More hunters are reporting the number of deer they kill in the state of Alabama, according to Alabama’s wildlife agency.
The change is likely due to a new law that makes reporting deer harvests mandatory. According to AL.com, such reporting had only been voluntary in the past.
Hunters reported killing about 81,000 deer in Alabama as of Feb. 9, according to a statement from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. During each of the last three years, less than 20,000 kills were reported.
It is expected that the actual number of deer killed far surpasses 81,000 as the agency estimates that the reporting compliance rate is only at around 35 percent.
Conservation officials told AL.com that it is important to know the accurate number of kills, though, as that allows them to plan how to manage Alabama’s herd.
