FROM STAFF REPORTS

For the fourth consecutive year, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will conduct regulated archery hunts to continue reducing the deer overpopulation at Oak Mountain State Park. An online registration process will randomly select 80 hunters for the two hunts taking place December 18-19, 2007 and January 8-9, 2008. Registration opens October 1 and closes November 9 at www.outdooralabama.com.

This year’s drawing will select one group of 80 hunters for both hunts. If a hunter cannot participate in one or more of the hunts, one of 80 alternates will be activated to fill the vacancy for that hunt only. Hunters may register multiple times.

One new rule is this season is that a doe must be harvested and checked in prior to harvesting a buck.

Selected hunters must hold a valid Alabama hunting license and complete the state hunting proficiency test