Fortunately, the number of people in Alabama who participate in the traditional outdoor endeavors of hunting and fishing has remained relatively steady, but one activity is on an upward trajectory – shooting sports. That fact has definitely been noticed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division, […]

Get ready to support Alabama farmers and celebrate all things local with Sweet Grown Alabama Day, this Saturday, July 13th.  Each summer the event is hosted by Sweet Grown Alabama, a nonprofit foundation that seeks to enhance marketing opportunities for Alabama farmers by connecting retailers and consumers to Alabama-grown foods and other agricultural products. Farmers […]

Congressman Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) has announced that legislation to help protect and promote the Underwater Forest in the Gulf of Mexico has officially passed the U.S. House of Representatives as of Monday. Per the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act, authored by Carl, the 60,000-year-old forest located a few miles off the […]

A partnership of conservation groups, state agencies, the city and private groups cut the ribbon this week on a new boat launch, docks and a tournament pavilion in Selma, providing an enhanced venue for recreational activities, fishing tournaments and other uses in Alabama’s Black Belt. Partners that contributed to the projects include the Alabama Department […]

Facing against the river current, the boat drifted slowly backward, despite the whirling trolling motor prop slashing to gain headway against the flow. As the boat glided past a hump 50 feet below, the rod tip twitched ever so slightly. Then, the stout rod bent over double as a river monster inhaled the offering. Big […]

A new dock and boardwalk, a new live weigh-in category and a new species for catch and release are among the highlights for the 91st annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR), set for July 19-21 at the rodeo site on Dauphin Island. The new dock and boardwalk will increase the capacity for the number […]

If you’ve been to Lake Martin, Alabama, you have probably visited the beautiful Kowaliga area. Whether to eat, boat around, or visit the marina, the area is a mainstay of Lake Martin and is held dear in the hearts of many. But beneath the favorite vacation spot of many Alabamians lie the ruins of a […]

Alabama is home to an incredible range of state parks that have something to offer adventurers year-round. Our Alabama State Parks Passport series highlights all of the stunning outdoor spaces throughout the state that make for the perfect seasonal getaway. The seventh in our series is Monte Sano State Park. OVERVIEW According to Alabama State […]

The Alabama Association of Resource, Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils presented a $25,000 grant to Alabama State Parks on Friday, June 21, during the Pollinator Festival at Oak Mountain State Park (OMSP). The RC&D grant will fund development of 12 pollinator gardens at state parks throughout the state. “We truly appreciate RC&D for funding this project, which will […]

Alabama is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and opportunities to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. However, if you have little to no experience in the outdoors or you are moving to Alabama as an entrepreneur or member of the workforce, you are probably not familiar with the vast number of outdoor recreational opportunities available […]

Another step toward an aquatic center for the Mobile County Sportsplex was taken on Monday when the Mobile County Commission said it would comply with best management practices connected to a land disturbance permit. Commissioner Connie Hudson, one of the driving forces behind the aquatic center, said complying with the plan was a housekeeping item […]

The University of Montevallo has set a new record of winning four consecutive Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia titles following the season-ending 2024 Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship at Pickwick Lake in Florence. Approximately 200 teams of the top collegiate anglers from across the country competed for two days in hopes […]

Sweet Trails Alabama is a collaborative initiative to create Alabama’s first statewide trail plan through efforts on state, regional, and local levels. The Public Draft of the Sweet Trails Alabama (Statewide Trails) Plan has recently been released. The plan, to be completed this summer, will identify a trail network spanning a large portion of the state. […]

The annual Buckmasters Expo in Montgomery, Alabama has officially been set for August 16, 17, and 18th. The event will offer both families and hunting enthusiasts the opportunity to explore over three hundred booths offering a full range of hunting products. The booths will be open from 3-8 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 […]

Although he may rank in the stratosphere among his peers after receiving the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Guy Bradley Award earlier this year, Michael “Matt” Weathers prefers to keep his feet firmly grounded in Alabama’s fertile soil. Weathers, the Law Enforcement Section Chief with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife […]

Buckmasters, a leading media marketing company dedicated to promoting the appreciation of wildlife and outdoor traditions, announced the relocation of its headquarters to The Sterling Centre on Carmichael Road in Montgomery. The new office space, located at 4121 Carmichael Road, Suites 301-302, Montgomery, AL 36106, features state-of-the-art facilities that will significantly enhance our capabilities in […]

When about 100 first graders from Brooks Elementary School in Lauderdale County excitedly stepped off three yellow school buses for an educational program at Joe Wheeler State Park in early May, they probably weren’t thinking about Teddy Roosevelt, but they were about to get an up-close experience with what America’s 26th president called “the wonder-book […]

The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association announced its first-ever Black Belt Road Trip Photo Contest is now officially open to the public. The organization is asking participants to document their summer outdoor recreational activities in the Black Belt via camera. Those activities, according to the ABBAA, can include anything from fishing, hiking and bird watching […]

The inaugural class of the Alabama Turkey Hunters Hall of Fame was inducted last weekend during the World Championship Turkey Calling competition at the Mobile Convention Center, and the inductees should come as no surprise to those who call themselves a turkey hunter. Of the six inductees, only two are still living, Eddie Salter of […]

Innovate Alabama has launched SEEK AL, a digital campaign dedicated to showcasing the rich variety of outdoor recreational assets the state has to offer to its citizens and to innovators looking for a place to play, work, and put down roots. “Alabama is home to a wealth of natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities,” Innovate Alabama […]

Three swimmers, including two teenagers, were attacked by sharks in separate incidents at Walton County beaches on Friday, authorities say. A 45-year-old woman was bitten by a shark around 1:20 p.m. at Watersound Beach while swimming past a sandbar. She suffered significant midsection trauma, and part of her left arm was amputated. She is in […]

Outdoors professionals from around the country converged on Mobile and Riverview Plaza last week to brainstorm on recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) of hunters, anglers and other outdoors enthusiasts. The 210 National R3 Symposium attendees from all over the U.S., as well as New Zealand and Guam, heard reports on hunting and fishing participation numbers, […]

Alabama’s annual Free Fishing Day, set for this Saturday, June 8 is almost here. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources wants to remind both Alabamians and visitors to the state of its rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water filled with almost 360 different species of fish. “Free Fishing Day is the perfect […]

The Alabama Conservation Advisory Board (CAB) had a busy weekend recently.  They began their day May 18 with the second 2024 CAB meeting, where the 2024-2025 hunting and fishing regulations were approved, and then joined in the ribbon-cutting at the newly renovated Oak Mountain State Park Campground. Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of […]