You know there’s no telling how many people kill deer and never report them, but what if you had to do a survey like to get the migratory HIP license?
Mandatory to fill out before you can buy a license or bait privilege license?
Think people would be more willing to fill out simply how many does or bucks they killed? For survey purposes only with no repercussion?
It would force every hunter to at least sit down and think about it. Might be more accurate for true numbers.
Migratory HIP asks these same questions.
Just a thought.

Question 1. Zero
Question 2. Zero
Question 3. Zero
Question 4. Zero

I was going to say there’s a lot of folks who lie on the HIP survey.

I, along with others, suggested this until we were blue in the face when they were talking about implementing game check. Not only would this have been just as, if not more, affective it would have saved a lot of money that was spent putting in the game check system. But hey.....what do a bunch of dumb rednecks know?

Having someone register a deer with game check immediately is more accurate than asking folks to recall the info 8 months later......You also get more data from game check....stuff like the actual day the deer was killed on.....That type of info is helpful if the state were to ever consider something like shortening the season for example or justifying the Feb extension in North alabama, etc.....You're able to determine "when" the most deer are getting killed in each area

It helps determine "when" more hunters are active.

Is there that many people shooting over the limit on ducks and doves?
I can’t imagine I’d ever lie if asked about deer or turkey.
Idk
Game check is a joke, I guess the HIP survey is too….

There’s plenty killing over the limit on all accounts and those are the ones just hunting in daylight doing it. Still a bunch shooting them with a spotlight and booger light.
Forgot about the ones using thermal

The only problem with it is that saw was honesty.

Unfortunately honesty is very lacking in today’s society. Add in turkey hunters and honesty goes out the door. Had an old fellow tell me if I wasn’t crossing property lines I wasn’t a real turkey hunter. Literally said that to me while the property manager was present and the reason we were having the meeting was because they were hunting on us. 😆

Sounds like the old turkey hunter was being honest. It just wasn't what you wanted to hear. Lol

A man that won't cheat for a turkey don't want one bad enough.

While I agree that honesty is a problem with a survey, folks who harvest deer and don't report them to game check are being dishonest as well. No matter what system you use, you can't force or count on honesty. My theory is that the survey would be less of a hassle thus people would feel more compelled to report their kills. Since I have duck hunted for years, I have done several HIP surveys, as you have too. I've never seen a reason to lie on one. People that would lie on a deer survey are the same ones that will find a way to cheat the game check system.

I agree I’ve never lied but I’ve heard some guys exaggerate their kills which doesn’t matter since it’s bracketed
I always thought a physical tag was the answer but the guy I knew in Arkie proved that not to be ideal either.

There’s not really one

I do agree with the idea that coercion is best, the less intrusive it is.

The only thing I know that gives pause. The amount of the fine. Out west they don’t play. I doubt DAs and Judges in the south would stick it to them anyways so doubtful that’ll work. Heck I know of a well known outlaw got caught red handed shot a hen in December. $25 fine and $25 court cost.

He didn’t like it when I told him I’d be right over on them the next time I heard one over there. He didn’t like that either.

I never really had to slip. Most places I hunted were loaded.

These days I don’t want them that bad. lol. Heck if I kill one I’ll have to clean it and then give it to somebody.

The only way to get accurate data is to observe and measure directly yourself.

I only report if some scalawag knows I did it.

The problem with reporting in Alabama is the powers that be have lost the trust of hunters. No one trusts what they will do with the information or how it may be used nefariously.

Honest question…how are why would the information be used nefariously?

By using a piece of data to intentionally back up a false narrative…..For example, the GC numbers have to be somewhat “interpreted”…..If doe harvest goes up for example, you have to answer the question of why…….You could do that honestly or you could just make up what best fits your agenda

Bingo.