'04-'05 Season

Below you will find photographs of deer that have been harvested at the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area during the 2004-2005 hunting season. If you have a picture of a deer taken on this public hunting area, please forward it to me at gevans@vis-info.com so that others might enjoy your trophy.

2004-2005 Season Recap

The final firearms hunt of the season was a primitive weapons hunt that was held on January 28 & 29. The hunt faced the threat of severe winter weather conditions. 102 hunters participated in the hunt. Unfortunately, there were no deer reported taken.

The following information about the January 7-8 gun hunt at the WMA was provided by Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area Biologist, Chas Moore

On our last stalk hunt (January 7th-8th) 6 deer were harvested. Three on the 7th and three on the 8th. They were a spike, 2.5 yrs old, 152 lbs., a 4 point (2.5 yrs, 104 lbs. dressed), 5 point (3.5 yrs, 152 lbs), 6 point (1.5 yrs, 109 lbs.), two 7 pointers (both 2.5 yrs. 135 lbs. and 97 dressed)
331 hunters participated.

The rut is almost gone now and hunters just aren't seeing the deer they did earlier. We've got one more hunt on the 28 and 29 (of January), which is a PW (Primitive Weapons) hunt. This season as a whole was great. Compared to last season we harvested about twice the deer with roughly the same amount of hunters.

70 degree temperatures greeted hunters for the December 31 - January 1 gun hunt on the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area. WMA Biologist Chas Moore reports the following harvest information:

Eleven bucks and one doe were harvested. Of the bucks, there was a 10 point; an 8 point, one 7 point, two 6s, a 5, a 4, a 3, and 3 spikes. The heaviest deer weighed 189lbs. One of the six pointers had a 22 7/8 inch main beam. The other six point had 23 1/4 and 22 1/2 inch main beams. The five point buck had 19 1/2 & 18 7/8 inch main beams. The 4 point had a 16 7/8 inch main beam, which was about the same as the 10 point and the 8 point.

The December 17-18 hunt was a huge success. On Saturday, December 18, 23 deer were harvested...a new single day record ! ! ! A total of 28 bucks and 3 doe were harvested during the two day hunt! 9 of the bucks were 1.5 years old; 14 were 2.5 years old and 5 were 3.5 years old.

129 permits were issued for the December 10-11 Primitive Weapons hunt at the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area. Eight deer were harvested.

The first Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area gun hunt of the 2004-2005 season, held on November 26th & 27th, was a huge success. Thirty-three (33) deer were harvested, more than on any previous hunt at the WMA. Photos of several deer harvested during this hunt, can be seen in the Trophy Room.

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2004 - 2005 Season

Kendall Jones tagged this big boy during the January 7, 2005 hunt. This 6 point weighed 189lbs and was 5.5 years old.

(Photo Courtesy of Chas Moore. Click on the picture for a larger image)

Matt Morse took this fine 5 point on the January 7, 2005 hunt on the Cahaba River WMA. The 3.5 year old deer weighed 140lbs.

(Photo Courtesy of Chas Moore. Click on the picture for a larger image)

Joshua Seales harvested his FIRST DEER during the January 7, 2005 gun hunt. It was a NICE 95lb doe. WAY TO GO JOSH ! ! !

(Photo Courtesy of Chas Moore. Click on the picture for a larger image)

Ray Woods harvested this nice 2.5 year old 4 point during the January 7, 2005 hunt. The deer weighed 145lbs.

(Photo Courtesy of Chas Moore. Click on the picture for a larger image)

A big thanks to Jason Bachman for sending in this photo of a fine 6 point that he harvested at 8:00AM during the January 7, 2005 hunt on the Cahaba River WMA. The 109 pound, 1 1/2 year old buck was in hot pursuit of a doe.

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Joshua Price was kind enough to send in these photographs of a very nice 6 point that he took at around 7:00AM during the January 1, 2005 gun hunt on the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area. This is Mr. Price's second deer from the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area. You can see Joshua and his first deer ever, below. (ahhh..they grow up so fast :) This trophy weighed 168 pounds and was 3 1/2 years old. The main beams left and right were 221/2" by 231/4" with a 16 1/4" inside spread.

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Andrew Wakeford sent in this these photographs of a nice 169 pound, 3 1/2 year old buck that he harvested during the December 18, 2004 gun hunt on the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area. This is Andrew's second WMA buck this year! Andrew has already located a bigger buck and is working on a strategy to get another deer into the Trophy Room. Andrew is convinced that he shot this deer at the foot of the steepest hill in the Cahaba River WMA, and he wants to thank his buddy Bill for helping him drag this trophy out.

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Mike Luther sent in this photograph of a fine 8 point that he harvested on the Cahaba River WMA on the Saturday January 1, 2005 hunt. This is Mike's second addition to the Trophy Room this year. He also has a large buck in the Prior Seasons Trophy Room. The deer was taken at 5 pm, and was not recovered until Sunday morning. This nice buck weighed 160 pounds and had a 13" inside spread. Mike would like to toss out a big THANKS to his buddy Eric for helping him drag the deer out.

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Jeremy Overton, known to users of the Cahaba River WMA Discussion Board as Black Denali, sent in this photograph of a fine 8 point that he harvested during the December 17, 2004 hunt on the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area. The 2 1/2 year old buck was working a scrape line when Jeremy took the shot. The deer weighed 163 pounds. Thanks for the picture Jeremy, and congratulations!

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First Gun Hunt of the 04-05 Season a Big Success

A wet summer and bumper acorn crop combine for a healthy deer heard!

