The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will reopen the Washington County Public Fishing Lake in southwest Alabama for bank fishing only on May 24, 2025. There will be no onsite manager at the lake. The lake was temporarily closed in August 2024 after the discovery of giant salvinia in the lake. Giant salvinia is one of the most aggressive aquatic plants. This fast-growing invasive species has the potential to...
It was a beautiful morning. The rain was enough to get me wet, but not enough to keep me from pursuing another tom. I did, however, wait until I heard a gobble before I decided where to set up. Therefore, it was breaking day. When I began to move, I heard some hens and thought I was busted. I turned around, went back up to the top of the hill and conferred with myself to determine what plan b would be. Evidently, those hens didn’t see me. Because after a few minutes two of them showed up with t...
If you have hunted for a considerable amount of time, you can trace your evolution. While once any deer would do; soon you held your shot for something larger. But then what? I met man years ago who made recurve bows. He took each piece of wood and allowed its own characteristics to determine what it would ultimately look like. Most had some type of crook that didn’t allow a perfect product, but they were extremely effective in the hands of a skilled archer. Not only did he make these bows, b...
Opening morning of turkey season did not disappoint. Even though I never took a shot, I had lots of action. And it’s always great when you can watch a tom strut for an extended period of time. If it were not for a late morning zoom that I had to attend, I would have stayed longer, just trying to get a gobbler a little closer. But I sure am glad my local season finally opened. It seemed like it would never get here. What made it worse was just driving around and seeing all the toms already in t...
This time of year I try to spend as much time in the turkey woods as possible. Since I speak and write to a lot of hunters, I really do need to be able to tell some stories that are not too far from the past. So, I just think of April and November as the two months that I have to go back to school to do continuing education – to keep my accreditation current- to keep abreast on any new tools and techniques. (That sounds really good. I wonder if I can use that on my wife?) But in all reality, I d...
Pursuant to Section 9-12-46, Code of Alabama as stated by Rule 220-3-.01, the Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announces that as of 6 a.m., Thursday, May 1, 2025, all inside waters will close for commercial and recreational shrimp harvesting. All inside waters, not permanently closed by law or regulation, will reopen to shrimp harvest at 6 a.m., on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Inside waters are defined in rule 220-3-.04 as all...
May 12, 2025 - FLORIDA - Tarpon season is in full swing and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding anglers to use these best fishing practices to keep silver kings reigning for generations to come. These best fishing practices were developed to help anglers quickly reel in tarpon and be set up for a successful release. From gear selection and handling techniques to proper release and shark awareness, here are the key practices every angler should know. Gear Set...
May 13, 2025 : DESTIN, FL - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is proud to announce the 10th annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day on Saturday, May 17. Lionfish are an invasive species that negatively impact native marine life and their habitat. Everyone is invited to celebrate LRAD at this year's Lionfish Festival, which will be held May 17–18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT at HarborWalk Village in Destin. This 2-day outdoor festival is free, open to the public and will...
May 9, 2025 - The inaugural Outdoor Recreation Summit was recently held at Lake Guntersville State Park, where more than 200 attendees discussed how to share Alabama's natural wonders with the rest of the nation and world. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey established the Alabama Innovation Commission in 2020, and its goals included highlighting the many assets Alabama has to offer in recruiting businesses, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and other talent to our great state. Innovate Alabama is the offshoo...
May 13, 2025 - The Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, State Lands Division, assists various state agencies in auctioning five-year hunting leases on land tracts across the state. A live public auction for the current bid cycle will be held on May 31, 2025. The 2025 bid notice, sample hunting lease, hunting tract listing, and hunting tract maps, all of which are downloadable at the state's website. To download a sample hunting lease and more information visit their website:...
May 14, 2025 - Florida's reef fish need good data to stay sustainable. That's where you come in! The State Reef Fish Survey helps @MyFWC track populations across the state. Your input makes a difference. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/3e05eb9 #FWCResearch #marineresearch #Florida #ReefFish FWC marks 5 years of the State Reef Fish Survey, advancing sustainable fisheries through data-driven efforts The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) c...
Severe weather last weekend hindered travel across the state, which limited the number of Alabama Conservation Advisory Board (CAB) members who were able to meet at Troy University for the second CAB meeting of the year. Being one member short of a quorum to conduct any official business, the CAB members were apprised of what had occurred affecting the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) since the March meeting. Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship updated...
Charlie Gray of Dauphin Island has been appointed to the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board by Governor Kay Ivey. Gray will complete the current term for Gary Wolfe of Fairhope, who resigned from the board in April 2025. A native of Dauphin Island, Gray is a 1988 graduate of the University of South Alabama. He is the Vice President and Manager of Underwriting for Surety Land Title, Inc., in Mobile. Gray comes to the Board with more than 45 years of experience fishing the Gulf Coast and is an...
