Alabama House OKs letting hunters take deer through baiting

MONTGOMERY (AP) — Alabama lawmakers have approved a bill that would allow hunters to take deer or feral swine through baiting, if they get a license to do so.

The Montgomery Advertiser reports the House approved the measure Thursday, 85-10. It now goes to the Senate, where senators have rejected it in the past. State law currently prevents the use of bait to hunt animals.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Danny Crawford, a Republican from Athens, says the measure might help manage the deer population, particularly should a condition known as chronic wasting disease, which affects the brains of deer and other wild animals, infiltrate Alabama. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said through March, there had been no reported CWD cases in Alabama, though counties in Mississippi and Tennessee have reported it.

“They’re more concerned about the opportunity to best manage our deer herd, which is a more than $2 billion industry,” Crawford said.

The bait license would cost a total of $15 for residents of the state, and $51 for nonresidents.

Critics through the years have said baiting is not hunting, and those criticisms surfaced again during House debate on Thursday. Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Livingston, said he believed in “fair chase” and said baiting would teach people to become “ambushers.”

“You are just making people lazy,” he said. “All they’re doing is figuring out ‘Alright, we’ll put corn out here,’ and we’ll just wait for a deer to come and eat the corn, as opposed to learning the migration of the deer.”

Crawford and other supporters cited the problem of feral swine as a reason for the bill, an issue raised by Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee.

“The deer have no limits,” she said. “They’re coming from everywhere . if you ever get touched by a wild hog, you will never forget it, because they plow up your yard like a tractor.”

More Stories

Alabama’s road conditions ranked second best in the United States

More Stories

Gov. Ivey commutes death sentence for 1991 Decatur murder prisoner

More Stories

42nd Alabama State Games registration opens

More Stories

Alabama Republican Party re-elects John Wahl as Chairman

More Stories

Warning siren failure in Limestone County

News

‘Great things ahead’: Mayor Marks shares insights on city’s future in annual address

More Stories

Grammy-nominated singer Angie Stone dies in Montgomery car crash

More Stories

Limestone County outdoor warning sirens malfunctioning

News

Melson disputes patient’s version of conversation regarding purchasing medical cannabis ‘off the street’

More Stories

Homeland Security recognizes ALEA as Partner of the Year

More Stories

Athens earns 2024 Tree City USA recognition from Arbor Day Foundation

More Stories

Teacher of the Year: Anna Thompson

News

‘Justice was served’: Limestone County jury finds Morgan County man guilty of murder after 10-day trial

News

Brookyln’s brave battle: The inspiring journey of a local kids life with spinal muscular atrophy

More Stories

Teacher of the Year: Jennie Fullmer

More Stories

Teacher of the Year: Kaitlin Sparkman

More Stories

Ardmore welcomes new family medicine center

More Stories

Hit and run claims life of Athens man

More Stories

LCSO arrest Athens man for infant abuse

News

Final Curtain Call: Beloved Band Director Dan Havely passes away

News

Calhoun Community College to go virtual due to impending weather

News

Gov. Ivey announces that ArcelorMittal plans $1.2 Billion Alabama mill

More Stories

U.S. Space and Rocket Center announces passing of Maria von Braun, wife of Dr. Wernher von Braun

Lifestyles

Athens Cheer heads to Orlando to compete for national titles