The 2017 hunting season will not have any major changes to regulations, but existing regulations will continue to be enforced. 

Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer Jonathon Bartlett led a discussion on local hunting and fishing at the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Morning Blend at Rumor’s Deli. 

Bartlett said there are not many changes to hunting and fishing regulations for this year, including any changes to the regulations surrounding the use of bait. 

Contrary to some rumors that have been spread, no changes have been made to the state’s baiting law, he said. 

It is still illegal to use bait to hunt for deer, hogs or turkeys, Bartlett said. 

Even if the Conservation Department wanted to make a change to the baiting law, it would be up to the state Legislature to draft a new law, he said. 

There may not be many new changes, but a major change from previous years, the Game Check program, is still a priority in 2017, he said. 

Under the Game Check program, every hunter must report a deer or turkey harvest within 48 hours of the harvest. The program was fairly successful last year, but not every hunter followed it, he said. 

Bartlett said his agency believes that only around 30-40 percent of hunters participated in the Game Check program last year, but more people are aware of it and it will be more strictly enforced this year. 

“We’re trying to figure out how many deer and how many turkeys are being killed by hunters in the state of Alabama to help with the management of those resources,” he said. 

Every hunter is required to report all deer and turkey harvests within 48 hours through Game Check using the Outdoor Alabama app for iPhone and Droid smartphones, on the Outdoor Alabama website, or over the phone. 

To make programs like Game Check run a little smoother, the Conservation Department has introduced the Conservation ID, which is a new identification number that is being automatically issued to people who buy or renew their licenses. 

Instead of keeping up with a 16-digit license number that changes every year, hunters and fishers will now also be issued their 6-digit Conservation ID that will never change. 

That will be the only number that hunters and fishers will need to use for the rest of their time hunting or fishing in Alabama, Bartlett said. 

“It’s a whole lot easier and makes everything simpler,” he said. 

To buy a hunting or fishing license, view this year’s rules and regulations or learn more about hunting or fishing in Alabama, visit outdooralabama.com. 

 

Tyler Hanes can be reached at 256-734-2131 ext. 138.