The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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A star. I think of all the things God could have used to guide the first worshipers to Jesus, He chose a star. Not some man-made innovation. Not a person or prophet. Not even a voice. But a star. Loud in its light, but quiet in its announcement. Unlike the shepherds who were not looking for the angel, the wise men were always looking to the stars. They believed within the sky, divine messages could be seen and interpreted. Evidently, they were right. This particular star led these men to its cre...
The cameras don’t lie. Their all-seeing eye is there when I can’t be. I know every varmint that comes across my field. There were raccoons, bobcats, turkeys, skunks, coyotes, and even a bear. What’s been absent are the deer. I mean, there have been a couple of spikes and a couple of doe, but nothing like every other year. In fact, I can’t remember another time like this in the twenty years I’ve been hunting this property. I know disease comes and goes among every herd. And I’ve been listening to...
January 2, 2025 - GUNTERSVILLE, AL - The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has reopened the Brown's Creek Public Boat Ramp in Guntersville, Alabama, after the completion of facility upgrades. The boat ramp is just off Highway 69 on Lake Guntersville. During the closure a new three-lane launching slab and a new 150-foot floating access pier were installed. The facility also features 64 trailer spaces, three...
January 6, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Most of Alabama's 23 State-owned Public Fishing Lakes return to regular operational hours on Saturday, February 1, 2025. Located throughout the state, these lakes are noted for their quality fishing for bream, largemouth bass, channel catfish and crappie (in most lakes). Because these smaller lakes warm more quickly than larger bodies of water, early spring fishing can be excellent. "Many state lakes have been renovated in recent years and some lakes are closed...
Each morning I walked about three-fourths of a mile to get to my stand. I had cut limbs and bushes out of the way and yet there was one area where I had to navigate around several tree-laps and weeds. I could have gone another way but this seemed to be the best direction if I was to leave the smallest footprint. The problem was not maneuvering the fallen trees, it was dodging those little cockleburs that attached themselves to my clothes. Every morning, while watching deer, I found myself...
January 10, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - The next mandatory chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling weekend for all of Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties has been postponed due to inclement weather and has been rescheduled for next weekend, January 18-19, 2025. Also, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division has added an incentive to encourage hunters in the CWD Management Zone (CMZ) to submit samples. Hunters who...
As winter approaches, camping opportunities become more limited in most parts of the United States. However, for much of the South—as well as RVers and ambitious cold-weather enthusiasts—camping season never ends. Throughout national forests across the U.S., year-round camping options are abundant, offering many amenities and accessibility options. Outwander used forest service data from the Department of Agriculture to identify year-round campgrounds in national forests nationwide. The cam...
January 16, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has reopened the McCarty's Ferry Public Boat Ramp on the Tombigbee River. The boat ramp is located at the end of McCarty's Ferry Road, which intersects with Ararat Road south of Butler, Alabama, in Choctaw County. During the closure an additional launching slab was installed. Due to chronic siltation issues at the facility's existing...
January 17, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Nature lovers are blessed with abundant recreational and travel opportunities the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources offers in north Alabama, like Joe Wheeler State Park, Monte Sano State Park and several wildlife management areas. But the possibilities don't end there. For those who love to explore new territory, I've got a perfect place to get in a robust hike and learn a great deal about Alabama's natural history and how Alabama's...
January 17, 2025 - FLORENCE, AL - The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has reopened the larger of the two ramps at the McFarland Public Boat Ramp facility (McFarland West) on Pickwick Reservoir in Florence. McFarland West was closed in November 2024 to replace the facility's damaged three-lane launching slab. The access pier at McFarland North will also be replaced, which may cause a temporary closure of the...
January 23, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has reopened the Claiborne Public Boat Ramp in Monroe County after the completion of a major renovation project. The facility is located just off U.S. Highway 84 near Monroeville. During the closure, a new two-lane launching slab was installed, and the parking lot was expanded by approximately three times its previous size to provide...
January 25,2025 - One might think Forever Wild Land Trust's M. Barnett Lawley Field Trial Area is all about sporting dogs, but it's much, much more. The 4,323-acre property in Hale County, managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) State Lands Division, is indeed one of the premier competitive sporting dog event areas in the Southeast, and it also provides numerous outdoor recreational opportunities for youth and physically disabled hunters, beginner anglers...
January 24, 2025 - The Alabama Trustee Implementation Group will provide its 2024 annual update via an online video recording on January 30, 2025. The video will include information on the Alabama Trustee Implementation Group's ongoing restoration projects. The video update will be available on the Gulf Spill Restoration YouTube Channel beginning on January 30, 2025. The public may also provide comments related to the presentation topics through February 6, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CT via e-mai...
