On a socio-biological level, nature never intended for many of our deer populations to be in the shape they are in. The negative effects of poor buck age structure and unbalanced sex ratios are well documented by countless university and private studies as well as research conducted by DWFF biologists. These negative effects include extended breeding and fawning periods as well as the virtual absence of mature buck sign and natural breeding behaviors. Such characteristics are not indicative of total deer herd health. Fortunately, these problems can be corrected through sound management.
Sound management can only occur in an environment of sound information and trust.
The state's deer hunters have an obligation to implement sound management principles when they are afield. The real power to implement changes in our deer herd is contained within the trigger finger of every Alabama deer hunter. Each time a hunter uses that trigger finger a management decision has been made, for better or worse. Some user groups feel the DWFF should mandate what types of bucks can be harvested or even how many. Simply regulating buck harvest would be easy, but hardly as effective as an educational approach.