, I've had about all of Montgomery's and Chuck Sykes management I can stand. Many hunters want something in their freezer and don't give a hoot about antlers, I'm good with that. I think the three buck limit is spot on.

AMEN!!!

I know that you manage your property, as do I.
BUT, if somebody else does not want to....that is their Right!!!
We, the People, are tired of being treated as dumb and having things mandated to us 'for our better good'.

Oh and don't let the fact that the climate is completely different and the plant ecology and management of land (ag land versus timber production and open hardwoods versus thick pine plantations) is completely different.

Yep, grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!

The whole meat in the freezer thing.....that boils down to not having the patience to wait on a good one and just pulling the trigger...I say it all the time unless your doing it yourself...ground beef is about as cheap. But people wake up early drive an hour to hunt they are pulling the trigger. Or they have paid 2 grand for a lease...same thing they are pulling the trigger....I would be all for 2 bucks per year...maybe even one...I see a ton of deer posted on here that are studs! Alabama has them don't think for one minute! As big as Kentucky probably not but still we could do much better as far as our management tactics go.

Approx 4 months to hunt is a huge detriment to the herd.....no matter how few bucks every individual person kills.
At least be realistic with your wishes.

I disagree, the old boy that works minimum wage with a house full of kids who doesn't join a club and processes his own is the exception. Or the old guy who owns 40 acres and shoots a couple off his place. Not to mention young hunters, they should shoot whatever makes them happy, they will evolve with time. And there's plenty of all of these. You are just thinking about fellers who lease and spend big $ to hunt. Gotta look at the big picture.

I think you're trying to get me started on the season extension , I'll not fall for that trick.

Alabama won't ever be western and central Kentucky. It could however be eastern Kentucky. Eastern (and some parts of central) are not much different in their makeup than central and north Alabama. Eastern Kentucky produces a whole lot of 120-160" deer. What's the difference? Short rifle season and 1 buck limit......

Now, I understand that none of you want to give up your "freedom", but hunting in Alabama has become a rich mans sport. I'm not advocating a 1 buck limit, even though I would personally enjoy it. 4 months of hunting with most being rifle, and unlimited does, makes it necessary to spend a lot of money to see deer as well as quality deer. Not many new hunters are going to enjoy too many sunrises, before they get tired of not seeing anything

We need to do a better job of teaching our sons or junior hunters woodsmanship skills, gun/bow safety and shooting skills, and to enjoy all kinds of hunting without having a trophy mentality that tries to force that ideal on everyone.

Ain't nobody making Big Mac hunt Alabama seeing that he says he'sin GA

Alabama produces plenty of 120-160" bucks with a long gun season. I'd say it is Eastern Kentucky now. Folks I know who go to Kentucky go mid state west.

Right Clem , they need a good foundation with woodsmanship skills and just have fun and keep learning. They need to follow the laws and if they evolve into trophy hunting OK if not , well that's OK too.

I bolded a piece of 2Dogs quote.
With all due respect to the original poster, the comments below are not directed at you.
>60 % or more of the population does NOT do this and only CARES ABOUT THEIR situation.
Don't let a child kill a young 8, that could be a monster next year. Who really gives a sheet and what happens if this child never wants to go again? Many of the most self righteous on many outdoor forums will quickly slam any KILL(yeah, I said it)that does not meet THEIR standard, whether adult, child, public land, etc.

Many of the same people live sheltered lives and have no idea what it is like to hunt Public land or poor property that will likely never produce a 120 class buck, regardless of management practices.

Everyone better start listening to Reverend Clem and understand we will be buying specific tags and hunting special seasons. You think Game Check is a pain in your azz....just wait, there will be PLENTY of time to watch the Outdoor Channel and learn how to grow em' like they do in Iowa during Christmas vacation while you WAIT FOR DEER SEASON to come back in.

Rant over

I lived in Alabama for almost 30 years. A retirement and job change brought me to Georgia.

I still go back to Alabama to be with/hunt with friends, not necessarily for the quality of the hunting. Some years it is nice just to put a doe in the freezer.

That was my main point, shoot does, not young bucks for meat.

Not everyone can shoot does for meat or does not want to, or honestly does not care whether it's a doe or buck. The "shoot does for meat" mentality is about like the "throw back every bass so they can grow up to be 10-pounders" mentality in fishing. Both are silly.

I've kept cameras out pretty much all year and have fed pretty much all year. My son and I have picked out 1 buck each we are trying to hold out for. I have already seen 1 nice 8point I would have not hesitated to shoot in years past. We have some meat left from last year so 2 large bucks should provide all the meat well need. This is the way we are going to try to do it from now on. It's what I feel like is best for us. But I can't control our neighbors so I realize our efforts will have limited success.

The particular place you hunt, might be equal to it, but most of Alabama Isn't. one of my friends kills a pope and young every year off public land. I'm not aware of any poster on here that does that on Alabama private land. Another guy leases 375 acres a little further south, and he routinely has 10-15 120+ deer on camera. He kills a very good deer abouts 3 of /4 years.

People travel to western Kentucky because it looks more like the Midwest, is easier to hunt, and has a better chance of producing b&c deer. The rest of the state is still very good.

All about money and choices. If you not able to gain access to secluded strips of land you sometimes have to take what you can get. Some older or physically challenged people just can't hunt places on public land where they got to walk long distances to get to large bucks. Should we have strict rules and high fees to make less people get out to enjoy themselves no way. Not everyone can pay $1000 a year for club plus $8,000 for an atv. On public land I do like the idea of dividing large tracts in half for a trophy area and a small buck area. Deer don't eat pine trees, so areas with woods don't expect as much out of deer. With ag land and planting of crops plant more and have more large deer. Areas now in Alabama have huge deer just not where the average person can enjoy. Some areas do not have genes like Kentucky deer either, so don't expect us to be like Kentucky unless we bring those deer here.

Exactly