DEPT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES: Weekly column by David Rainer

FROM THE DEPT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

August 03, 2008

By DAVID RAINER

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

When Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division Wildlife Biologists Chris Cook and now retired Dave Nelson kept fielding questions about the biggest and best white-tailed bucks taken in Alabama each year, they realized all they really could provide was hearsay evidence and became determined to establish a resource for hunters to keep abreast of the buck harvest.

“Before Dave retired, we started talking about establishing a records and recognition program book for Alabama deer,” said Cook, who specializes in whitetail biology. “Hunters always wanted to know what was the biggest buck taken last year and what county had the most big bucks. We have never had a program to monitor those things. We started kicking around the idea of establishing a records program with biologists in other Southeastern states, and soon found practically all the other states either had one of their own or had partnered with other groups to establish a program.”

Hence, the Records of Alabama’s White-tailed Deer (RAWD) was established to give hunters a resource for the buck harvest information.

“We’ve been working on it a while because we wanted to get our ducks in a row,” Cook said. “We wanted to have enough people trained in the Boone & Crockett scoring system, so we could start having some measuring sessions around the state.”

WFFD Biologist Bill Gray and his fellow biologists in District VI measured a few deer at last year’s Southern Deer & Turkey Expo, but most hunters were unaware of any Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources program to recognize large bucks taken in the state.

Gray and his cohorts will be back at the Southern Deer & Turkey Expo from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 23 at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds on U.S. Highway 31 South in Dothan for one of two measuring sessions scheduled to begin the process of establishing a database. Call 334-347-1298 for information about the Dothan event.

            The other scoring session in 2008 is scheduled for 8 a.m. until noon August 9 at the District IV ADWFF Office (phone 334-358-0035), 1820 Glynwood Drive, Suite C, Prattville.

            “We recently held a scoring session in Northport at the District III Office,” Cook said. “The turnout was a little low, but that was not surprising for our first attempt. The people who showed up were really excited about the new program and are eager to spread the word. The other districts also are making plans to have scoring sessions. We plan to have at least one scoring session in each District next year. We’re keeping a lookout for events or places where we might go to hold the sessions in conjunction with other types of events, such as Hunter Appreciation-type events or wildlife management seminars at sporting goods dealers, feed and seed stores or County Extension Service offices. Hopefully, we can get involved with those type events to generate more interest.”

            Cook said the Alabama program will resemble Mississippi’s Magnolia White-tailed Deer Records Program. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks teamed with the Mississippi Wildlife Federation to establish the successful program.     

“The Mississippi program has really taken off and everybody in Mississippi knows about it now,” Cook said. “Once the word spread, they’ve been real successful in getting hunters to bring their deer to be scored. Eventually, we will have all entries listed on the department’s web site (www.outdooralabama.com). The page will be set up so hunters can search records by county or year and see what deer were taken where and when. They will be able to find out how the all-time largest bucks rank in each county. We will try to photos of all entries to put online, as well.

“Right now, we’re trying to get more of our people trained in using the Boone & Crocket scoring method. We have a core group of Boone & Crockett measurers on staff to take charge of the measuring sessions in each District. Eventually, we also want to train a group of volunteers who will help us out, and hopefully, it will get to the point where we’ll need the extra help.”

The RAWD program is open to antlers from all free-ranging bucks legally killed or found dead in Alabama, regardless of the year the deer was taken or found. The antler scoring system used for the RAWD program is identical to that used by the Boone & Crockett Club. The minimum scores for the program are 140 Typical (net) and 165 Non-Typical (net). If a deer has been officially scored for Boone & Crockett, Pope & Young, or Longhunter’s purposes, sportsmen can bring the official score sheet with their mount to a RAWD scoring session.

“The minimum entry scores are high, but that is by design,” Cook said. “When we were first putting this together and talking with the other states with record programs, one of the things they all recommended was high minimums. We wanted to recognize the exceptional deer instead of a solid, mature buck. Of course, a 120-130-class deer is a good, healthy buck. We decided to set the standards high so only the truly exceptional bucks taken in Alabama are recognized. If we see it’s a little high later on, we may back it down slightly, but we still want to make sure that any buck that makes the program is something special.”

According to Boone & Crockett Club rules, antlers must dry for 60 days before they can be officially scored.

“If somebody has taken a buck that is really exceptional, then they can contact one of the district offices and see about getting it measured,” Cook said. “However, it’s best if we can get them to come to the scoring sessions, because we won’t be able to take the time to score every big buck.”

To find more information about the Records of Alabama’s White-tailed Deer program, obtain score sheets, or locate the next available scoring session, visit http://www.outdooralabama.com.