You guys are arguing Game Check numbers. How accurate are they?????

They aren't

On the property I own, numbers of does and bucks are sim to last few years which mean they are good. Deer and hog numbers are down significantly at the hunting club I’m in

Plenty accurate enough to look at trends moving up and down over time…..The numbers in my area match up with what the hunters in the field are reporting that I've talked to……Although I think Game Check IS most likely underestimating the amount of change that’s occurring……In other words we’re looking at the legal harvest that was reported and the numbers from those folks is showing us that they have been killing more in some areas…..We can pretty much assume then that the folks not reporting are shooting more as well…..But it highly likely that they are shooting an even greater percentage MORE than the increase game check shows from the legal folks…..That’s why I say its accurate in showing us the up and down but may be a little shy of showing us just how extreme the change actually is……Long story short....its likely even a little worse in reality.

You got him, twice.

We haven't been killing them. There was a 150 acre cut next door, but everybody claims that don't bother the deer.

We haven't been killing them. There was a 150 acre cut next door, but everybody claims that don't bother the deer.[/quote]

10-4. Some of my land was cut too and I think it did bother mine. It'll be interesting to see how it goes next year.

That's only because you dis count every person that disagrees with you!

I’m going with this was the best hunting weather we have had in Jackson county in a few years. The last two years we had quite a few weekends that the paint rock was flooded they created access issues for us. Not a single time this year. Good weather helps us a lot.

Jackson Co trend line for the last five years…..

Bucks…..2946………2626……..3104……..2471……..3301
Does……1875………1669……..2360……..1794……..2253

But what if folks are being more compliant and recording more and more in game check. So the uptick is more of a better compliance count than kill.

Whats the ratio of kills bucks to does. Is it 2 bucks per doe killed or at least more bucks than does killed. If so is that not skewing the buck to doe ratio.

Then that would mean the down swing in the counties down here like Macon and Bullock is even worse if the 5 year lows we see this season are being helped out by better reporting compliance…….And the counties like Fayette or Pickens that are showing stable numbers across this time period would actually be trending downward……As it is though I don’t think that’s the case…… I’d bet compliance is at a point now where pretty much those who do it do…..and those who don’t….don’t…….

Did the hunters of Alabama kill more bucks than dies this year and seasons past. Or is it the same or more does than bucks killed.
Is the sex ratio still being skewed since natural mortality is higher in bucks?

Total acorn failure offset with corn got a lot of deer killed in my neck of the woods. People that usually kill a couple of dinks every year killed 2 or 3 good bucks.

I still have a very good crop of young bucks left and some absolutely monster does, that should put off some healthy twins. My next year is looking good already. Deer my little girl wanted to shoot made it. Curious what he looks like next year, he’s huge but crappy horns.

I believe you are correct , Sir. If you didn't have other food sources , or didn't bait better than your neighbors , you probably didn't have a very enjoyable season.

This and some not so good food plots due to the drought had deer utilizing corn piles more. Our tried and true corn pile hunters saw a ton of deer this season at the corn piles. That is up until the great snow storm of ‘25 decided to show up and shut everything down right at our historical peak rut activity. Our total kill numbers are down this year simply because most of us hunt other places and already killed deer and had the meat we wanted, so there was way more deer watching this season then most. We saw lots of marginal bucks but not the bucks we were looking to shoot. I hope they stick around till next season. Should be a good season.

This whole thing is forking stupid......

How did you factor in Summer die off from things like EHD? Would that no impact whatever statistical analysis we think we have going on here?

75% of the people I come across don't use Game Check.

I don't have any deer left my neighbors had to have shot at least 40+ this season. Guarantee not one kill made Game Check. How do you account for localized BS like that while at the same time looking at garbage numbers?

Here is the bottom line:

During the 2024-2025 season far too many 2.5 year old bucks got killed. That's reality. That's why the deer hunting is poor at best in this State. We don't have an overall deer numbers problem we've got a hunters shooting small bucks problem first and foremost.

I don't need 50 more does I need my neighbors to quit killing everything they see.

Persactly right to what happened in Jackson county. Looking at the trend line we will suffer a little for it next year. Both in size and numbers

Goatkiller if it is as bad as you say I believe i would involve Mr Green Jeans . I pretty well mine my own business but if somebody is wiping out the deer and especially turkeys next to me, I will act. I don't own any deer or turkeys but i spend a lot of money planting and feeding and making their habitat better. I know you aint bashful lol I am talking about land I own not a club or lease