Senator Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL) has signed on as a cosponsor of the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S.1149), or RAWA. The legislation would make funds available for the management of fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need as determined by state fish and wildlife agencies. “Alabama is blessed with an abundance of wildlife […]

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 […]

The Nature Conservancy in Alabama will hold an Earth Day dedication for its new Fenvkvcēkv (pronounced finuh-guh-jee-guh) Creek Preserve at Flagg Mountain in Coosa County on Friday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. Flagg Mountain is the southernmost peak and start of the 2,000-mile-long Appalachian Mountain range, which is why the The Nature Conservancy calls the […]

Gulf Shore State park held a ribbon cutting ceremony for new cabins that were unveiled on Lake Shelby as part of an $8.8 million project that has gone on since 2020 and Hurricane Sally. 17 damaged structures from the storm were replaced with 20 new and more modern lakeside cabins, according to OutdoorAlabama. All 20 […]

With the goal of strengthening conservation efforts in Alabama, the Law Enforcement Section of the ADCNR’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division has announced that it is seeking national accreditation. The division is hoping to attain the designation through the North American Wildlife Law Enforcement Accreditation program. “By seeking NAWLEA accreditation, WFF’s Law Enforcement Section is […]

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 […]

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 […]

The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association has officially begun its 12th annual Big Gobbler Photo Contest. The competition, according to the organization, was created to teach Alabamians about the vast amount of natural resources located within the state’s Black Belt region. “As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, turkey hunters will again […]

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 […]

Alabama anglers and fishing enthusiasts who enjoy Logan Martin Lake might notice their lakeshore a little bit cleaner, and the fish a little healthier over the coming weeks. Last Saturday, while the top 20 anglers competed on Lay Lake at Major League Fishing’s (MLF) Bass Pro Shops Redcrest 2024 Powered by Optima Lithium, the MLF […]

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 […]

When Clanton native Dustin Connell hauled 28 score able bass in worth 83 pounds last week he became the first ever two time champion of the Bass Pro Tour’s signature event, the 2024 REDCREST. The event, hosted at Lay Lake in east central Alabama, showcased some of the top talent in Major League Fishing and […]

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 […]

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 […]

The first 2024 meeting of the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board was a celebration of accomplishments and a remembrance of those no longer with the conservation community. The celebration started with the recognition of two members of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division. Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship […]

Alabama is blessed with an abundance of lakes, reservoirs and waterways for residents and visitors to enjoy for fishing, boating, birdwatching and many other outdoor activities. However, several pockets exist in the state that are not close or convenient for residents to get to the water. That lack of access for subsistence fishing, especially in […]

The National Wild Turkey Foundation has recognized Chuck Sykes, the state director of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, for his decades-long career dedicated to conservation. “It is an honor to receive the C.B. McLeod Award from my colleagues at the National Wild Turkey Federation,” Sykes said. The award is named for C.B McLeod, a former NWTF […]

A massive party is about to sweep across the South this summer. A seven-stop tour from the producers of the blockbuster Rock The South festival will make its way to Mobile, Alabama on June 21 and 22 in what will become another annual staple for country music: Rock The Country – a festival for the […]

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 […]

One of Alabama’s most well-known outdoor enthusiasts passed away early Monday morning after a battle with cancer. James “Big Daddy” Lawler of Wilcox County was well known for his Gettin’ Outdoors with BDL podcast and radio show as well as his lifelong efforts to promote the Alabama Black Belt Region’s outdoor recreational opportunities. The Wilcox […]

Alabama State Parks honored seven individuals and one organization over the weekend at the eighth annual Eagle Awards. The awards ceremony took place at Lake Guntersville State Park. “Our Alabama State Parks attract millions of visitors each year, and that wouldn’t be possible without the enormous contributions made by volunteers, elected officials and community partners who […]

When I reflect on my 30-plus years of covering the outdoors in Alabama, several people who influenced and contributed to my writing come to mind. No one on that list is more prominent than Dr. Bob Shipp, who died last week at age 81. “It’s going to take a while to get used to not […]

According to the state, most of Alabama’s public fishing lakes are set to go back to regular hours of operation come February. Jonathan Brown, State Lake Supervisor for the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR),  shared new information about the change. “Many state lakes have […]

Lakepoint Resort State Park in Eufaula is set to host an event that will offer a number of conservation themed activities for people of all ages. The 2024 Fins, Feathers, and Flowers event, made possible by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will take place from February 16-18. “We are excited to offer a […]