The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) provides several youth dove hunt opportunities throughout the state each fall. Registration for this year’s hunts will open at 8:00 a.m. CST on August 15. Although the hunts are free, online registration is required. The first youth dove hunts […]

Access to the water is one hurdle for boaters and anglers in Alabama’s coastal counties, where high land prices and high demand can leave those who want to launch a boat waiting in line. However, improvements to that access are on the horizon, and some projects have already been completed. The Alabama Department of Conservation […]

The return of the shark category to the 89th annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) was a rousing success with 15 sharks weighed in during the three-day event, with one riding the ferry from Fort Morgan in the back of a pickup to get to the rodeo site on Dauphin Island. Tiger sharks pretty much […]

The 2023 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest will begin accepting entries on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. This year’s contest is a joint project between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and the Alabama Tourism Department. The deadline to enter is October 31, 2022. The 2023 photo contest will focus on traditional photography techniques […]

Birding enthusiasts from across Alabama and the Southeast will be flying to Greensboro and the surrounding area later this month for the Second Annual Black Belt Birding Festival, and there’s still time to join this growing celebration of nature. Hosted by Alabama Audubon, the event on July 29-30 spotlights the diverse varieties of birds that flock into […]

If you are into paddling, there is probably no better place to do it than in North Alabama. If you’re new to paddling, or interested in taking up a new adventurous hobby, you have also come to the right place. And if you are trying to come up with something family-friendly to add to the […]

Dr. John Lehrter and the University of South Alabama School of Marine and Environmental Sciences will play a lead role in a $3.1 million project to study water and sediment quality along the Alabama Gulf Coast. The three-year program will be funded by the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council with money from the BP oil spill settlement. […]

Logan Black, a Conservation Enforcement Officer with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division, approached Nate Jacobs and said she’d heard about him hunting a certain piece of property. Black played her part in the ruse well and had Nate squirming, wondering where he’d run afoul of the […]

Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment plans to enhance Weagle Woods, an approximately 11-acre tract of forestland behind the Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building at South Donahue Drive and Lem Morrison Drive. The project is funded through support by Auburn alumni Ken and Barby Oser of Milton, Florida. Ken is a graduate of the college, […]

The last two years have been filled with an ebb and flow of trends throughout the pandemic. While some have faded, like bread baking and the popularity of Tiger King, others like board games and Zoom have remained. Another of the biggest lasting trends has been an increased interest in birdwatching. Businesses that sell birdfeed […]

With the Gulf Coast in the peak of fishing season for the abundant reef fish in Alabama’s vast artificial reef zone, the Return ’Em Right program is designed to educate anglers on how to ensure any fish caught and released have the best chance to survive and return to the reef. Charlie Robertson, Fisheries Restoration […]

At the request of anglers and spectators, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) will again have a shark category for the 89th annual event, scheduled July 14-17 at the rodeo site on Dauphin Island. Of course, ADSFR officials checked with marine scientists to ensure bringing the category back was ecologically sound. “It’s been about […]

Anyone with a rod and reel has a chance to win a million dollars or other prizes at the Crank 4 Bank tagged fishing event going on now through July 4 on Wheeler Lake. The tournament is open to anyone who registers at least two hours before catching a tagged fish at any point during […]

Anyone with a rod and reel has a chance to win a million dollars or other prizes at the Crank 4 Bank tagged fishing event going on now through July 4 on Wheeler Lake. The tournament is open to anyone who registers at least two hours before catching a tagged fish at any point during […]

Anyone with a rod and reel has a chance to win a million dollars or other prizes at the Crank 4 Bank tagged fishing event going on now through July 4 on Wheeler Lake. The tournament is open to anyone who registers at least two hours before catching a tagged fish at any point during […]

Protecting a nationally recognized estuary in a rapidly developing coastal area can be a bit like putting together a puzzle where the pieces are constantly being shuffled and changed. This is exactly the challenge faced by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Managed by the ADCNR […]

Last week, the City of Prattville held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open its new “fitness court.” The court is a joint effort between the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to bring healthy lifestyle options to Alabama residents. The NFC was established in 1979 and has a simple mission: Build […]

Lakepoint State Park, located on the banks of the 45,000-acre Lake Eufaula, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week to open its newest attraction for guests. Alabama State Parks officials, joined by local government leaders and members of the business community, announced an off-road vehicle and motorized nature trail to replace what was previously a golf […]

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) continues to provide citizens with groundbreaking opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in new, innovative ways. The ADCNR’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division’s (WFF) Law Enforcement Section recently held a Night Shoot at the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Shooting Range. From what Law Enforcement Chief […]

The four finalists at the recent 7th annual Alabama Seafood Cook-Off at The Lodge at Gulf State Park gave the five esteemed judges a difficult task in determining who will represent the state in the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans. With a variety of creative dishes to sample, the judges voted the more […]

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announced that Matt Young of Gulf Shores, Alabama, has been named Southwest District Superintendent for ADCNR’s State Parks Division. In addition to managing daily operations at Gulf and Meaher state parks, Young will work closely with State Parks staff and community leaders to strengthen local partnerships […]

Auburn University’s bass fishing team capped an historic season with its all-time best finish at the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops by taking second place in the final season team standings after the two-day event concluded on May 27. The Tigers landed two teams in the top 10 and four in the […]

Summer may turn a wildflower hike into a sauna, but there are plenty of creeks, caves, swimming holes and natural phenomena to make working up a sweat worthwhile. Our famed hydrangeas are in full bloom in every variety from climbing to giant foot-long blooms. Creature features include the largest emergence of bats east of the […]

A small, rare crayfish thought to be extinct for 30 years has been rediscovered in a cave in the City of Huntsville in northern Alabama by a team led by an assistant professor at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). Dr. Matthew L. Niemiller’s team found individuals of the Shelta Cave Crayfish, known scientifically […]