Alabama Deer Population and Management Archive - Alabama Page
View the archive by scrolling through the window below. Historic deer hunt data is below the Archive window on the left column with links to sources. A list of articles is below the window.
Annual Deer Kill (rounded to nearest 1,000)
1950: 4,000
1968: 20,000
1984: 237,000
1985: 280,000
1986: 300,000
1987: 323,000
1988: 275,000
1989: 242,000
1990: 294,000
1991: 295,000
1992: 293,000
1993: 350,000
1994: 331,000
1995: 398,000
1996: 367,000
1997: 423,000
1998: 390,000
1999: 416,000
2000: 478,000
2001: 411,000
2002: 410,000
2003: 478,000
2004: 499,000
2005: 461,000
2006: 436,000
2007: 342,000
2008: 356,000
2009: 289,100
2010: 337,000
2011: 254,800
2012: 266,725
2013: 269,960
2014: 274,874
2015: 294,885
2016 295,000
2017: 212,444
2018: 203,040
2019: 218,358
2020: 272,731
2021:
301,122
Alabama estimates its total harvest from mailed hunter surveys. The 2017 estimate follows this approach.
References: Links to articles referenced on the state page
2021
Alabama Hunters Bagging Big Bucks This Season February 5, 2021
2017 References
2016 References
Alabama 2016 Population Estimate
Deer in Alabama, the Last 12,000 Years
Effort to reintroduce elk to Alabama in 1916 March 13, 2016
2015 References
2014 References
State cuts doe harvest for upcoming season September 28, 2014
Archive of Prior Years
A list of articles in the Archive. Alphabetical Order by Year.
2021
Alabama 2020-21 County Deer Harvest Statistics
Alabama Hunters Bagging Big Bucks This Season February 5, 2021
2020
Prescribed Fire Planned at Wind Creek State Park in March February 26, 2020 Alabama
Public land provides opportunities to hunt rut all season December 4, 2020 Alabama
Record deer hunting season in Alabama brings reminds for hunters' safety December 31, 2020
2019
Alabama Bait Bill Becomes Law May 8, 2019
Bait Privilege License Opens Opportunities for Deer Hunters September 6, 2019 Alabama
What hunters need to know as Alabama deer season begins November 17, 2019 Alabama
Where have all the hunters gone? Decline threatens economy, conservation efforts February 11, 2019 Alabama
2018
2017 - 2018 Deer Statistics for Alabama
Alabama DCNR works to stop slide in hunter numbers December 18, 2018 Alabama
Coyote caught on CCTV camera attacking and killing a deer in Alabama November 22, 2018
Doe harvest key to deer management February 10, 2018 Alabama
How hunters saved the deer and turkey in Alabama April 27, 2018
Killed deer underreported in Alabama despite mandate April 22, 2018
Spears, Board updates number of hunting rules June 9, 2018 Alabama
Sportsmen's Caucus Celebrates 10th Year in Alabama February 9, 2018 Alabama
2017
2016 Hunt Estimate, Baiting Deer Remains Illegal in Alabama September 15, 2017
2017 Alabama Deer Forecast September 20, 2017
Advisory Board Approves 'Dog Encroachment' Amendment March 13, 2017 Alabama
Advisory Board Approves 'Dog Encroachment' Amendment March 13, 2017 Alabama
Advisory Board Updated on Game Check, Snapper Check February 18, 2017 Alabama
Alabama Game Breeder Receives $750,000 Fine for Illegally Importing Deer October 5, 2017 Alabama
Autauga public hunting area named for former conservation commisisoner January 13, 2017 Alabama
Baiting Deer Remains Illegal in Alabama September 15, 2017
Changing the game: a new baiting bill for deer and wild hog in Alabama March 6, 2017 Alabama
Deer restocking program means big bucks for Ala. hunting industry October 12, 2017 Alabama
Follow Guidelines for Successful Wildlife Food Plots August 11, 2017 Alabama
More than 82,000 Deer Reported in Alabama’s First Year of Game Check March 6, 2017 Alabama
More than 82,000 Deer Reported in Alabama’s First Year of Game Check March 6, 2017 Alabama,
Population, Experts share tips as rifle season approaches November 16, 2017 Alabama
QDMA Estimated Alabama Deer Hunt for 2015-16
Rescue Not Required July 19, 2017 Alabama
Restocking Efforts, August, 2017 Alabama
Senate bill would legalize hunting deer, hogs over bait February 17, 2017
State hunting by the numbers February 14, 2016 Alabama
The Effects of Soils on Whitetail Deer September 23, 2017 Alabama
2016
Alabama Deer Forecast for 2016 October 11, 2016
Biologists, hunters react to hunting season extension July 24, 2016 Alabama
Board Recommends Changes to Alabama's Hunting and Fishing Regulations April 5, 2016 Alabama
Deer in Alabama, a brief discussion of the last 12,000 years June 28, 2016
Effort to reintroduce elk to Alabama in 1916 March 13, 2016
Factors influencing reproductive success in male white‐tailed deer 2016
