Author Topic: 2007-2008 Hunting Regs (Read 2195 times)

35Rem · « **on:** July 23, 2007, 05:28:53 AM »

These should be official now. Interesting note, hunters will be required to have on their person a record of bucks taken this season, to keep track of the 3 buck limit. Yes, the 3 buck limit. Also, one must have at least 4 - 1 inch tines on one side.

http://www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/season-limits/2007-08%20Season%20&%20Bag%20Limits%20final.pdf

35Rem · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2007, 05:32:25 AM »

~~Upon further review, the website still says "DRAFT". The Game Warden on our local morning show was talking like it was official, this morning.~~

laws are in effect...

Almtnman · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2007, 08:35:05 AM »

I guess what we'll be seeing next is an increase in vehicles hitting deer and insurance rates going up.

Almtnman · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2007, 08:41:49 AM »

One other point about this new un-enforceable law, we have one of the longest deer seasons of any state and now they want us to just take 3 bucks.

What a weird combination!

I guess all those Mom & Pop stores out in the country are gonna be hurting for customers when we get our limit of 3 bucks and hang it up for the year.

BTW, hunting license fees also increased this year so you'll be paying more to hunt less!

35Rem · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2007, 09:26:53 AM »

You can still shoot does.
The "Buck Log" seems like an easy way to cheat, though. I don't think that's going to be a very effective way of tracking harvested animals.
Also, you are effectively limited to 2 bucks if you hunt an area with few big deer. (#3 has to have at least 4 points on 1 side)

These guys still aren't addressing the NEED to kill more does.

35Rem · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2007, 09:30:14 AM »

A side note about the license fee increase:
The Dothan area has had 2 incidents in the last week involving local law enforcement: 1 involved a short standoff with an individual in his home, the other a high speed chase that originated in FL, that ended here.

In both instances there was a Game Officer involved.

Why??

They whine so much about not having enough officers to do their job, "We need more money for more officers, raise the Fees!!" WHY ARE THEY PLAYING COPS AND ROBBERS??!!??!!??!

Sorry, had to get that out...

Almtnman · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2007, 09:51:49 AM »

I find it very amusing that we have government officials that will pass a bad law. If they don't know how to fix a problem, they shouldn't be passing laws that are not written good enough to be anything more than a piece of paper with ink on it.

Yep, there was an incident with a game officer in Decatur a few years back for stopping a speeding vehicle on US 72 and wound up killing the driver who had pulled into a service station. I think he got some time for that incident.

To vent a little myself, raising hunting and fishing fees and come up with a regulation in the same year that reduces number of deer killed and include an antler restriction is just stuck on stupid. I am also amazed at what people find in antlers anyway, you can't eat them. This is nothing more than some trophy hunters had their day with the Department of Conservation and their buddies there put together an un-enforceable law to appease them. Don't get me wrong, I don't shoot anything that moves and sometimes pass up shots at smaller bucks, but it's just not right the way this came down. To put it mildly hunting has turned into a sport for only the people with more cash flow. I see hunting clubs wanting 2,000 dollars and more to hunt. The hard working Joe Citizens out here in the real world are not going to hunt like that and then we get complaints from the state that the number of hunters are decreasing and they don't know why. Look for the hunting population to keep decreasing as it's really not worth it anymore. And I'm glad that I don't have to pay them a dime of my money to hunt. I have my own private property to hunt on and got to the age that I no longer have to buy a license to hunt or fish. they want us to get more kids involved in hunting to increase the number of hunters so they can make more revenue off it, but once that kid is no longer a dependent, he/she is not going to be able to pay the fees to hunt in a high priced club and probably will never get into it.

Somebody in the Department of Conservation is "Stuck on Stupid"!

I feel better now, thanks for letting me vent.

Tom W. · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2007, 05:44:39 PM »

Gents, in case you don't know, the Conservation Officer has the same powers as a State trooper.....And seeing how we have too few State Troopers, sometimes the C.O. gets pressed into service. You ought to see them when the Federal C.O.'s come in to get duck poachers...