November 26, 2004 -- The first gun hunt, on the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area, for the 2004-2005 Season was held on November 26, 2004. By all accounts, it was a big success. By noon, thirteen bucks had been harvested. One of the deer, a nice 8 point, had an estimated live weight of 190 pounds. Myron Wiley, Biologist Aide at the WMA, was impressed with the condition of the deer. He felt like the "moist summer provided plenty of browse for the deer" and that the bumper crop of acorns added to the deer's ability to easily find food.

Mr. Wiley was very busy this morning trying to keep up with the flow of deer. He would record the weight, take antler measurements, check the overall health of the deer, determine the amount of fat on the deer, and remove the jaw bone in order to age the deer. This information is then used to determine guidelines for management of the deer and to evaluate the overall health of the herd.

I had a great time hanging around the checking station. Mr. Wiley possess a wealth of knowledge about the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area and deer in general. He managed to entertain me, and every one else, as he checked in each deer. I appreciate him putting up with me all morning.

As the morning progressed, it became apparent to me that there was someone else there that also knew an awful lot about deer. Rusty, the checking station dog, had this whole hunting thing figured out. You see, Rusty loves deer. He loves to sniff them, lick them, rub on them, nibble on them... As each vehicle would pull into the checking station, Rusty would trot out to greet it and slip around behind it to catch a quick sniff. As the vehicle continued around the drive to pull up to the parking area, Rusty would tell you if there was a deer in the vehicle. If Rusty did not follow the vehicle around the loop that circles the checking station, but immediately returned to the shed; there was no deer. If Rusty followed the vehicle around the entire circle drive, you can bet your eye teeth that that hunter had harvested a deer. Upwards of 50 vehicles circled the shed that housed the checking station this morning, and Rusty did not falter a single time!

I enjoyed getting to meet each of the hunters and hear their special story about their successful day in the Alabama outdoors. I'll not soon forget seeing Joshua Price and his hunting buddy materialize in the back of the field behind the checking station. As if from nowhere, they appeared...huffing and puffing. After they caught their breath, they told of hauling their trophy up and down, and up and down, and up and down over three ridges as they made their way to the checking station. It was Joshua's first harvest. I'll bet they won't forget it soon either!

What a treat it was to finally meet Mike Luther. Mike was an early supporter of this web site and has continued to contribute to "our community" over the years.

Frank Lutz has been hunting the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area for many years. He is a quiet man with that knowing look in his eyes that can only be earned after many years of chasing the whitetail deer over the ridges and through the bogs of central Alabama. Frank has several nice mounts in his home of deer that he has taken on WMA property. Send in pictures Frank!

Congratulation to all of the hunters who were successful on today's hunt. I enjoyed getting to meet each of you, and I appreciate you allowing me to post your photo in the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area Trophy Room. Today's deer harvest may well end up being the largest single day harvest, on the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area, to date! With continued sound management practices provided by Chas Moore and Myron Wiley, and responsible stewardship by the hunters of Alabama, I'll bet it won't hold that distinction for long.

Greg Evans

PS. I would be happy to mail an 8X10 print of the photographs below, to each of the successful hunters as my way of saying thanks for letting me post it on this web site. If you'd like one, just drop me an e-mail with you mailing address.

For questions or comments about this article, please contact me at gevans@vis-info.com

Patty Fischetti sent in this photograph of a nice 8 point that her husband, James, harvested on the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area on the afternoon of November 27, 2004. The 2 1/2 year old buck weighed 140 lbs. It took the couple almost two hours to drag the deer, to their truck, from the creek bottom where it was harvested. This is the second year that Patty and James have been hunting the WMA, and Patty is optimistic that the next deer will be hers!

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Mike Luther harvested this 5 point on the morning of the first Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area gun hunt of the '04-'05 Season (November 26, 2004). This is Mike's third deer in our Trophy Room, and it weighed 114 pounds field dressed. Mike was kind enough to write an article for this web site about a Bruiser Buck that he harvested on the WMA during the 2001-2002 season. You can view the article HERE.

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Joshua Price scored on this nice 3 point on the November 26, 2004. He and a hunting buddy were mighty winded after toting this deer's 115 pounds across three ridges. This was Joshua's first deer. Way to go Josh!!!

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Melvin Day took this buck on the morning of November 26, 2004. The deer weighed 100 pounds filed dressed.

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Frank Lutz harvested this 2 1/2 year old, 6 point on the morning of November 26, 2004. The deer weighed in at 115lbs field dressed.

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James Holcombe scored on this fine 8 point on the morning of the first WMA gun hunt of the 2004-2005 season (November 26, 2005). The 2 1/2 year old buck weighed 140 pounds "on the hoof".

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Mike Swords harvested this 1 1/2 year old buck on the morning of November 26, 2004. This 6 point had nice mass for his age and weighed 96lbs filed dressed.

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Scott Horsley made a good shot on this 1 1/2 year old 3 point on the morning of November 26, 2004. The deer weighed 84 pounds field dressed.

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Mike Anderson harvested this fine 4 point on the morning of the first Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area gun hunt of the '04-'05 Season (November 26, 2004). The 1 1/2 year old buck weighed 94 pounds field dressed.

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A big THANK YOU to Jerry Gill for providing the first photo of the 2004-2005 hunting season. Jerry took this nice doe while bow hunting the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area on Saturday, October 16, 2004.

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Send mail to gevans@vis-info.com with questions or comments about this web site.Copyright © 2000-2008 Vision Information Systems.

Send mail to gevans@vis-info.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000-2008 Vision Information Systems.