"It's natural to look for an easy solution when you think you've got a problem," Cook said. "A lot of hunters just start seeing deer move in late January and they think the state is closing the season right when the hunting is getting good. There's a reason they start seeing deer then. The deer have usually eaten up all the food by that time."

Even in bad times, Alabama hunters still have it pretty good. The season starts in mid-October and runs through the end of January. In much of the state, you can kill two deer a day for the full season.

Now, there are special segments of the season for virtually every weapon choice -- bow, crossbow, muzzleloader, modern gun and even hunting spears!

"The majority of our hunters are happy," Cook said. "And let's face it, if you haven't been able to get a deer in 3 1/2 months, chances are that a couple of more weeks in February wouldn't help either."

The state's deer herd continues to be in good health too. Biologists tested about 800 whitetails from all across the state for chronic wasting disease (CWD) this past season, and the disease still has not been found here.

THE $16 HUNTING CLUB
One issue that continues to face Alabama's deer hunters in 2005 is the shrinking availability of private land as hunting destinations. Leases in prime areas bring premium rates and hunters with average incomes increasingly find themselves priced out of the market.

If you are willing to do most of your hunting with a bow or crossbow, you do not have to fret about not having a place to hunt.

You can join the "$16 hunting club." That's the price of a wildlife management area hunting license.

The state operates more than 30 WMAs around the state encompassing hundreds of thousands of acres of hunting land. The accompanying table shows the estimated deer harvest on each of the areas for the past season.

"People who aren't hunting the WMAs are missing a great opportunity," Cook pointed out.

Biologists with the DWFF from one corner of the state to the other say the same thing.

"The WMAs open Oct. 15 for bowhunting and there's usually a good bit of pressure for two or three weeks," Cook explained. "Then there's not much bowhunting done on the areas, especially after gun season starts. Most of the areas will only have about a dozen days of gun hunting from late November to the end of January, but they're open all the time for bowhunting."

The WMAs can be good even for gun hunters, especially those who are willing to target different areas throughout the season.

"We have a core group of guys who hunt the WMAs," Cook said. "We'll work hunts at different areas and you see the same faces. Some of these guys are good hunters who will kill five or six bucks or more a season on the WMAs. They get their $16 worth."

It seems like there is a group from the Gadsden, Etowah, Calhoun and Cleburne County areas who specialize in WMA hunts, the biologist added. Sometimes they camp and hunt.

"Sometimes they'll drive three or four hours just to enjoy a single day of hunting at Oakmulgee or some other area," Cook said.

Bill Gray said there are some North Carolina hunters who come and spend a week or two in Barbour County WMA every season.