Here is a more realistic representation of what those “bubbles” actually look like. Its not to mean that all of these bubbles are different but rather these are the places where breaks are likely occurring when they do. There’s more to be considered though than just this……you have to also factor in major rivers and habitat breaks and how they have had an impact…..they are also creating "breaks"

Take our Bankhead scenario here as an example of the complexities at play. I’m assuming you have Nov ruts on either side of that highway dissecting the forest . That whole area saw growth originally and spread does outward within both “bubbles”……What really the most important is what has happened since then. The Bankhead herd only progressed halfway across that western bubble due to running out of habitat……Things have changed over time and now you have a new stocking pushing in and meeting in halfway……That larger western bubble we see on this map is now being further divided again with a smaller interior road.

The kicker here is that as your roads get smaller and less traveled, they become more permeable dividing lines……So you need less pressure pushing eastward to jump the boundary. If it were an interstate then Bankhead would probably be safe……but as it is, that little road where I drew the solid red line in the previous map is likely to eventually give way if it hasn’t already. It’s likely that at least that western bubble will eventually transition to the other stocking source.

This is how the rut has evolved and is still currently evolving in Alabama……Every little area and bubble has its own little nuances but they all follow these same concepts or dynamics…..rules……whatever you want to call them. Again, keep in mind here how we allowed herd to expand outward originally and then drew down the population again…..As we drew down the numbers these lines really began to be more and more defining as there was very little outward pushing occurring…...only recycling of the lineage or lineages within the bubble.....The more folks stop shooting does in the future, the more you’ll have these Bankhead type scenarios occurring…..or the more interplay you’ll see cranking up between bubbles and the more potential for something change. Some areas are more susceptible than others.