35Rem · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2007, 03:46:31 AM »

I know they have the same powers as "Staties", but my point was that they whined about not having enough money for enough officers to get the licenses jacked up 50% and they are running around playing "cops and robbers" instead of their primary duty. There are plenty of Police and Sheriff's Officers in Houston Co/Dothan.

I guess the ones around here only worry about game laws during deer season...

Gary G · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2007, 04:18:23 PM »

I happen to think that the 3 buck law is a good law; that it will increase the number of large bucks and improve the buck to doe ratio with more larger rack bucks available for breeding. As far as enforcement, don't you think that most people obey the law because it is the law. It deserves a chance. When hunters see that it is improving the deer herd, the pressure will be on the lawbreakers by sportsmen themselves and that is how it will be inforced.

I have a question about the Heritage License. If that is what I buy this year, it is my understanding that I can small game hunt on management areas and do not have to have a management area license (just the free permit). Also, it says nothing about small game hunting on private land. What about that? and do you agree?

Why would I want to do this? About all I do is hunt with a squirrel dog. When I do deer hunt, it is on my own land, and I do not have to have a license for that.

Almtnman · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2007, 03:13:58 AM »

If you're 65 or older, you don't have to but a hunting or fishing license at all. You also don't have to buy a management area permit. If you want to buy a Heritage license, that's up to you, but personally I think after all the years I bought all those licenses, I see no reason to do it anymore as I've paid my dues. And the 3 buck limit, that's nothing more than pay for fee hunting operations to control how you hunt on your land so they will have better deer over on theirs and they can sell their day fees to trophy hunters and make a bigger profit off of state owned deer.

JCM · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2007, 09:13:24 AM »

I'm surprised at all the bad feelings about the new law.

Seems like a good one to me. 3 bucks......2 of which have no restrictions...... Basically as many does as you want to take if you hunt private land.

How many bucks do you kill each year? If more than 2 then you should be holding out for bigger ones on the 3rd.

Want to kill more deer? Then take does.

JCM

35Rem · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2007, 09:27:08 AM »

As I stated earlier, I don't see this making people take more deer, does or otherwise.

When you have only one buck left to kill, you gonna blast all the does you see, or quietly wait for the big bruiser to step out? I would think most folks, as this is already the way it works, are going to be quiet and wait for the "big one", and let the does walk.

I'm not a biologist, but I would think the does need to be killed earlier in the season, instead of late, when they may be pregnant already.

Kill the does early and you will see the bucks later in the season. The new law doesn't do that, in my eyes.

There needs to be an incentive to kill more deer, primarily does, not to kill LESS deer.

Telahnay's g'son · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2007, 10:08:04 AM »

What you're seeing is the beginning of the end for deer hunting by the common man in Alabama. They just passed almost identical laws here in Oklahoma for the upcoming season. IMHO, it's all about rack management, outfitter fees and lease rates going through the roof. Kansas went this route several years back and when you check out the resident vs. non-resident licenses for deer hunting the non-res. ones show a marked disparity. That's because out of state G/O's have leased up huge tracts of land for trophy management so they can charge their "pilgrims" hefty fees to shoot a buck from a baited stand. What land is left is so high many people cannot afford the rate with the result being even more intensive pressure on the public WMA's. You don't hafta imagine what is happening to the quality of hunting on those places so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy in driving those with means to the G/O's checkbook.

The deer ranching business is going great guns with bucks and does that purportedly have the correct (read: rack size) genetic traits commanding five figures from hunting preserve operators. There's SO much money driving deer hunting (it's becoming one of the new corporate social graces) there is little hope the tide can be stemmed for the little guy. Take plenty of pictures of your next deer so in 10-20 years y'all can drag them out and say "this is what it used to be like back when we could still hunt The King's deer".

Almtnman · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2007, 10:18:06 AM »

I have the same feeling's also, this is the beginning of the end for the common hunter here in Alabama as the outfitters have now got their way with running the state owned deer herds.