State deer herd appears in decline May 7, 2016 Alabama, Anniston Star
State hunting by the numbers February 14, 2016 Alabama
To bait or not to bait: that's the question for deer hunters February 21, 2016 Alabama
2015
2014-15 Deer Hunting Season in Review July, 2015 Alabama
2015 Trophy Deer Forecast: Alabama October 21, 2015
Alabama Deer Forecast for 2015 September 9, 2015
Deer baiting bill apparently dead May 16, 2015 Alabama
Deer carcasses dumped in Calera: 'It's by coldhearted, ruthless killers' February 19, 2015 Alabama
Deer hunters should see plenty of action during the rut December 12, 2015 Alabama
Deer Hunters: Don't Harvest Orange-collared Deer October 29, 2015 Alabama
Deer releases win-win for wildlife, Fort Rucker March 5, 2015 Alabama
Deer season goes into February this year January 30, 2015 Alabama
Deer season opens with a twang October 8, 2015 Alabama
Experts say bigger bucks taken by area hunters February 2, 2015 Alabama
Find the food, find the deer December 9, 2015 Alabama
Fire Is Good Wildlife Management Tool January 15, 2015 Alabama,
Habitat Management Helpful For All Wildlife August 20, 2015 Alabama,
Hunters limited in use of drones November 22, 2015 Alabama
Hunters, stores, officials prep for opening of gun season November 20, 2015 Alabama
Hunting regulations define ‘area’ October 7, 2015 Alabama
Legalize deer baiting? Let us look closer March 25, 2015 Alabama
Predator issues affecting our deer population January 10, 2015 Alabama
State extends deer season in some areas February 2, 2015 Alabama
Supplemental feeding regulations apply as deer season approaches October 1, 2015 Alabama,
The Importance of Alabama's White-Tailed Deer Herd July 2, 2015 Alabama,
Timberland in Alabama's Madison and Jackson counties offered in sealed bid auction April 13, 2015
Tips for hunting Alabama whitetails during the rut November 25, 2015 Alabama
Whitetail Rutting Activity in Alabama Varies Widely January 13, 2015 Alabama,
Wide-ranging coyote study underway in Southeast February 10, 2015 Alabama
Xtreme Whitetail Adventures of Alabama's 832 acres of land sold for $7 million April 16, 2015 Alabama,
2014
Alabama Deer Hunting Forecast for 2014 October 4, 2014
Alabama hunters take advantage of holidays, extended season December 29, 2014 Alabama
Alabama hunters urged not to kill deer with orange collars September 30, 2014
Alabama votes to allow use of suppressors for hunting May 12, 2014
An Encore Vote on Hunting in Alabama November 2, 2014
Birmingham, Oak Mountain Deer Management Program on Track for 2014-15 Season August 6, 2014 Alabama
Conservation board extends deer hunting season May 3, 2014 Alabama
Deer breeding: Big game is big business March 30, 2014 Alabama
Deer Darting, Auburn University February 2, 2014
Deer die-off cause revealed ... June 26, 2014 Alabama
Deer hunters get new lines crossed August 3, 2014 Alabama
Deer season features cold weather, few changes February 23, 2014 Alabama
DMAP still available, new version in works June 21, 2014 Alabama
February deer hunting appears to have achieved its goal February 13, 2014 Alabama
February deer season in Alabama likely to be expanded next year February 11, 2014
February deer season was positive February 21, 2014 Alabama
February deer season will continue May 14, 2014 Alabama
Fully intact female Deer found in belly of record-smashing 1,000 pound alligator caught in Alabama August 22, 2014
Hunters urged to practice safety for remainder of deer season January 17, 2014 Alabama
Hunting has huge impact on Alabama economy November 18, 2014
Hunting on Pelham Range in decline since fort’s closure December 26, 2014 Alabama
Hunting With Suppressors In Alabama: Controversial Among Hunters May 9, 2014
Long live the orange-collared deer; if it's brown, it's down September 8, 2014 Alabama
Mandatory reporting needed to get accurate deer count February 12, 2014 Alabama
More States Aim to Protect Hunting April 27, 2014 Alabama
New deer season proposals considered by state regulators March 9, 2014 Alabama
Reporting the harvest September 9, 2014 Alabama
Several changes in deer season August 10, 2014 Alabama
State cuts doe harvest for upcoming season September 28, 2014 Alabama
State game department proposes expansion of February deer hunting area March 1, 2014 Alabama
Wildlife Officials: Game Reporting Low February 10, 2014 Alabama
2013
A Front-Row Seat to the Rut Show November 6, 2013 Alabama
Alabama conservation commissioner says dog-deer hunter concerns won't change gun deer season proposal for now February 26, 2013
