Change in hunting regulations

The state conservation agency is revamping a new program that requires hunters to report all the deer and turkey they kill to the state.  Officials say hunters will now have 72 hours to report kills rather than the 24-hour time limit that was initially planned. The change comes amid complaints from state Sen. Paul Sanford of Huntsville. He says the 24-hour time limit was too strict for hunters who might be in the woods away from telephone lines or cell phone signals. Biologists say they need the information to help manage wildlife in the state and make sure animals are healthy. They say they hope to develop almost real-time reporting to help hunters know what's going on in the woods.

Bow season for deer opens Oct. 15.