The U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer said only minutes remained before he reached the point of no return. Kevin Olmstead of Fairhope, a veteran angler and fishing guide for more than 20 years, had been in the water in Mississippi Sound for 10 hours after being dumped overboard by a wave as he tried to […]

Back for 2022, the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association wants to see your fish photos again this year. The 2022 Best Fish Photo Contest allows anglers of all ages to showcase their success — a great opportunity to show that their “fish tales” are actually true. Pam Swanner, executive director of the Alabama Black Belt […]

The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery, known to locals as “The Kelly,” recently announced its partnership with the Smoot Harris family and City of Wetumpka to offer a premier wildlife arts festival in downtown Wetumpka this fall. The Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival (WEWA) will be a cumulation and celebration of wildlife and field sports through the […]

The University of Montevallo fishing team was once again crowned the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Nearly 200 collegiate bass fishing teams from across the nation competed in the Bass Pro Shops 2022 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship tournament at Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama on May 26-27, but […]

The open road: a temptress that calls to every soul eager to explore. In Alabama, few things top a spring drive through the countryside. Dense forest highways spill into a coastline of creamy white sands. When the moment calls and the horizon beckons, adventure can be found on one of these scenic routes along the […]

Memorial Day weekend not only marks the unofficial beginning of summer but has anglers who love Alabama’s coastal waters excited for the start of red snapper season. Alabama state waters and federal waters will open to private and state-licensed charter vessel anglers for red snapper harvest this Friday, May 27, according to the Alabama Department of […]

By a wide margin, Alabama voters approved the amendment on Tuesday’s ballot to provide as much as $80 million in funding for improvements and enhancements to Alabama’s 21 State Parks. “I would like to thank the voters of Alabama for their overwhelming support of our beautiful State Parks,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama […]

Alabama students with special needs enjoyed the thrill of fishing at the annual Exceptional Anglers event, “Gone Fishin’ Not Just Wishin’,” at Oak Mountain State Park. Members of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) were among the scores of volunteers who supported this year’s three-day event May 11-13, which was blessed with ideal spring weather. The event teaches […]

As part of its campaign to educate the public about the need to keep Alabama’s biorich watersheds free of litter that could pose threats to marine life, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has installed in Mobile County the first of several wildlife sculptures to be placed at state welcome centers. The “Help Keep Our Waters […]

A storied history, rich culture and fertile soil are not the only features of the Alabama Black Belt to be celebrated. The Black Belt is also an important economic driver in our state’s outdoor recreation industry. In fact, outdoor recreation in the Black Belt accounts for one-third of those economic benefits for the entire state. […]

From Monte Sano to the gulf, Alabama’s state park system is considered “a jewel.” And, according to its co-sponsor, if Amendment 1 on the May 24 ballot is passed, the jewel could shine brighter. When voters head to the polls May 24, they will find a single amendment, Amendment 1. With a “yes” vote, the […]

Last week, 10-year-old Owen Rouse was named the winner of the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association’s 2022 Big Gobbler Photo Contest. Owen traveled with his father Scott to Perry County to participate in an early-season hunt. According to their hunting report, after several hours of calling and hunting were over, the father and son with […]

Hiking deep into the Alabama woods, the foragers spot orange trumpet-shape mushrooms growing from the damp forest floor near several trees. After confirming the fungi are not a toxic or poisonous look-alike, they start gathering the gourmet goods, which can fetch $30 or more per pound from chefs at high-end restaurants or at nearby farmers […]

Alabama boasts some of the most beautiful and highest-rated state parks in the nation. To maintain that beauty and integrity, a funding mechanism will be on the May 24 ballot. The State Parks Amendment is the only amendment on the May ballot. If approved by voters, the State Parks Amendment will authorize the issuance and sale of […]

On Saturday, June 11, 2022, Alabamians and out-of-state visitors alike will have the opportunity to fish for free in most public waters including both freshwater and saltwater. Free Fishing Day allows residents and non-residents to enjoy the outstanding fishing Alabama has to offer without purchasing a fishing license. The event is part of National Fishing and Boating […]

Alabama is known for some of the best bass fishing in the world. Our state is blessed with an abundance of rivers, reservoirs and waterways teeming with numerous black bass species, which means bass fishing tournaments abound throughout the state. Except for one location – Tuscaloosa. Stan Adams, Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports’ Executive Director of […]

Bald eagles are thriving in Alabama. A recent count conducted by biologists at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Alabama Power and other partner organizations found 10 new bald eagle nests throughout Alabama’s 15 major waterways since the survey was previously conducted in 2021. Of those 10 new nests, seven were found by Alabama Power biologists […]

NOAA Fisheries announced over the weekend a 79-day red snapper season for for-hire vessels with federal reef fish permits in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The season for federally permitted for-hire vessels (charter boats) will open seven days a week at 12:01 a.m. on June 1, 2022, and will close at 12:01 a.m. […]

At the celebration of the purchase of the 1,644-acre Belcher Tract property adjacent to Oak Mountain State Park, the Forever Wild Land Trust Board exhibited the benefits of prudent spending. The picturesque property in Shelby County will become a part of Oak Mountain State Park to be enjoyed by the citizens of Alabama and visitors […]

A volunteer cleanup at Double Cove Park at Lake Logan Martin has put some springtime shine on this public recreation space, just in time for Earth Month. The group of 18 volunteers gathered for a public cleanup day and focused on picking up trash throughout the park, around pavilions and along the shoreline and hiking trails that […]

Imagine trying to hit a clay target flying almost twice the speed you’re accustomed to at the skeet range. And you must start with your shotgun at a lowered position. That is what competitors at the Marble City Cup at Red Eagle Skeet and Trap Club in Childersburg faced at the first U.S. International Skeet […]

Successful turkey hunters in Alabama’s Black Belt are encouraged to enter the 10th annual Big Gobbler Photo Contest. The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association is continuing its tradition of hosting the contest in conjunction with Alabama’s turkey season to showcase the region while highlighting hunters. The Black Belt is widely regarded as one of America’s best turkey hunting areas. […]

The rush darter is a “Houdini” among fish – it’s part escape artist. “A squirmy, wiggly fish” that easily jumps from your hand, the pinky-finger-long rush darter seems to move from one small puddle to another. So says Bankhead National Forest Wildlife Biologist Allison Cochran who, with her colleague John Moran, works with Alabama Power […]

Governor Kay Ivey and Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship were thrilled to revive the dormant Alabama Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt last week as numerous Alabama landowners treated business and industry representatives to our state’s renowned turkey hunting and abundant Southern hospitality. The Alabama Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt is a premier event that was started in 2002 […]