SYLACAUGA, Ala. – To give hunters more options for the mandatory reporting of deer and turkey harvests, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has reactivated its Game Check phone system.
Hunters can report their harvests through the 1-800-888-7690 help line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Chuck Sykes, director of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF). Game Check reporting takes just a few minutes to complete.
When calling to report a deer or turkey harvest, hunters will hear a recorded message prompting them to have their information ready before speaking to an operator who will input the data. Callers must have their Conservation ID or ADCNR hunting license number to begin the reporting process.
An operator will ask for the date and county of harvest, type of land (public or private) and the antler point count for a deer, or the turkey’s age (jake or adult), as well as beard and spur lengths.
The data collected through Game Check helps the WFF make management decisions about the state’s deer and turkey populations and to fine-tune seasons and bag limits for the benefit of hunters.
“We’d previously shut down the call-in number due to incomplete data gathered by the computerized system,” Sykes said. “Having live operators enter the information into Game Check for the callers should make it a more user-friendly experience and gather better information for our biologists.”
Deer and turkey harvests can also be reported through the recently updated Outdoor AL mobile app (version 1.3.2 or higher) or online at outdooralabama.com. Reporting is still required within 48 hours of any deer or turkey harvest or when possession of the deer or turkey is transferred to a processor, taxidermist or another individual.
Learn more about Alabama’s Game Check reporting requirements at www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/game-check-and-harvest-record-information.
This story via Alabama NewsCenter.
