It appears taco dishes filled with savory wild game and fresh fish are hard to beat at the Alabama Wildlife Federation Wild Game Cook-Offs, and the recent Gulf Coast competition in Spanish Fort was no exception. Before an overflow crowd at the Blue Gill Restaurant, the Venison Birria Taco dish prepared by the Five Rivers […]

Working with a national laboratory, researchers at the University of Alabama are investigating how the role of the patchwork of small drainage spots across the Southeast is changing as flooding becomes more frequent. The data collected by the research team from small, inland wetlands will enhance ecosystem and climate models the federal government provides to the scientific […]

Imagine a 200+ mile greenway system connecting all of North Alabama–from the bustling towns to the tucked away hidden gems–along an uninterrupted outdoor human highway, brimming with nature, activity and, most of all, heart. You won’t have to imagine it much longer. In an act that can best be described as penning a love letter […]

Those who love to dine on Alabama’s succulent oysters are in luck. The state’s oyster season opened Oct. 3, and the oyster catchers are busy plucking those delicious bivalves from the reefs in coastal waters. Scott Bannon, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Director of the Marine Resources Division (MRD), said both the […]

Thanks to the combined efforts of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, the Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and hunting club members, Jerrell Gordon is recovering from an ordeal that left him within hours of death. WFF Conservation Enforcement Officer Brad Gavins received a […]

The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is hiring a manager for the Walker County public fishing lake, the agency announced. According the department’s website, the lake manager is contracted with the state for a three-year term, which is renewable at the discretion of the state. Duties include […]

As a product of her environment, Donna Jo Curtis is proud to carry on the legacy that was handed to her. Her family’s farming heritage inspired her career in agriculture and prepared her to eventually run a cattle ranch of her own. After 35 years of running Curtis Farms and serving Alabama’s agriculture industry in […]

More than 200,000 hunters will pursue the abundant game in Alabama this season, which means hunter safety should be at the forefront of any outdoors adventure. Capt. Marisa Futral, Hunter Education Coordinator with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, would love to see a repeat of the 2021-2022 […]

One of the messages the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division wanted to convey last week at the CWD (chronic wasting disease) public meeting in Florence was to thank Alabama hunters for their response during the 2021-2022 white-tailed deer season. WFF Outreach Coordinator Marianne Gauldin was among those greeting […]

Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday announced the awarding of nearly $1.64 million to enhance Yellowhammer State outdoor recreational venues. The funds will help build and improve trails in eight communities, according to the governor’s office. “Alabama’s outdoor trails are an excellent invitation for individuals, groups and families to get outside and enjoy our state’s natural […]

A grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will aid Auburn’s efforts to improve water quality in a creek and engage residents in learning to protect community natural resources. The Auburn Public Works and Water Resource Management departments are joining with partners on the project, which is being supported through the Five Star and Urban Waters Grant […]

Matt Young may not have been dreaming about his current situation when he started his first parks job as a lifeguard in his native southern California. However, Young insists his role as Southwest District superintendent with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ State Parks Division is his dream job. His new position encompasses […]

As president of Ducks Unlimited, Huntsvillian Doug Schoenrock oversaw the organization’s record-breaking conservation efforts. Now the organization’s chairman of the board, Schoenrock will ensure Ducks Unlimited is meeting its goals while he represents the more than 640,000 Ducks Unlimited members at international, national, regional, state, and local events. Schoenrock further led the organization’s Presidential Lands […]

Registration is underway for the youth deer and duck hunts dates at M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area in Hale County. The hunts are November through January and registration ends Nov. 1. To register for a hunt, visit https://publichunts.dcnr.alabama.gov/Public/AvailableHunts. “Youth hunts like these create great bonding experiences for families and help young hunters […]

Current events have drawn attention to foreign investors in U.S. real estate. An increasing number of international buyers are investing in homes and agricultural property across America. In a recent report, the National Association of REALTORS® says annual foreign investment in U.S. existing home sales increased by 8.5 percent following three years of declines. The […]

For the first time since 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was able to conduct the waterfowl breeding population survey, and the results were mixed. Overall waterfowl numbers in 2022 were down from the 2019 count, but the number of breeding ponds observed in 2022 was up 9%. Seth Maddox, migratory bird coordinator for […]

Gopher tortoise conservation reached a new level recently when the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources teamed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Eckerd College and Birmingham Zoo to release 98 young tortoises into the Geneva State Forest Wildlife Management Area in Covington County. The gopher tortoise is considered a keystone species, which […]

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division continues to expand its unique access to the great outdoors with five new Special Opportunity Areas (SOAs) around the state. The SOA concept was born six years ago with the purchase of 5,894 acres in Dallas County that became the Cedar Creek […]

Judging from the turnout at the recent Buckmasters Expo, the appeal of the great outdoors remains high, with plenty of spectators and vendors attending the 28th annual event in downtown Montgomery. Jackie Bushman, Buckmaster founder and CEO, said while the COVID pandemic has had a devastating impact on many aspects of our lives, one positive […]

Last week, Yellowhammer News revisited Sand Mountain’s unsolved cattle mutilation phenomenon that occurred nearly three decades ago. The mutilations, which occurred in DeKalb and Marshall Counties, and are currently taking place in the American West, remain a mystery to this day. Following the story’s publication, Yellowhammer News editor Dylan Smith joined FM Talk 106.5’s “Midday […]

Alabama’s abundant freshwater fish took center stage recently at the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) Wild Game Cook-Off State Finals at AWF’s Lanark Pavilion in Millbrook. Two of the top three recipes used spotted bass as their centerpieces, while a tasty bream dish rounded out the winners. “AWF’s Wild Game Cook-Offs prominently display that responsible hunters […]

Almost three decades ago, cattle farmers in rural North Alabama found dead livestock lying in pastures with various organs extracted from their carcasses. The cattle were found to have been performed upon with extreme precision. The extractors left behind no evidence, as the surrounding areas of the dead cattle were absent of any tracks and […]

When you visit Lake Guntersville State Park or the DeSoto Falls area at DeSoto State Park, the ride will be noticeably smoother after the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) teamed with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to use material from recycled tires to resurface roads in the parks. Thanks to […]

Being at the right place at the right time perfectly describes where Kirk Smith and Brett Makemson were during the recent World Games competitions at Oak Mountain State Park. Smith and Makemson are Conservation Enforcement Officers (CEOs) with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division assigned to work […]