Too easy to beat the system…….Fill out your license, take your deer home, print out another one…….You dont have to call into game check for 48hrs

I agree. I'd say first violation should be something like $2k but escalate - in other words if you're caught for doing multiple the price escalates. $2k is enough I'd be damn sure to game check.

If it's $2k to night hunt I'd put killing a deer out of season, not tagging a deer, or going over tag limits as worse than night hunting.

At least a guy who is night hunting and following every other rules stays in his 3 buck limit... a guy who ignores limits could kill 10, 20, any number of bucks.

That's exactly how to beat it. Pick up 2-3 "harvest reg" booklets here and there and voila, 10-15 "harvest" records on paper. Or print out one at home and photocopy it.

Kill a deer, fill out the paper thing, truck on home, throw it away and get another clean form. Same with turkeys.

Yes, that's chitty and an abuse of the system and cheating the rules and all. But that's how easy it is.

Loss of hunting privileges for 1 year on your 2nd offense

I have never been checked with a deer or turkey in my possession by a game warden. Physical tags aren't going to change that are they? I wouldn’t necessarily be against tags, I’m just not sure they would be a deterrent to killing over the limit.

Oh, I agree about the escalation. Start at $1,000 or $1,500 or even $2,000 (which an attorney probably would take to court as punitive), and add court costs. That's an eye-opener for the first offense. But it damned sure might make some folks think about it.

And yes, second offense would be much more. Third and so on. If it doesn't hurt, it won't matter.


Example:

As I've gotten older I try my best to drive the speed limits. I often fail, and I admit it. I think some posted limits are stupid. But I try to abide by them.

But the fines for a speeding ticket do not worry me, bother me, hurt me or otherwise deter me one iota. Couple hundred bucks for speeding? Meh. What slowed me down as a college moron was the loss of points and threat of losing my license. It wasn't the money. Paying for being stupid isn't great but it wasn't punitive enough. Losing the points, though? Yeah, that was an eye-opener when you're sitting at 9 points out of 12 knowing if you get one more ticket you'll lose the license.

Bingo.

Although someone would take it to court saying that hunting isn't a privilege bestowed by the state but a God-given right and the way the courts are today, he might win that case.

I have never been checked either and I have hunted in MS, LA, AL, KY, IL, MO, ID, CO.....I have been checked for duck possession in LA......

I’m against tags because there’s no evidence that physical tags lead to better compliance.

A public that can trust an agency to lead effectively and successfully, while providing good solid education is what will change things. Physical tags will not change a thing.

So being new to AL (been hear 3 yrs.), where and with whom does the lack of trust start and how long has that been the case? Is it the state agencies, individuals in wildlife mgt. positions or just overall a distrust in general for state/local government and agencies?

No. I spend too much $ hunting as it is and I know it will increase the cost of hunting for all. Can anyone say that Game Check has improved their hunting? CNC, how about a thread of "Has Game Check improved your hunting experience...Yea or Nay??".

Main thing I can think of is tags make a quick physical inspection super simple. See a deer on top of a car at a gas station/parking lot/riding down a back road - takes 2 seconds to see if that deer is tagged.

I don't even know how they check them with the current system it's so wonky. Ask you for the physical piece of paper you printed out? Call into the state or look at your phone to see if the deer has been checked?

Game Check is simply a monitoring and data gathering system. It will never do anything to improve your hunting without enacting actual changes.

No
You gentlemen that are throwing out ideas of 5,000 dollar fines need to think of what will happen if you run up on a poacher with fines so high. People will kill you over 100 dollars what about 5000?

Is there evidence of a state that gets compliance through mere leadership without rules and fines??

Poaching is already a $1,000 fine.

Didn't realize Alabama writes its code based on criminal's feelings.

I think we should do tags and a check in station. More game wardens and heavier fines too. I’m fine with fines up around $5k-$10k. Make it hurt. I don’t mind a little inconvenience on my end to ensure folks aren’t abusing the resource.

Boom. Yes and yes.

no