Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

the 1960s, deer were restocked in many locations throughout the state.
Most of the deer used in this restocking effort came from southwest
Alabama, along the Tombigbee River and its associated swamps. For
reasons yet to be fully explained, these deer have a relatively late breeding
period when compared to those in other southeastern states which
were restocked with deer from Midwestern and Northeastern sources.
Deer from Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and other states
also were stocked in some areas of Alabama. Along the Chattahoochee
Valley region, present deer populations are thought to be the result of
past immigration of deer from Georgia.
In areas where present populations originated from non-native
stock, mean conception and parturition dates range from one to two
months earlier than in areas where populations were originated from
native stock. Intuitively, genetic origin and influence must be considered
a major factor in these markedly different breeding/fawning periods.
Often, these deer are managed under identical harvest regimes, yet the
discrepancy in reproductive patterns remains unaffected.
While most of Alabama’s deer herd appears to be predisposed
to a later breeding period, the vast body of evidence gathered to date
indicates most breeding occurs within the confines of the regulated deer
hunting season. However, some user groups contend much of the breeding
occurs in February. Since Alabama’s deer hunting season closes at
the end of January, these groups feel hunters are being deprived of
peak rut hunting opportunities. Biologically, there appears to be little
basis to this claim.
To be accurate, a small percentage of the reproductive collections
do document mean conception dates in February. Only 20% of all
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