Anyone that can't see this coming needs to keep a watch on this in the next few years and see how many hunting licenses are sold and what the outcome will be to the state on lost revenue and I will make a prediction now that there will be a big decline in the hunting population.

Telahnay's g'son · « **Reply #15 on:** July 31, 2007, 05:53:51 PM »

Quote from: Almtnman on July 31, 2007, 10:18:06 AM

I have the same feeling's also, this is the beginning of the end for the common hunter here in Alabama as the outfitters have now got their way with running the state owned deer herds.

Anyone that can't see this coming needs to keep a watch on this in the next few years and see how many hunting licenses are sold and what the outcome will be to the state on lost revenue and I will make a prediction now that there will be a big decline in the hunting population.

Exactly, as why buy a license when you've nowhere to hunt. Remember, we've all got the "best" politicians money can buy.

reyn 61 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 14, 2007, 01:29:56 PM »

Quote from: 35Rem on July 23, 2007, 09:30:14 AM

A side note about the license fee increase:
The Dothan area has had 2 incidents in the last week involving local law enforcement: 1 involved a short standoff with an individual in his home, the other a high speed chase that originated in FL, that ended here.

In both instances there was a Game Officer involved.

Why??

They whine so much about not having enough officers to do their job, "We need more money for more officers, raise the Fees!!" WHY ARE THEY PLAYING COPS AND ROBBERS??!!??!!??!

Sorry, had to get that out...

The times Game and fish has helped us it is because they were in the area and the call was hot. I cant speak for counties down south but here in N Alabama our nearest unit can be 10-12 miles away. 4yrs ago one responded with our deputies to a man with a gun. The man shot our deputy and was standing over him when the gamewarden shot him with his mini14 killing the suspect. The deputy recovered. We also assist them with spotlighters and such. Generally at night if they are not out we get the call and call them if neccesary. We also assist them when requested.

Dank · « **Reply #17 on:** August 14, 2007, 09:01:22 PM »

You think its that bad go check out Tennessee's Laws and fees. You have to pay a fee for bow, muzzleloader, firearms, excluding your license I did fish in tn the fee for nonresident use to be 26 bucks now its 42 and the res license are about 26 bucks. lol

jpred1 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 22, 2007, 02:24:44 PM »

I like the 3 buck rule,Ive predicted something like this for the last 4-5 years now.One day , I expect to have buck days similar to the old days of doe days.Unless they go to real buck tagging like other states have.Remember the old days when we had 3 doe days,now they ( DOC ) have seen that we have to thin the herds by shootings mama's instead of daddy's.Well I for 1 have been be doing my part and will continue to.Let the lil buckys walk and drop a few more slickheads.
Im a lil confused on the heritage deal though,not sure what to make out of it.

Gary G · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2007, 04:13:35 PM »

Jpred, I think I have the heritage license figured out (I think). It is only for A. fishing the bank with a pole, B. small game hunting on the management areas, and C. using the state rifle ranges. It does not cover deer and turkey hunting as well as small game on private land.

Tom W. · « **Reply #20 on:** August 27, 2007, 06:27:37 PM »

I just bought my License on line. It was about as much as I had been paying for a combination hunting/fishing license. It wasn't that much of a shock. I will say that I'm happy that I bought a Lifetime fishing license, and had I been a bit more affluent, would have gotten both Lifetime hunting and fishing.....

HHI-7420 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 07, 2007, 07:24:25 AM »

Please don't gripe too much about out of state hunters. I'm one, but only because I am a Fla. resident. Seven years age I bought 145 ac. in so. Tallapoosa Co. and built a small house on it. For six years I've had to pay $205.00 per yr. to hunt on it. The last time I checked, a Ala. resident only had to pay $150.00 in Fla.. Nothing is fair in this world--we're all getting shafted. If it keeps up I will be a lawbreaker. By the way, what is the nonresident fee this year? Pat(war eagle)
By the way, I lived and worked in Opelika in the late 60's before attending AU, and my 3 kids were born there. I actually look on myself as a resident, no matter what Montgomery thinks!