With more than $150 million available for renovations, repairs and construction, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) State Parks System is in the middle of major upgrades and enhancements to help State Parks’ guests embrace and enjoy Alabama’s natural beauty. State Parks Director Greg Lein said those projects span the entire state, […]

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced that one of the state’s public fishing lakes will be shutting down temporarily due to the spread of a highly invasive aquatic plant. The Giant Salvinia now found in Washington County Public Fishing Lake is a floating fern native to southern Brazil. According to invasive.org, […]

One of Alabama’s most popular paddling destinations recently received a significant upgrade. State and local officials celebrated the opening of the renovated Garden City River Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 24. The renovations were made possible by a settlement against Tyson Farms for a wastewater spill into the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior […]

For 11-year-old Zandyn Merritt, holding a small bull shark in his hands has taken on a new meaning as he caught it too close to home along the banks of the Alabama Tombigbee River. Alisha Richardson said the discovery and catch in the early hours of July 21 surprised everyone when the 10-pound, three-foot shark […]

“There’s a story everywhere you look for one,” says Fred Hunter. And he’s always looking. While viewers of Birmingham television station WBRC have long appreciated his delivery of timely and accurate weather news, it’s not meteorology that Hunter is best known for. People across the state recognize the man under his trademark Stetson hat as […]

Nobody was more pleased when the 91st Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) added flounder to the CCA Alabama Live Weigh-In competition than Dr. Sean Powers, head rodeo judge and Director of the Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences at the University of South Alabama. Powers watched the southern flounder populations plummet in the 2010s […]

Alabama State Parks offer lots of opportunities for fun, adventure, and family escapes, especially in summer. Monte Santo State Park Madison County The overlook at Monte Santo State Park is a perfect place for couples. (Alabama State Parks) Known for its rich history and stunning landscapes, Monte Santo offers diverse outdoor activities and miles of […]

Since the mid-1970s, one thing has remained constant at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR): Fred Harders is hard at work in the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division. Harders was recently celebrated for 50 years of service to the State of Alabama, 48 of those with WFF in one capacity or […]

Adventure is a way of life in DeKalb County, Alabama. Everyone knows it’s a place where you keep your feet on the ground while your hands get to work. Whether climbing, hunting, fishing, hiking, off-roading, mountain biking, or zip-lining, there’s no shortage of fun for an adventurous spirit.  It’s an outdoorsman’s (and outdoorswoman’s) paradise. DeKalb […]

Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth visited with Donald Trump Jr. at a recent campaign fundraiser in Alabama. The conversation between the two centered on the economy and the prospect of a second term for his father, President Donald Trump. But it’s not just politics that Ainsworth and Don Jr. have in common. Both men are avid […]

Fortunately, the number of people in Alabama who participate in the traditional outdoor endeavors of hunting and fishing has remained relatively steady, but one activity is on an upward trajectory – shooting sports. That fact has definitely been noticed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division, […]

Get ready to support Alabama farmers and celebrate all things local with Sweet Grown Alabama Day, this Saturday, July 13th.  Each summer the event is hosted by Sweet Grown Alabama, a nonprofit foundation that seeks to enhance marketing opportunities for Alabama farmers by connecting retailers and consumers to Alabama-grown foods and other agricultural products. Farmers […]

Congressman Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) has announced that legislation to help protect and promote the Underwater Forest in the Gulf of Mexico has officially passed the U.S. House of Representatives as of Monday. Per the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act, authored by Carl, the 60,000-year-old forest located a few miles off the […]

A partnership of conservation groups, state agencies, the city and private groups cut the ribbon this week on a new boat launch, docks and a tournament pavilion in Selma, providing an enhanced venue for recreational activities, fishing tournaments and other uses in Alabama’s Black Belt. Partners that contributed to the projects include the Alabama Department […]

Facing against the river current, the boat drifted slowly backward, despite the whirling trolling motor prop slashing to gain headway against the flow. As the boat glided past a hump 50 feet below, the rod tip twitched ever so slightly. Then, the stout rod bent over double as a river monster inhaled the offering. Big […]

A new dock and boardwalk, a new live weigh-in category and a new species for catch and release are among the highlights for the 91st annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR), set for July 19-21 at the rodeo site on Dauphin Island. The new dock and boardwalk will increase the capacity for the number […]

If you’ve been to Lake Martin, Alabama, you have probably visited the beautiful Kowaliga area. Whether to eat, boat around, or visit the marina, the area is a mainstay of Lake Martin and is held dear in the hearts of many. But beneath the favorite vacation spot of many Alabamians lie the ruins of a […]

Alabama is home to an incredible range of state parks that have something to offer adventurers year-round. Our Alabama State Parks Passport series highlights all of the stunning outdoor spaces throughout the state that make for the perfect seasonal getaway. The seventh in our series is Monte Sano State Park. OVERVIEW According to Alabama State […]

The Alabama Association of Resource, Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils presented a $25,000 grant to Alabama State Parks on Friday, June 21, during the Pollinator Festival at Oak Mountain State Park (OMSP). The RC&D grant will fund development of 12 pollinator gardens at state parks throughout the state. “We truly appreciate RC&D for funding this project, which will […]

Alabama is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and opportunities to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. However, if you have little to no experience in the outdoors or you are moving to Alabama as an entrepreneur or member of the workforce, you are probably not familiar with the vast number of outdoor recreational opportunities available […]

Another step toward an aquatic center for the Mobile County Sportsplex was taken on Monday when the Mobile County Commission said it would comply with best management practices connected to a land disturbance permit. Commissioner Connie Hudson, one of the driving forces behind the aquatic center, said complying with the plan was a housekeeping item […]

The University of Montevallo has set a new record of winning four consecutive Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia titles following the season-ending 2024 Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship at Pickwick Lake in Florence. Approximately 200 teams of the top collegiate anglers from across the country competed for two days in hopes […]

Sweet Trails Alabama is a collaborative initiative to create Alabama’s first statewide trail plan through efforts on state, regional, and local levels. The Public Draft of the Sweet Trails Alabama (Statewide Trails) Plan has recently been released. The plan, to be completed this summer, will identify a trail network spanning a large portion of the state. […]

The annual Buckmasters Expo in Montgomery, Alabama has officially been set for August 16, 17, and 18th. The event will offer both families and hunting enthusiasts the opportunity to explore over three hundred booths offering a full range of hunting products. The booths will be open from 3-8 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 […]