For the third year in a row, the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail has been chosen as the top recreational trail in the country in the 2025 USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. The 29-mile multi-use trail connects Gulf State Park with Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Baldwin County. The awards were announced Wednesday, April 16. "This year's win is especially exciting as we celebrate the Year of Alabama Trails," said Matthew Capps, State Parks Director for the Alabama Department of...
April 24, 2025 - TALLAHASSEE, FL - The Florida Wildlife Commission is hosting a series of virtual public meetings on proposed changes to modernize Florida's wildlife trapping regulations The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding a series of virtual public meetings to collect feedback directly from Florida residents on proposed changes to modernize wildlife trapping regulations. The FWC held meetings with the public and a diverse group of stakeholders in a Technical...
April 25, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Another lake in the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Public Fishing Lakes (PFLs) program is set to reopen this weekend, continuing the program’s legacy of serving communities that don’t have easy access to the waterways, impoundments and rivers in the state. Bibb County Lake in West Blocton, Alabama, will resume operations on Saturday, April 26, under the new management of Micah and Amanda Dean. The 100-acre lake features multiple covered fishing piers, a boat ramp and restroom...
April 8, 2025 - The Board of Trustees of the Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust will hold its second quarterly meeting of 2025 on Thursday, May 1, at the Fultondale Event Center, 2980 Hawkins Lane, in Fultondale, Alabama. The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. At this meeting, updates on Forever Wild program activities and tract assessments will be presented. This meeting will also provide an opportunity for any individual who would like to make comments concerning the program to address the...
April 10, 2025 - A jubilee is a naturally occurring phenomenon that happens in only two locations in the world, Mobile Bay and Tokyo Bay, during which large numbers of fish and crustaceans are forced into shallow water due to low dissolved oxygen in the water. Jubilees are not "fish kills" and the fish, shrimp, and other marine life generally return to normal behavior when the conditions change. However, the events bring sea life right to the shore where they can be seen and harvested. These...
April 11, 2025 - So much is happening in the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) State Parks Division that it's difficult to keep up with all the renovations, upgrades and expansions at the 21 State Parks. The newest expansion is at Meaher State Park on the Mobile Causeway (Battleship Parkway) at the head of Mobile Bay. The Meaher RV Campground work includes a new bathhouse and new RV sites. Reservations (https://reserve.alapark.com/) are now available for the new...
Over the past year, thousands of student archers competed in regional tournaments throughout the state for a chance to draw their bows at the 2025 National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Alabama State Championship in Montgomery on April 3-4. During the event, nearly 2,000 archers from 105 schools competed for top honors and the opportunity to advance to the NASP Eastern National Championship on May 8-10, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural...
April 11, 2025 - The Exceptional Anglers event Gone Fishin', Not Just Wishin' at Oak Mountain State Park will take place May 7-9, 2025. The event teaches basic fishing skills to students with disabilities from Alabaster and Pelham city schools and the Shelby and Jefferson county school systems. The media is invited to attend on Thursday, May 8, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. "Community fishing events like this one serve many children and seniors throughout the state," said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner...
Chewacla State Park - Who said Easter egg hunts are just for kids? Join the Golden Egg Hunt at Chewacla State Park on April 17 and 18, 2025. Find a golden egg and bring it to the front gatehouse to redeem for a prize! One egg per person per day. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/4azpj4h6 Ready for more egg hunting fun? Join us again on April 19, 2025, and bring your family and friends! We'll start the Easter egg hunt at 2:00 p.m. around the Chewacla State Park Nature Center. Registration is...
A generous donation of 13 lots is enabling the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) to protect additional ecologically sensitive property on the Fort Morgan Peninsula. The Alabama Coastal Heritage Trust donated the Fort Morgan lots to Alabama State Parks to join previous acquisitions to preserve the sand dunes and maritime forests on Alabama's beautiful Gulf Coast. ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship said the donation from the Trust continues the effort to conserve...
March 21, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL. - Even the most lifelong-obsessed turkey hunters will have to be impressed by what Mari Grace Brooks has accomplished in chasing the elusive birds the past 15 years. The 19-year-old from Ramer, Alabama, has two Grand Slams, taking the four subspecies – Eastern, Osceola, Rio and Merriam's – in the United States, which is quite a feat for any turkey hunter. Even more impressive is she has two Double Grand Slams, where she harvested two of each of those species in...
I remember the last time I came back from a river-fishing trip with a friend. It was a beautiful morning to be on the water. The early morning, during the summer, is usually the best because the heat really picks up about mid-morning. That day was no different. By 10:30, our hopes were fried, along with our back and neck. But even before that, the action was minimal at best. We caught a few small ones, but never really got into the smallmouth population we had hoped for. The last few times we...
