Alabama hunters wanting to whack an exotic animal will have to do it out of state, which is sending at least one high-fence operator elsewhere.
Regulations about exotic species are pretty tight in Alabama, as in some other states. Wildlife officials believe the prohibition on importing exotic species, or whitetail deer, is beneficial to help reduce the threat of diseases that could impact native species.
At least one high-fence operator said he’s taking his business to another state to avoid Alabama’s laws and regulations so his clients can kill animals imported or native.
“I gave up,” said Dustin Mizell, who runs Mizell’s Monsters. “Alabama does not want to do exotics, so I’ll take my business elsewhere.”
Read the full story in The Tuscaloosa News by going here:
What do you think about importing non-native exotics into your state for high fence operations? Should landowners be able to do whatever they want or should state wildlife agencies and legislatures be able to regulate or prohibit non-native and exotics? Let us know!
As much as I dislike the idea of someone telling me how I can use my land, the fact is that government does it every day through the application of zoning laws and comprehensive land use regulations. So that really isn’t even an issue. To me, the real issue is do you want to run the risk of diseases and other influences brought in from out of state animals to affect the health of native species. Florida, where I live, has a long history of such problems going back to the 1930’s and continuing today with the introduction of such critters as pythons, iguanas, and monitor lizards. OK, those are extreme examples that don’t directly relate to the importation of ungulates, but the basic priniciple still applies. If you want to hunt exotics, go to Texas where it seems anything goes (not that I don’t love TX – I have hunted there many times, although never for exotics – other than ringneck pheasant if you want to count them).