Alabama conservation commissioner set to introduce regulations extending deer season in Southwest Alabama January 24, 2013
Alabama conservation officials: Supplemental feeding 'area' definition does not legalize baiting March 18, 2013
Alabama Game Check System now voluntary September 27, 2013
Biologists expect this year's deer herd to be healthy October 24, 2013 Alabama
Compromise on new Ala hunting rule fails September 6, 2013 Alabama
Deer Feeding, Alabama's Controversial New Law is Good News for Hunters December 3, 2013
Deer season extended to February October 11, 2013 Alabama
Deer season shift in southwest Alabama July 7, 2013 Alabama
Effectiveness of Alabama's modified feeding law tested as hunting seasons begin October 25, 2013
February deer season proposed for South Alabama February 17, 2013
Fetal Surveys Showing Deer Management Isn't 'One Size Fits All July 5, 2013 Alabama
G&F Forecast: Top Counties Alabama Deer Hunting in 2013 October, 2013
Game Check amended, Alabama hunters getting three days instead one to register kills September 20, 2013
Game Check' needs further review September 8, 2013 Alabama
Hunters can record deer harvest online January 18, 2013 Alabama
Hunters have 24 hours to report August 25, 2013 Alabama
Hunters Should Avoid Harvesting 'Collared Deer' in Research Locations December 4, 2013 Alabama
labama's game-check program voluntary this season October 13, 2013
Legislation could halt mandatory harvest reporting for hunters April 22, 2013 Alabama
New deer feeding laws in place for state this year August 18, 2013 Alabama
Questions raised about new Ala game reporting rule September 2, 2013 Alabama
Rut report: Deer in various phases of breeding season across Alabama January 4, 2013
Senate bill seeks to extend statewide Alabama deer season two weeks February 22, 2013
Senate bill seeks to extend statewide Alabama deer season two weeks February 22, 2013
Southwest Alabama February deer season map, restricted doe harvest map released at advisory board meeting February 9, 2013
The Road to Alabama's New February Deer Season September 14, 2013
2012
About 250000 hunters in state, Hunters can express views at meeting March 8, 2012 Alabama
Alabama Acorn Crop November 28, 2012
Alabama conservation commissioner signs emergency order stopping deer releasese into the wild December 7, 2012
Alabama Legislature debates deer season extension March 13, 2012 Alabama
Alabama's Deer Management Assistance Program Changes Encourage Enrollment October 22, 2012
Big Buck Project begins deer releases in Alabama's Marengo County October 12, 2012
Big Buck Project begins deer releases in Alabama's Marengo County October 12, 2012
Big Buck Project takes whitetail-deer stocking to new level in Marengo County September 20, 2012 Alabama
Big Buck Project under way November 8, 2012 Alabama
Conservation Advisory, Extending Deer Season March 24, 2012 Alabama
Conservation Advisory, Extending Deer Season March 24, 2012 Alabama
Coytoes: A new player in deer management in the Southeast April 15, 2012 Alabama
Deer hunts getting under way at Alabama park October 30, 2012
Deer Management Assistance Program is worth supporting May 27, 2012, Alabama
Deer Management In The New Era Of Coyotes August 30, 2012 Alabama
DMA Opposes Alabama's Big Buck Project - Do Not Release Captive Deer into the Wild September 26, 2012
Extending deer season, baiting still hot discussion topics January 8, 2012 Alabama
Fire helps to balance man's use of the natural world April 20, 2012 Alabama
Fracking risks in Alabama June 1, 2012 Alabama
Groups at odds over deer project October 21, 2012 Alabama
Hunting: In Alabama, a dog and a deer to remember December 12, 2012
Pet deer, confiscated by state, makes her way home; may be taken again June 5, 2012, Alabama
Some deer hunting myths will live forever January 1, 2012 Alabama
Strengthening the herd: Hunters adapt to limit November 24, 2012 Alabama
Taking Deer Management to the Next Level September 10, 2012 Alabama
2011
Alabama Conservation Advisory Board votes to relax buckshot restrictions May 22, 2011
Alabama deer study leader skeptical about benefits of longer season March 6, 2011
Alabama wildlife officials wary of longer deer season March 14, 2011
Deer habitat management on a 'natural' budget April 11, 2011 Alabama
Permit system took bite out of Alabama dog hunting controversy May 22, 2011
Sika deer killed in Alabama positively identified as young stag November 3, 2011
Warm Season Food Plantings for Deer June 9, 2011 Alabama
Wildlife-attracting Chinese chestnuts hit market this fall April 18, 2011 Alabama