I don't know Chuck Sykes from Adam's housecat. But I don't believe he is the sole reason all these things are happening and isn't the singular driving force behind them.

Remember, just like with the president or a governor, that person can do a few things on his own or pull a few levers here and there. But Congress-Legislatures and the backroom deals by power brokers and money-men often drive the train.

I got a pair of knee pads I'll sell ya for $10. They're comfortable for a solid 8 hours.

Anyways, I'm all for govt being reduced. Unless it's ALDOT. Personally, I've seen more game around in the last 4 years than I ever have. Could be a result of the DCNR, or they are just capitalizing on it. But no matter where credit is due, a witch hunt always is the more entertaining option.

I will use the terminology that the DCNR likes to use.

"User-Groups" - that is the term they use to describe the various aspects of the public they (the DCNR) deals with. i.e. Dog Hunters, Duck Hunters, Landowner deer hunters, Trophy Deer Hunters, Meat deer hunters, Bass fisherman, Hog Hunters, Hog-Dog Hunters, Nature walkers, Bird Watchers, etc... those are "User-Groups"

It is very obvious that under the Chuck Sykes administration a wide variety of different "User-Groups" are pissed-off at how things are being run right now.

Most folks think a track with dew claws is a "buck track", and clumped poop is "buck poop". So let's pump the brakes on pounding our chests.

And I boldly disagree with this correlation that attempting to manage a herd for better sex and age distribution is equivalent to "trying to make Alabama (fill in Midwest state)". Come on y'all, that's the worst straw man argument out there.

There are might be better ways to govern our dcnr, but doing away with it is absolutely ignorant.

Interesting analogy.

Nixon started the war on drugs and used the full force of government. I think most anyone will agree its been a miserable failure. I'm not aware of the war on safety vests, but I'd assume that is a libertarian idea and the libertarians have already lost that one, so another failed war.

But, there is good news of a successful war! The War to Make Me Get a Permit to Invite Some Friends Over to My Property To Follow Our Squirrel Dogs Thru the Woods With No Guns has been a rousing success. Congratulations on your latest victory!

Mr. Sykes has a new column out about GC. In it, he says that there were 2 groups against GC - those who were misinformed, and those who would never be happy with anything. He said he could put a buck behind every tree and these would complain that there wasn't enough trees. Clem and 2Dogs, I'm pretty sure he was talking about you guys. So apparently, there is no legitimate reason to oppose any of his ideas because all of them are awesome.

Here it is for your reading enlightenment:

http://www.alafarmnews.com/index.php/from-wildlife-and-freshwater-fisheries

Im in the same boat as you. Kind of at a loss as to how this administration is trying to create the Midwest. To my knowledge the only major changes they've implemented are 100yd corn rule, extra days in February, game check, and doe days in a few north Alabama counties. Two of those four rules create more freedom than hunters previously had. I haven't heard many people complain about the doe days in north Bama, I understand they need it for the most part, excluding a few areas like 257's. So, it seems that what people are really pissed off about is game check. They would rather have no government, but if they are forced to have one, they want it throwing darts at a board.

Side note, I've heard no complaints about the dcnr out of anyone "in person", except for the February rule and that corn should be completely legalized. The second, is in the legislators hands as I understand it.

Yeah. I think I'm going to join also.

I disagree with you, but that's the beauty of aldeer; everyone can express their opinion.

With the plan that I have proposed - seasons set by a Board elected by license holders, there is no way that our deer herd would have been allowed to be wiped out the way it has in some AL areas. Hunters who have been insisting for years that the 2 doe a day limit is insanity would have been heard and changes would have already been made in those areas. There would have been no need for something like GC; elected Reps would have had to listen to their people or get voted out.

We certainly need a state agency to manage the parks and such, but putting the power to actually govern into the hands of duly elected representatives is not as radical of an idea as some seem to think. I would argue that its the type of government that we were supposed to have all along; not a system controlled by unelected bureaucrats.

The big talking point is "navigable", when it comes to the recent EPA cases.

The state has some good property held for hunting. The natnl forests are icing on the cake. If the state/dcnr wants to bring in more revenue, bring in more tourism. Play the dumb kuntry card and let people pay $1000+ for a weekend to laugh about.

Interesting analogy. One of the biggest mistakes Reagan made was using the term "War on Drugs". The reason it was a mistake is because you never enter into a war that you know will have no end. Wars are supposed to have definitive endings, with one side winning and one side losing. Same for "The war On Terrorism". Terrorism isn't going to end short of the Second Coming. Poor terminology by the leaders at that time.

Does this analogy mean we can't beat the DCNR? We have to accept and like the decisions handed down by Mr. Sykes and the CAB? I don't think so. I think that with the right voices behind us, we can work for more representation for the common-man hunter.

Personally, I would just like to be convinced the changes are for the better before they make them.

For the record, I support mandatory Orange regs.

I are agree with you.

I am not against anybody shooting any deer they want to kill any time they want to kill it. I simply want a better age and sex structure statewide, and that's just not compatible with the former. Can't have both.

there are some who would question why they are managing for better sex and age distribution since the legislature has made it clear that this is not part of their responsibility.

It's been several years, but some members of the cab have justified their position on some of the changes they have made by commenting that it is a shame that Alabama hunters have to go out west to kill a 150" buck and that it is their responsibility to make Alabama like those Midwestern states.

Sounds like you are actually agreeing with me lol. We need some form of governing body, because as history proves, we wipe the game out without it. Your suggestion is one of several potemtial ways to structure that governing body.....

Management by popular opinion is fine, as long as it's good for the sustainability of the resources. Once that opinion goes against that sustainability, then there's problems.

I wasn't referring to the DCNR. I was making light of the fact you all want to abolish the DCNR and traditional LE forces- Trooper, Sheriff, Local Municipalities are the ones waging wars on drugs, texting, speeding, seat belts but y'all want them to enforce game laws/management. Just saying...

And by waging wars, I mean doing their primary duties...

I'm out. I have nothing else educated or otherwise to add.

How did we license the right to hunt and fish? How did we allow the state to own and manage our fish and game? Land owners should be allowed to manage their own properties without interference from the state.


Honestly, the regs have gotten so confusing that I don't even try to keep up any more. It's a damn shame what we've let them turn hunting and fishing into.

Indeed, we agree in many ways, and I don't want a move to a European model where the landowner owns the game. The American model is that the People own the game. I just want the People to be able to elect those that set the seasons, and specifically the People who are the "user group" that has an active interest.

I'll admit it's an idea that will likely never happen just as I have presented it, but a year ago I was certain Jeff Sessions would never be the Attorney General. Things can change in America when people start talking about change. Our biggest need is a governor with the desire to lead it.

So who on aldeer wants to run for governor?