Producing and holding quality deer rarely happens on accident. Alabama Extension specialists and agents throughout the state serve as a resource to guide and improve your habitat, herd management, and hunting quality. Contact your local office to connect with Extension staff to learn more about active forest management, improving natural browse and cover, successful supplemental food plots, invasive plant control, herd management guidelines and so much more.

Throughout much of their range, deer are most limited by nutrition and cover. In comparison, age structure and quality deer harvest are driven by hunter management, which means knowing what deer to take and when. Improving forest stands and native vegetation to provide food and cover as well as monitoring deer herds and hunter harvest will greatly improve the herd and hunting quality.

The following linked publications are just a few of the high-profile topics and resources that Extension provides. Each link includes unbiased, research-based information that you can apply to your lands.

Forest Stand Improvement

• Basal Area: A Measure Made for Management
• Thinning Loblolly Pine Stands To Benefit Wildlife & Timber Production

Fostering Native Vegetation for Natural Browse & Cover

• Old Field Renovation & Early Successional Vegetation Management for Wildlife Enhancement
• Prescribed Fire
• Plantings for Wildlife
• Online Directory of Extension Fire Content

Amending and Planting Supplemental Food Plots

• Cool-Season Food Plots for Deer: Planning, Planting & Maintenance
• Soil Testing, Liming, and Fertilizing Wildlife Food Plots

Data Collection To Drive Harvest and Habitat Management

• Managing White-tailed Deer: Camera Surveys
• Managing White-tailed Deer Collecting Data from Harvested Deer

Predator Management

• Controlling Predators to Increase Quail Populations

Controlling Invasive Plants

• Invasive Plants: Exotic Beauties Can Have Devastating Results
• Control Options for Chinese Privet
• Kudzu Control in Forests, Rights-of-Way & Natural Areas
• Bamboo Growth and Control
• Cut Stump Herbicide Treatments for Woody Plant Control

Forming Hunting Clubs and Cooperatives

• Organizing a Hunting Club
• Forming a Hunting Cooperative