Whether it’s the Yellowhammer State or the Cotton State, whatever you call the state of Alabama, an abundance of birds call it home. “Yellowhammer” in fact refers to the common name for the northern flicker woodpecker — which just happens to be the state bird of Alabama. Specifically, coastal Alabama is home to a treasure […]

The 2022 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest will begin accepting entries on Monday, August 2, 2021. 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, 2021. The 2022 photo contest will focus on traditional photography techniques […]

Registration for the fall 2021 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop opens on August 4 at 6 p.m. for first-time attendees and August 8 at 6 p.m. for both first-timers and those who have previously attended. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources sponsored event takes place at the 4-H Center near Columbiana, Alabama, on […]

Navy Cove oyster farm in Fort Morgan is one of the pioneers of aquaculture along the Gulf of Mexico. Chuck Wilson founded the farm in 2011, when the idea of growing single oysters in off-bottom cages or baskets was still a new concept in the area. As mouths around the South – and the country – […]

Learning to hunt can seem out of reach for those who didn’t grow up with hunting as part of their family experience. Fortunately, Alabama’s Adult Mentored Hunt (AMH) Program teaches all the skills needed to put wild game on the dinner table and help start new traditions. Jessie Barcala grew up in a military family […]

Two of the main barriers facing folks interested in outdoors recreation is a lack of access and not knowing others who already participate in those activities. Birmingham’s Brittney Davis is working to reduce those barriers for members of an organization she founded in 2017, Ladies Who Hike. The group treats its members to 12 local […]

Patience, determination and focus are a few of the skills the sport of archery teaches students who participate in Alabama’s National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). Those skills recently paid off for several student archers from Alabama who attended the 2021 NASP Open and Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on June 10-12. Nearly […]

Hank Weldon is a native Alabamian, born in the state 36 years ago. He’s also a traveling man; as director of student and junior tournaments for Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, he’s seen a lot of fishing spots. Few, he said, can rival those found in his home state. “If you want to go fish deep […]

Alabama’s newest community archery park will hold its grand opening at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at Lakepoint State Park, 104 Old Highway 165, in Eufaula, Alabama. The Lakepoint Community Archery Park is located near the park’s campground and day use area. The public and media are invited to attend the grand opening […]

The big show will be back for the 88th annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR), scheduled July 15-18 at the rodeo site on Dauphin Island. Now that COVID-19 restrictions have been eased, a long weekend of fun, fishing and entertainment awaits those who venture to Alabama’s barrier island for the event that attracts more […]

The University of Montevallo’s bass fishing team outfished more than 200 other collegiate fishing programs this season and reeled in the national championship for 2020-21. After taking over the top ranking in November, Montevallo never relinquished its lead, ultimately earning the distinction of Bass Pro Shops School of the Year. “I am extremely proud of what this team has […]

Cameron Mitchell helped put the “bull’s-eye” on the back of breast cancer. This weekend on June 12-13, more than 150 archers – experienced and amateurs – will compete in the Bow-Up Against Breast Cancer tournament, which is Mitchell’s brainchild. The mission is personal for many archers who will take part in the event at Cullman Community […]

Logging crews in Alabama have wildlife encounters on a regular basis as they harvest one of the state’s renewable resources. One crew from Sullivan Timber Company was busy cutting timber in north Mobile County when the loggers spotted something worthy of protection – a turkey hen sitting on a clutch of 10 eggs. Dustin Phillips, […]

Thanks to a tagging program started by CCA Alabama in 2017, Alabama anglers who target speckled trout and redfish know a great deal more about the movement and growth of these prized inshore species. The TAG Alabama program, which is compiled and analyzed by the University of South Alabama (USA) School of Marine Sciences and […]

For students enrolled in the Bryant Oyster Academy at Bayou La Batre’s Alma Bryant High School, science is fun. “We’re teaching students how to grow oysters,” said aquaculture teacher Charles Baker. “They’re learning the whole process of putting out the long line system and then hanging baskets where you grow oysters to either market size or […]

University of Alabama Campus Development has teamed with Facilities and Grounds to begin steps to create a campus tree farm, which will be used to propagate many different native plants including camellias, oaks and magnolias. The project for propagation of historical and heirloom trees coincides with the team goals for the campus to become more self-sustainable and play […]

Have you ever wanted to learn the basics of fishing but didn’t know where to begin? The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) has developed a beginner fishing course just for you. WFF’s “Go Fish, Alabama!” Program provides adults and families with little-to-no fishing experience an opportunity […]

The restoration and preservation of Lightning Point, one of Alabama’s most iconic and important coastal habitats, is getting a big boost thanks to the efforts of some area high school students and volunteers. About two dozen students from Bayou La Batre‘s Alma Bryant High School recently joined volunteers from The Nature Conservancy in Alabama (TNCA) and Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) to replant […]

The Turkey Creek Nature Preserve in north Jefferson County attracts thousands of people from neighboring localities annually and from as far away as Europe and South America. The preserve in Pinson is home to three endangered species of fish: vermilion, watercress and rush darters. It is the only place on Earth where you will find […]

Restrictions from the COVID pandemic provided a new learning opportunity this spring for a group of students enrolled in the University of Montevallo’s President’s Outdoors Scholars Program. Because of restrictions on large gatherings, Outdoors Scholars Director William Crawford and Assistant Director Chris “Scooter” Stano had to get creative with the curriculum for the program that […]

For nearly a century, the Alabama Wildlife Federation has been on the front lines of promoting environmental stewardship, wildlife and natural resource conservation across the state. The federation’s important work includes educational outreach that has informed generations of Alabamians about the state’s natural beauty and incredible biodiversity. It is why the Alabama Power Foundation supports the federation. “Our priority […]

Anglers, tournament staff and community leaders are thrilled with their new shaded place on Lewis Smith Lake in Walker County to host fishing tournament weigh-ins. Many of them gathered May 8 to share their appreciation for the weigh-in pavilion during a dedication ceremony prior to weigh-in at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Open. The pavilion provides shade for fish-holding tanks during tournament […]

Before the tournament began, Wes Logan predicted it would take 55 pounds to win. He was wrong. It took 57 pounds. The Springville native landed 57 lbs. 9 oz. to land the blue trophy Monday at the 2021 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake. He beat Paul Mueller, who was 1 lb. 6 oz. back in second place. “I give it […]

The Alabama Conservation Advisory Board voted to limit rainbow trout anglers to two rods per person on the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River below Lewis Smith Dam and placed a portion of Colbert County on the dog deer hunting permit system at its recent meeting in Jasper. The Sipsey Fork from Lewis Smith […]