As winter settles in, camping opportunities become more limited in most parts of the United States. However, for much of the South—as well as RVers and ambitious cold-weather enthusiasts—camping season never ends. Throughout national forests across the U.S., year-round camping options are abundant, offering many amenities and accessibility options. Outwander used Forest Service data from the Department of Agriculture to identify Alabama campgrounds in national forests available throughout the...
First light has always been my favorite time of day. It’s at that time my expectation is at its highest. Whether I’m fishing, hunting or just out, I love the possibilities and excitement the breaking day brings. It seems all game is more active during this period. Every cast is made with great expectations. Every corner of the woods is looked at with great expectations. The skies are filled with great expectations. It’s a feeling only you and I know. I wonder sometimes if that’s not what dr...
November 8, 2024 - The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Marine Resources Division (MRD) will host three public meetings to discuss potential regulation changes and the status of several saltwater species. The meetings will take place in November and December and are open to the public. Topics for discussion include: Retention of bag limits by captain and crew of Alabama commercial party boats Remove allowance for oversized red drum Tripletail and sheepshead...
November 8, 2024 - Thanks to a donation by the University of South Alabama's (USA) Epsilon Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order (KA), those with mobility issues will have access to an all-terrain track chair at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores. The presentation of the track chair to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) Alabama State Parks was held during the USA Jaguars home football game Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Bill Bennett, General Manager of The...
Going for an adventure outdoors is one of the best ways to spend time together as a family. Not only does it offer a chance to bond and create lasting memories, but it's also good for children's health. According to Harvard Health, outdoor activities can improve a child's creativity and executive function, and, of course, increase their appreciation for nature. Taking up an activity like fishing offers its own specific benefits, too, as it teaches important skills such as patience and...
A prescribed burn is planned at Gulf State Park as part of a forest management plan associated with longleaf pine restoration, fuel reduction and invasive species control. The planned burn will take place in the Eagle Loop section of the park near Lake Shelby on November 20-21, 2024, weather permitting. State Park Road will be closed during the burn period. Every effort is being made to ensure safety and proper smoke management during this burn. However, park guests staying in the lakeside cabin...
November 15, 2024 - The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has temporarily closed the three-lane ramp at the McFarland Public Boat Ramp (McFarland West) on Pickwick Reservoir in Florence for major upgrades. The facility's two-lane ramp (McFarland North) will remain open during the majority of the renovation period. During the closure the launching slab at McFarland West and the access pier at McFarland North...
November 22, 2024 - Andy Poss knows the Tennessee River's Pickwick Lake from top to bottom – literally. Fishing for both largemouths and the scrappy smallmouths, as well as crappie, is what he does now. For 15 years prior, he probed the lake from bottom to top to make a living. Poss was a commercial fisherman and mussel diver during those 15 years until, in his words, "I got tired of being wet all the time. And it's a lot of work to handle 2,000 hooks a day – baiting 1,000 hooks and then tak...
Many of my friends have been using every spare moment for the last several weeks, trying to fill their buck tag. Some are holding out for a certain deer, while others are not as picky. But no matter which type of hunter they are, there is one thing certain. Both are growing tired. The early mornings are becoming less exciting, and the cold weather makes even the preparation much more difficult. Some will lay their weapon down and wait until next year. For myself, I am also lingering a little lon...
In a continuing effort to minimize the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the state, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division held this season's first mandatory CWD check last weekend in Lauderdale County. WFF staff sampled 356 deer for CWD, a neurodegenerative disease that affects cervids, including white-tailed deer, at the sampling stations in Lauderdale County. In addition to samples from Lauderdale and...
December 6, 2024 - When some people harvest their first wild animal, it awakens an appreciation of the great outdoors and nature. For others, it is much more emotional and prompts memories of family or loved ones. For Sadie Pettus, the latter is true. On a recent hunting trip to Barbour Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Pettus was able to take a feral hog, and it evoked memories of her late father, Clark Crates. Although Crates was an avid outdoorsman as well as a talented musician on the piano,...
Dave Armstrong is planning to go hunting when the weather cools off, but he actually hopes he doesn't find an abundance of the species he's stalking. Armstrong is the Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater (WFF) Division, and he and the Fisheries Section staff will be searching for several invasive carp species – silver, bighead, grass and black. Those carp, especially the silver, can be detrimental...
