Alabama Administrative Code › Title 220 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES › Chapter 220-2 - GAME AND FISH DIVISION › Section 220-2-.73 - The Alabama Cooperative Deer Management Assistance Program

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1) The Division of
			 Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries of the Alabama Department of Conservation and
			 Natural Resources shall administer a program entitled "The Alabama Cooperative
			 Deer Management Assistance Program" to improve management of white-tailed deer
			 through cooperative agreements with landowners and hunting clubs.
(2) Each prospective participant shall submit
			 an application on a form to be supplied by the Division of Wildlife and
			 Freshwater Fisheries. Each application must be accompanied by two copies of a
			 map of the area to be included in the Deer Management Program that are of
			 sufficient detail to allow the area's boundaries to be readily determined.
			 Approval of the application shall be at the discretion of the Division of
			 Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Each landowner/club approved shall be termed
			 a "cooperator."
(3) Each cooperator
			 shall designate a person with authority to represent all parties with a
			 controlling interest in hunting activities on the land to serve as the
			 cooperator's contact with the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater
			 Fisheries.
(4) The Division of
			 Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries shall designate a Wildlife Biologist,
			 knowledgeable in deer management, as the agency's contact with each
			 cooperator.
(5) Cooperators must
			 abide by all hunting laws and regulations. Failure to do so shall be cause to
			 terminate participation in the Deer Management Assistance Program.
(6) Each cooperator shall make a written
			 statement of its deer management objectives. Those objectives must be within
			 the capabilities of the harvest and management strategies that can be
			 applied.
(7) Each cooperator shall
			 collect specified biological information from deer harvested and submit the
			 data to the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries as directed. Failure
			 to do so shall be cause to terminate participation in the Deer Management
			 Assistance Program.
(8) Information
			 concerning past harvest, existing conditions and deer management objectives
			 will be considered in the development of a deer management and harvest strategy
			 for each cooperator. Harvest of unantlered deer will be prescribed as
			 appropriate.
(9) Harvest of
			 unantlered deer outside the regular Hunter's Choice hunting season will be
			 allowed only where appropriate to meet the deer management objectives of the
			 cooperator. The number of unantlered deer to be taken, dates of harvest and bag
			 limits will be designated and shall be by written permit as approved by the
			 Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director based on recommendations
			 submitted by the Wildlife and Enforcement Sections. The regular Hunter's Choice
			 hunting season shall not apply to the extent of its conflict with the
			 provisions of said permits.
(10)
			 Any person hunting on areas included in the Deer Management Program shall
			 comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including those
			 relating to the wearing of hunter orange.
(11) The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater
			 Fisheries shall provide the cooperator a report based on the biological
			 information submitted.
(12) The
			 penalty for the violation of any of the provisions of this regulation shall be
			 as provided by law.
(13) This
			 regulation shall become effective on the 36th day after filing with the
			 Legislative Reference Service.
Author:
Christopher M. Blankenship
Statutory Authority:
Code of Ala.
				  1975
, §§
										9-2-8,
				  9-11-240.
PENALTY:
As provided by
				  law.