Deer and turkey hunters in Alabama will now have 24 hours to report their harvest beginning this hunting season.

These changes are meant to improve deer and turkey harvest data collection and management efforts of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.

The program, Game Check, will require all deer and turkey hunters, both licensed and exempt, to report all deer and turkeys harvested in the state. All hunters will still be required to carry a harvest record with them while hunting, and to fill it out prior to moving the deer or turkey.

Within 24 hours, hunters then must report their harvest by the Internet at www.outdooralabama.com/gamecheck, the free Outdoor Alabama smartphone app or by regular telephone at 1-800-888-7690.. Once a hunter makes the report, he or she will be issued a confirmation number that must be written on the harvest record.

When a hunter reports their deer kill to Game Check, they will provide their hunting license number, the county where the deer was killed, the sex of the deer, and whether it was killed on public or private property. When reporting a turkey kill, they will provide their hunting license number, county, public or private land, and adult or jake.

Hunters will be able to view the data in real time by visiting the Outdoor Alabama website.

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner N. Gunter Guy Jr. said the implementation of the Game Check system will increase the data collection and allow ADCNR to respond more quickly to the changing dynamics of the wildlife herds and hunter activities. The deer season is also being extended until Feb. 10, 2014, in all of Baldwin, Mobile, Washington and Escambia counties, most of Monroe and Conecuh counties, and portions of Choctaw, Clarke, Wilcox, Butler and Covington counties.

“With Game Check we’re going to be able to see how many bucks and does are being taken in this extended season,” he said. “You will be required to report the bucks you kill. You’re not getting extra bucks. It’s the same three-buck limit. When it comes to does, if you don’t want to shoot does, don’t shoot does. Certainly, you need to manage your properties. For private land, this will provide the ability to hunt into what the data shows in this area is a later rut. The information we have supports it.”

Marengo County’s deer season begins Oct. 15 with bow season.