Mandatory game check starts this fall in Alabama

Mandatory reporting of all deer and turkey harvests through Alabama’s Game Check system goes into effect this fall. Hunters will have 48 hours to report their harvest through a mobile app, online or by phone. Long-term harvest data will be used to guide the state’s deer and turkey management programs.

This spring, Alabama’s Conservation Advisory Board (CAB) recommended mandatory reporting via the Game Check system if the statewide deer season was extended to February 10, with no closed period in December, and a bucks-only archery season was implemented in the South Zone (Zone B) from October 15-24. These changes will be in effect this fall as Alabama joins 47 other states with a mandatory harvest reporting system.

“We live in a data-driven world,” said Chuck Sykes, Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF). “That applies to wildlife management as well. Over time, the information collected though Game Check will give us a better understanding of Alabama’s deer and turkey populations, which will ultimately benefit hunters for generations to come.”

There are three ways to Game Check a harvested deer or turkey: through the Outdoor Alabama smartphone app available at www.outdooralabama.com/mobile-apps, online at www.outdooralabama.com/gamecheck, or by calling 1-800-888-7690.

Information required to Game Check a harvest includes the date of harvest, the type of animal (deer or turkey), sex of deer and age of gobbler (adult or jake), county of harvest, public or private land and a hunting license or H.E.L.P. (Hunter Exempt License Privilege) number.

Hunters are encouraged to utilize Game Check via the Outdoor Alabama mobile app or go online to report their harvest. Reporting via the mobile app can be completed offline regardless of cellphone or data coverage. Just input the information and the app will automatically submit it when cellphone or data coverage is restored. The phone number is provided as a service for hunters who do not have internet access.

Besides providing a convenient way to report your harvest, a smartphone with the Outdoor Alabama app will be accepted in lieu of a paper harvest record. Hunters who plan to Game Check online or by phone are still required to possess a harvest record and hunting license during their hunt.

“It’s a very simple process and takes just a few minutes to use Game Check,” Sykes said. “With multiple reporting options and a reasonable time frame to input the data, there are no barriers to using the system.”

To educate hunters in Alabama about Game Check, WFF is holding seminars about the program throughout the state this summer and fall. Topics to be covered include how to check your game, why the data is important, how data collection benefits hunters and additional changes to the upcoming season. For more information about Game Check and to view a seminar schedule, visit www.outdooralabama.com/game-check-seminar-series or call WFF at 334-242-3465.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.