1. (1) For the purpose of this regulation:

   1. (a) “Deer” shall be defined as a white-tailed deer.
   2. (b) “Antlered Deer” shall be defined as a white-tailed deer with antlers visible above the natural hairline.
   3. (c) “Unantlered Deer” shall be defined as all other white-tailed deer.

2. (2) DEER AND TURKEY HARVEST RECORD FORM:

   1. (a) Any person hunting deer or turkey, whether required to be licensed or not, shall maintain and have in his/her possession either:

      1. 1. A “Deer and Turkey Harvest Record” which shall be in substantially the following form and contain the same information:

         HARVEST RECORD

         NAME:__________________________________________ LICENSE NO. (IF APPLICABLE):____________________________ ANTLERED DEER– One of the three must have 4 pts, 1” or longer on one side	Season Year	UNANTLERED DEER USE BACK OR ATTACH HANDWRITTEN VERSION TO RECORD ADDITIONAL UNANTLERED DEER.
         Harvest Date	Points	Confirmation #	Harvest Date	Confirmation #
         ___/___/___	R:	L:		___/___/___
         ___/___/___	R:	L:				___/___/___
         ___/___/___	R:	L:			___/___/___
         NOTE: For Barbour County – minimum of 3 points, 1” or longer, on one antler for all antlered deer. Further restrictions apply on certain management areas. See Wildlife Management Area information.		___/___/___
         ___/___/___
         			___/___/___
         TURKEY
         Harvest Date	___/___/___	___/___/___	___/___/___	___/___/___
         Confirmation #

      2. 2. The State of Alabama, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (“DCNR”) approved App on a hand-held device capable of recording the harvest in the Game Check System as set forth in paragraph (3).

         NOTE: Harvest Record must be in possession when hunting. See paragraph 2(a).
         Hunter must record before field dressing or moving carcass. See paragraph 2(b).
         Hunter must obtain confirmation number within 48 hours. See paragraph 3.

   2. (b) All deer or turkey harvested shall be recorded completely on either the harvest record form as identified in paragraph (2)(a) above or the DCNR approved App by the hunter harvesting the deer or turkey before the deer or turkey is moved or field dressed; provided however, that confirmation numbers for each deer or turkey harvested shall be obtained by following the procedures set forth in paragraph (3) hereof, and shall be entered on the harvest record within forty-eight (48) hours of harvest.
   3. (c) Any person who harvests a deer or turkey shall have in their possession either the completed harvest record form as identified in paragraph (2)(a) above or the DCNR approved App. In addition, any other person who is in possession of a deer or turkey not harvested by that person shall have in their possession either: (1) written documentation including the name and Conservation Identification Number (CID) of the person(s) who harvested the deer or turkey, as well as the dates(s) of harvest and Game Check confirmation number(s) of all deer and/or turkeys in their possession or (2) a DCNR Transfer of Possession Certificate, available at www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/hunter-resources.

3. (3) DEER AND TURKEY HARVEST REPORTING REQUIREMENT:

   1. (a) All hunters shall report to the DCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, their harvest of each and every deer or turkey within forty-eight (48) hours of harvest, by using one of the following methods, as further described herein: (1) the DCNR “Game Check” reporting site at www.OutdoorAlabama.com/Gamecheck; or (2) the OutdoorAlabama App on a hand-held device; or (3) the DCNR approved Toll-Free Number.

   2. (b) Online reporting shall be done by: (1) accessing the web site stated above; (2) using the OutdoorAlabama App on a hand-held device; or (3) by any other means of accessing the DCNR “Game Check” reporting site on the internet.

      On the Deer Harvest Reporting page, the hunter shall be required to provide: (1) his or her 16-digit hunting license number or lifetime license number or other authorized identification number; (2) whether the deer is an “antlered deer” or an “unantlered deer;” (3) whether the harvest location is public or private land; (4) date of the harvest; and (5) the county of harvest.

      On the Turkey Harvest Reporting page, the hunter shall be required to provide: (1) his or her 16-digit hunting license number or lifetime license number or other authorized identification number; (2) the turkey’s age (whether a jake or adult); (3) whether the harvest location is public or private land; (4) the date of the harvest; and (5) the county of harvest.

      A confirmation number shall be provided which shall be entered in the appropriate corresponding space on the harvest record form within forty-eight (48) hours of harvest or the DCNR approved App. Once data is submitted and a confirmation number provided, the data cannot be changed.

4. (4) It shall be a violation of this regulation for any person to fail to comply with the requirements of this regulation. Further, it shall be a violation of this regulation to present an incomplete deer and turkey harvest record for inspection, or to intentionally enter false information into the deer and turkey harvest record form provided for in paragraph (2) hereof or into the deer and turkey harvest reporting database provided for in paragraph (3) hereof.

Author: Christopher M. Blankenship

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-2-7, 9-2-8, 9-2-12.

Penalty: As provided by law.

History: New Rule: Filed September 6, 2007; effective October 11, 2007. Amended: Filed September 9, 2009; effective October 14, 2009. Amended: Filed June 3, 2016; effective July 18, 2016. Amended: Filed July 16, 2020; effective September 14, 2020. Amended (PE): Published September 30, 2021; effective September 21, 2021.