Last week, HB 509 (related to deer breeders) was introduced by Representative Jeff Sorrells of Hartford. This bill should be disturbing to all ethical sportsmen, hunters, and citizens in Alabama. Alabamians have a constitutional right to hunt and fish in this state. HB 509 would jeopardize that right. The deer breeder legislation would declare that deer within a breeder facility are personal property of the owner, like pets. Deer breeders then place those pet deer in small pens or fences and they could be shot by individuals for a large fee paid to the breeder. This practice is neither ethical nor sporting, and tarnishes the reputation and traditional hunting methods shared by hunters and sportsmen alike.

The legislation also limits the ability of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to adequately inspect these facilities and test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) or other diseases. Most concerning, the legislation would allow the reckless transfer of diseased deer by deer breeders to any facility, property, or person anywhere in the state. This would drastically increase the risk of the spread of CWD or other diseases to all parts of Alabama and threatens the $2 billion economic impact traditional hunting provides for the businesses of our state, especially in the rural areas. This is totally unacceptable.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is strongly opposed to this legislation. The reckless disregard in this legislation for the rights of deer hunters, the citizens of Alabama, the economic impact of hunting, and the deer population is disturbing and unfathomable. The legislation is assigned to the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee. Contact information for House Agriculture and Forestry committee members is provided below.

House Agriculture and Forestry Committee Contact Information

Alisha Glover, Clerk

Email: alisha.glover@alhouse.gov

Phone: (334) 261-0450

Danny Crawford, Chairman

Email: danny.crawford@alhouse.gov

Statehouse phone: (334) 261-0516

District phone: (256) 871-1944

Steve Hurst, Vice Chairman

Email: steve.hurst@alhouse.gov

Statehouse phone: (334) 261-0415

District phone: (334) 280-3276

Click here and select Agriculture and Forestry Committee for a complete list of committee members.

Chris Blankenship, Commissioner

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources