The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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One of my comedy excuses I’m known for when I come up empty-handed from a hunting or a fishing trip, is that my friend, partner, guide, etc. “dry-ridged” me. I forgot where I first heard that term, but I use it quite often to blame other people for my lack of success. It refers to the belief that they purposefully placed me in a location where they knew no game would be. I mean after all, who wants to put me on their favorite spot or let me know where their honey-hole is? Hunters aren’t nearly...
As part of the SEC Softball Tournament last week at Auburn University, eight female Conservation Enforcement Officers (CEOs) from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) were honored during the tournament and with a shopping trip by Academy Sports + Outdoors at its Auburn location. Cody Reid, Academy's Regional Marketing Specialist for Alabama, east Tennessee and Georgia, said recognizing the CEOs was a natural fit for Academy. "The Alabama Department of...
A project to restore the Eastern indigo snake to Alabama is one step closer to its goal with the release of 40 indigos in the Conecuh National Forest on Saturday, May 11, 2024. The reintroduction project aims to establish a viable population of this threatened species within its historic range along Alabama's Gulf Coast. Representatives from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Auburn University, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Zoo Atlanta...
On Saturday, June 8, 2024, Alabamians and out-of-state visitors alike will have the opportunity to fish for free in most public waters including both freshwater and saltwater. Free Fishing Day allows residents and non-residents to enjoy the outstanding fishing Alabama has to offer without purchasing a fishing license. The event is part of National Fishing and Boating Week, which runs June 1-9. "Free Fishing Day is the perfect opportunity for anyone who has never experienced casting a line to giv...
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey joined in the celebration of Safe Boating Week at the Academy Sports + Outdoors store in Montgomery earlier this week as Academy donated $5,000 worth of life jackets to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). "I am pleased to join you and our Conservation Enforcement Officers (CEOs) as we recognize Safe Boating Week," Governor Ivey said. "I am also pleased and grateful as we recognize Academy Sports + Outdoors for their generous donation...
Fishing is a great sport that millions of men and women participate in each year. Most of the country boasts of its places to fish and each area has its specialty. For instance, my area is known for its lakes. Other areas are known for their rivers or streams, and some for their access to the ocean. There really is something for everyone. What I forget many times about fishing is how my success today is based on what has happened yesterday or even the past several days. It may be beautiful and...
The turkeys are gobbling the woods down. Their call is one of the most recognizable in all of nature. Whether one is a turkey hunter or not, everyone knows this familiar sound. And even though a tom turkey will gobble the entire year, he is especially vocal during the spring mating season. The turkey is an amazing bird. Just a few years ago there were so few, most hunters turned into fishermen during the spring. Now, the turkey is in every state except Alaska. And not only are they surviving,...
Despite some challenging weather conditions, the Alabama Governor's One-Shot Turkey Hunt last week was another resounding success with numerous hunters from across the nation bagging an Alabama bird. "We had hot and humid weather to start and then a line of thunderstorms came through," said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) at Wednesday's awards luncheon. "But more than a third of people hunting ended up with a turkey. "It has...
Furthering its commitment to the preservation and protection of Alabama's natural resources, the Law Enforcement Section of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division announces it will pursue accreditation through the North American Wildlife Law Enforcement Accreditation (NAWLEA) program. Alabama joins Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina and Virginia as one of the first five Conservation Department's in the country to...
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet next on June 24 to 27 in Houston, Texas. The Council will meet on properly managing fishery resources in the U.S. federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and will consider updating fishing regulations. The meetings will take place at the Omni Houston Hotel at 4 Riverway in Houston, TX 77056. Phone (713) 871-8181 for more information. Information on lodging and to register from the webinar will be coming soon as well as the agenda and the...
A new study indicates that hunters who consumed the meat of a deer infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) have died from the experience. "Two Hunters from the Same Lodge Afflicted with Sporadic CJD," it reads. "Is Chronic Wasting Disease to Blame?" The authors highlight "a cluster of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) cases after exposure to chronic wasting disease (CWD)-infected deer." Those findings, they say, are "suggestive of potential prion transmission from CWD-infected deer to...
One of the goals of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is to not only manage and conserve our abundant natural wonders but to also share Alabama's great outdoors with everyone. The R3 Program of ADCNR's Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division is a significant part of outreach efforts to get Alabama's citizens and guests outside, enjoying the many outdoors recreational opportunities in our beautiful state. R3 Coordinator Justin Grider and his team want...
As saltwater fishing for 2024 heads into the peak seasons, a look back at 2023 reveals another record-breaking year for those who fish Alabama's coastal waters and the Gulf of Mexico. The catch that went viral with news agencies around the world picking up the story was the giant blue marlin caught by "Best Trait," a 55-foot Viking sportfishing vessel owned by Scott Crump of Jasper. The marlin officially weighed 1,145.6 pounds, which is not only an Alabama but also a Gulf of Mexico record. The...
Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest Exhibit Premieres at EcoWild Expo The 2024 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest Exhibit will premiere at the EcoWild Outdoor Expo on May 10-12, 2024, at the Mobile Convention Center in Mobile, Alabama. The event opens Friday, May 10, at noon. The traveling exhibit features the top four photos from 10 categories in the 2024 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest, including Alabama State Parks, Birds, Wildlife, Nature-based Recreation, Bugs and Butterflies, Shoots and Roots,...
The reconstruction of the Gulf State Park Pier reached a milestone recently when the walkway to the octagon on the end was partially completed. Lamar Pendergrass, the South Region Operations Supervisor for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) State Parks Division, said missing pilings and decking components have been replaced all the way to the octagon, which will allow construction workers much easier access to the entire 1,544-foot pier. "You can actually make...
Alabama is a fisherman's paradise with creeks, named rivers, manmade lakes, the Tensaw Delta, Mobile Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico coast. Alabamians do need to be careful about consuming too many fish from certain waters in the state. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) annually updates fish consumption advisories based on data collected the preceding fall by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). ADEM, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the Alabama...
My mind goes to so many outdoor activities this time of year. It's the middle of February so mostly I'm planning for the next couple of months. Not only will turkey season be upon us soon, but some of the best pan fishing is knocking at the door. The walleye run will put fishermen elbow to elbow in the river and the crappie will have boats side by side at the lake. These two fish are my all-time favorite varieties to eat. And the bonus points my wife gives me when I bring them home are enough...
Anyone who has explored Alabama's great outdoors or spent time on a tractor cultivating an agricultural crop knows how destructive feral swine can be on the landscape. Because of the prodigious reproductive capacity of these wild hogs, controlling the populations is difficult at best, and many researchers believe that total eradication of this invasive species is not a viable option. Some are looking to methods other than hunting or trapping to control the hog numbers, and Texas recently approve...
The spring turkey season in Alabama is fast approaching, and some confusion exists on the dates of the Special Youth Hunt that precedes opening day of the regular season. Marianne Gauldin of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division said this year's opening day of the regular season falls on a Monday. That means the Special Youth Hunt will be on the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding the opening day. For Zones 1...
Lace up your hiking boots and get ready to join the naturalists and volunteers from the foothills of the Appalachians, along the Tennessee River Valley to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico for the "Hike 24 in 24 Alabama" initiative from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) State Parks Division. The Alabama State Parks' interpretive hike schedule (www.alapark.com/hike-24-24-alabama) includes hikes led by knowledgeable State Park staff and volunteers. Each hike...
The largest youth archery competition in Alabama, the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Alabama State Championship, will be held April 4-5, 2024, at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl located at 220 Hall St. in Montgomery, Alabama. The media and public are invited to attend. This year's event will feature nearly 2,000 student archers in Grades 4-12 from schools across the state who earned an opportunity to compete in the state championship after competing in one of eight regional...
One of the most frustrating aspects of pursuing the Eastern wild turkey in Alabama is hunting the wily birds in wide open territory, open agricultural fields or clearcuts for example. With virtually no cover to hide, hunters may have to resort to somewhat extreme measures to bag a bird in the open. I remember trying to outwit what I call field turkeys with Preston Pittman, who has won so many turkey calling contests that I can't list them all. Pittman finally said, "If I have to dig a hole in...
Alabama is blessed with many natural wonders and diverse ecosystems that provide abundant opportunities for Alabamians and visitors alike to enjoy. A group of folks in south Alabama wants to make sure one of those amazing ecosystems receives it due recognition. Hence, the birth of the EcoWild Outdoor Expo that will be held May 10-12 at the Mobile Convention Center on Water Street on the banks of the Mobile River. The team at PMT Publishing and Mobile Bay Magazine, having published magazines in A...
Winter undoubtedly thwarts many outdoor plans in most parts of the country. If you don’t believe me, just wait until the first warm weekend in February. There will be more lawnmowers heard than any other time of the year. It’s not that they want to mow their lawn, but it’s just that they have cabin fever. Another problem with the winter is the amount of light in each day. There have been several times when one could hunt all day and stay out less than twelve hours. That means twelve hours in th...
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Now that the white-tailed deer season has ended, hunters will likely turn their attention once again to small game like rabbits, squirrels and the bobwhite quail, although quail hunting is nothing like it once was. When fence rows from small farms and family gardens crisscrossed Alabama and the Southeast, the bobwhite flourished. Since large-scale farming operations became the norm and many families moved to urban and suburban areas, the q...
