Looking at the data for this year it would appear that the Feb extension is adding an additional 10% onto the harvest totals…….Now baiting is adding another 10%......I just can’t see how we’re not gonna whittle the deer herd down in many places at this rate but maybe I’m wrong……I just cant imagine that we had that much extra to give except maybe in the best counties

Two does a day has done far more damage to the deer herd than baiting and season extending combined. It’s taken years for deer populations to recover from this debacle in lots of areas.

I’m not sure we’ve seen the full extent to which baiting and the Feb extension is going to have an impact yet……I think Matt was spot on when talked about corn and cameras resulting in a higher percentage of the buck population being killed now…..That is going to result in more and more hunters getting pictures of late born fawns. What are most of those hunters going to come to the conclusion of when that happens??......I’m guessing that many will say….”We obviously need to get together and have a doe shooting!”………which is just going to result in less deer……I think you're going to see a greater impact in areas like Blount Co, Marshall, Dekalb where the landscape is more fragmented into smaller properties...Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if you start hearing talks of going to a 2 buck limit as a result.

I think the biggest thing here is the realization that while "you don't have to hunt and kill a doe a day" is true and "well people been hunting over corn forever" is also true. The data that shows allowing it to be widespread is clearly causing a decline in population is also true.

As we become more sophisticated with hunting rifles, optics, crossbows, cameras and cherry flavored corn, we as hunters need to face the data that those accelerants will burn deer faster. We also need to realize that what we see is not an instantaneous shift. It will take 2–3 generations to see effects more than likely.

And while nobody here loves the state telling them what to do, not taking this matter into our hands (all hunters collectively) is a recipe for the government to do it. We have to be the ones to drive the change for the better with real data and a mindset of not just hunting but outdoorsmen and stewards. Even it means facing the truth that this current shoot house is poor form and we got it wrong.

I'm not from Alabama, I grew up in the mountains of Southern California and I watched my mule deer disappear, I watched the white tail disappear, I watched the golden trout disappear. And it happened because hunters didn't do anything but pull triggers. They let the government control tags and dates. They let the greenies get in and destroy it. And I'm not sure if y'all noticed, but those greeinies are right behind me. And they are going to get back into public office and wreck it. Use me as the warning bell.

Also fun conspiracy here to lighten the mood! What if the current doe and date ruling is in fact an attempt to get us to lower the population of deer to a level so low that they are "forced" to enact a very strict deer hunting policy, one that's so strict it forces many hunters to hang up their guns and sit out seasons. Since deer hunters are likely the largest base of 2A and pro gun people? Just a thought.

Some interesting data........Numerous counties have had 18-20% of the entire year's harvest occur in the last 9 days

You going to do a graph to show the end results? I’m going to say there will be several north AL counties with 120-140% of last years harvest.

If we stop engaging him he will stop but it's entertaining if nothing else

Yes, I'm going to in a few days.......This may change slightly depending on tomorrow but so far here's the amount the Feb extension has added on to each counties total......the percentage killed in Feb

Impossible.

I've read our deer were decimated years ago.

I talked to a few processors as did friends they are turning people away or only taking quartered deer yet we are almost out of deer in Alabama this happens every damn year all over the state your "numbers" are bunk do better man

Hmmmm!!! I can tell you we had a guy hunting our place until yesterday. He threw in the towel. He told me he saw 2 spikes and a few does since we left on the 30th. He also said he heard hardly any shots around our place. Other parts of Monroe County must have hit them pretty hard.

It was a terrible week for hunting him seeing nothing or not hearing shots doest mean anything I saw 6 doe and two bucks yesterday and didn't hear a shot until one way off right at dark

I’ve been done hunting my places for over a month now. My last promising 3 yr old just showed up with a gunshot low shoulder. The only 4 yr old I had on camera was killed 2 weeks ago, the 4th day in a row he daylighted on a corn pile. Bucks are highly vulnerable to corn post rut. Absolutely no reason the top half of the state should run into February. Corn + cell cams + feb hunting might be the perfect storm.

What’s interesting is that most north Alabama counties are showing increases over the last two years while many of the south Alabama counties are showing as much as 10-15% decreases………If you remember 14% was the initial baiting year’s harvest increase over the previous season. Kinda makes me wonder if south Alabama counties are leveling back off sooner than the north Alabama counties……In other words, the more fragmented north Alabama counties are still whacking and stacking at the higher increased rate. If you’re concerned about overharvest then this probably isnt a good thing. You may be actually watching the overharvest take place in those numbers.

Land fragmentation in North AL is another major concern of mine. It was a consideration in the decreased antlerless season opportunities up here.

Take these counties for example which are some of the most fragmented in the state…….Blount Co is showing a 14% increase this season over two years ago when baiting was legalized. If the harvest jumped statewide by 14% that year then you’re likely looking at a 20-25% or better increase in harvest for Blount Co compared to the last pre-baiting year ……

Lawrence is up 20% over two years ago……That would likely be over 30% of pre-baiting numbers……Other similar increases are showing for Dekalb, Geneva, Jefferson, Marshall, and Morgan……all very fragmented counties showing the highest increases in harvest post baiting

Where are you getting these figures?

Game Check and Excel

Marsh…….this is gonna end up being like the doe slaughter where very few folks will foresee it coming until after its already happened…..It seems to be par for the course for how we manage.

The highest increases in harvest numbers are coming from the most fragmented counties……Do you think counties like Marshall, Dekalb, Etowah, Blount, etc…..are going to benefit from an extra 15-20% or more added on to their kill totals??......I’m from that area and I’m well aware of what the landscape is like……This is what is happening across the board from baiting being legalized…..The more fragmented the area, the more impact baiting is having. The chickens will come home to roost eventually.