Press Release

Nine Deer Harvested at Oak Mountain State Park

October 27, 2004

The first day of the special regulated archery hunt at Oak Mountain State Park began early Tuesday with hunters waiting as the gates opened at 4:30 a.m. for check-in and an orientation meeting. The check-in process ran smoothly with the hunters expressing their enthusiasm for the hunt and for what it means to the future of the deer herd at Oak Mountain.

The archers harvested a total of nine deer. Six of the nine were donated by the hunters to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program, which provides ground venison to Alabama food banks.

The information gathered by the 73 hunters scattered throughout the park at the same time provides thorough eye-witness data on the number of deer in the park. At the end of the day, each hunter fills out an inventory form to record the number, sex, and health status of deer they observe. On this first day, the hunters observed a total of 335 deer: 31 bucks, 203 does, and 101 of undetermined sex.

Hunt officials anticipate that today’s results will result in continued hunter success. Another two-day hunt is scheduled for December 15-16. Registration for that hunt closes at 5 p.m. November 15. Hunters who registered for the current hunt but were not chosen are still eligible for selection for the December hunt.

###