Registration Form (PDF)

• new assertions related to tax collections for which AWF held documents from the Department of Revenue expressing exactly the opposite
   
• ambiguous and conflicting language that we believed could open the door for inappropriate taxation of hunting facilities of all kinds, both public and private
   
• interpretations which were inconsistent with our view of the nature and intent of the use of equipment and management practices at hunting lodges and hunting camps that could result, in our view, in inappropriate application of sales tax

• It increases the chance for disease transmission and spread among deer and other wildlife - Wildlife research has shown that baiting deer causes them to unnaturally concentrate around baited areas. This increases the likelihood of spreading diseases between animals by direct contact and through eating bait contaminated with disease causing agents shed in feces, saliva or other excretions.

• CWD - Chronic Wasting Disease: an infectious disease that leads to the death of the animal. CWD is transmitted laterally, meaning live deer infect other deer. CWD is believed to be spread by deer ingesting the feces or saliva from another deer with the disease. CWD has been found in free-ranging deer or elk in the following states: CO, IL, NE, NM, SD, UT, WI, & WY.
  
  
• Bovine Tuberculosis: an important contagious disease of cattle that can be spread from animals to humans and can lead to death. Baiting was identified as a key factor in the spread of Bovine TB in wild deer in Michigan.

• Demodectic Mange: causes hair loss and lesions to the infected animal.
  
  
• Parasitism: transmission of many harmful parasites of deer including lungworms and stomach worms increases when deer are concentrated at bait sites.

• It makes wildlife, especially turkeys, more susceptible to predators - Predators learn that wildlife will congregate at bait stations or piles and simply wait for their next meal to arrive. AWF's land stewardship biologist has personally observed six predator-killed turkey carcasses over the course of one summer around wildlife feeders.
• It negatively impacts turkeys, quail and other ground nesting birds by concentrating potential nest predators like raccoons - Research shows that ground nests in the vicinity of bait stations have a greater risk of discovery by predators than nests in areas where bait stations do not occur. Raccoons and striped skunks are the most abundant nest predators.
• It's bad for the long-term health of hunting - it sends a bad message to non-hunters who otherwise support our right to hunt. Only 7% of the population hunts. Fortunately, a large portion of the population that does not hunt supports our right to hunt. Hunting over bait sends a negative message about hunting to those who otherwise support our right to hunt. Hunting is a $700 million industry to Alabama annually. We don't want to loose it.
  
  
• Over-browsing near bait results in the destruction of habitat - as population densities increase at these baiting areas, the pressure on the surrounding habitat increases. In many cases baiting deer has created populations that exceed the carrying capacity of their environment. Deer eating at bait stations will over-browse native vegetation in the area as well. They select the better quality plants and cause an increase in plant species that have little or no wildlife value. The amount and type of plant species are negatively affected by he concentrated foraging of a baited deer population. In addition, high concentrations of deer around bait stations alter the local habitat which leads to changes in the species composition of co-existing bird populations; including a decrease in abundance and diversity of songbirds.
• The cost of baiting deer to compete with other hunters who bait will be too high for some hunters - possibly reducing the number of hunters. Some hunters will not be able to afford the amount of bait necessary to compete with other hunters who bait on adjoining properties.
• Impossible to enforce - difficult to assess the level of compliance with the law. May also facilitate illegal activities such as the shooting of deer at night.