Weather safety on the water
CULLMAN, Ala. - With summer settling in for the long, hot foreseeable future, many residents are taking to area lakes for some fun in the sun. The Tribune spoke with Cullman County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Phyllis Little, who offered advice about the...
ADCNR: Wetumpka man arrested for killing black bear in Elmore County
Black bear is a protected species in Alabama
Black bear NOTE: This is NOT the black bear that was killed in Elmore County. (Billy Pope, ADCNR)
ELMORE COUNTY, Ala. - Michael Watkins, 32, of Wetumpka, Alabama, has been arrested and charged with killing a black bear...
Registration now open for Alabama’s Adult Mentored Hunting Program
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Learning to hunt may seem out of reach for those who didn’t grow up with hunting as part of their family tradition. For those individuals, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF)...
Cullman’s Jake Burkey finds success as off-road vehicle titan
CULLMAN, Ala. - Sometimes finding the right career path means going off the beaten path – literally. That’s the lesson of Cullman, Alabama resident and business leader Jake Burkey.The 2009 graduate of Tennessee Tech University is now the CEO of Busted Knuckle Off Road,...
Scaup limit reduced to 1; Sandhill crane registration opens soon
David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
North America’s waterfowl breeding population annual survey is another aspect of the outdoors that has been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
Seth Maddox, the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Migratory Bird Coordinator, said virus-related travel restrictions would not...
National Wild Turkey Federation donates $122,000 for wildlife management
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) recently allocated $122,000 in Hunting Heritage Super Funds for wild turkey projects in Alabama. Of that total, $60,676 was donated to the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) of the Alabama...
Memorial Day boating safety tips from the CCSO
CULLMAN, Ala. – Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend, when many will be hitting the water at Smith Lake and other areas, Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry is advising residents to be safe on the water.
“Don’t boat under the influence, make sure everyone has the...
BOARsighted: A look into wild pig management
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – Wild pigs are arguably one of the most detrimental wildlife species. These animals have the potential to decimate crops, wildlife habitat and food plots. Virtually every natural resource can be affected by these creatures. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System encourages...
Special Youth, Veteran and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Day Feb. 6
The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) has designated Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021 as the second of the 2020-2021 hunting season’s Special Youth, Veteran and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days. The first of the two special waterfowl hunting days took place...
Tips and tricks to avoid picking up ticks
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April-September). Know which ticks are most common in your area.
Before You Go Outdoors
Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy or wooded areas, or even on animals....
Commission responds to community concerns about Sportsman Lake ducks
CULLMAN, Ala. – Recently, parkgoers have raised concerns about the ducks and the food available for purchase for them at Sportsman Lake Park. Worries are that the food lacks proper nutritional value and is having negative effects on the animals.
Concerns have been brought to...
Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest opens Aug. 2
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The 2023 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest will begin accepting entries Tuesday, Aug. 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...
R3 campaign encourages Alabamians to get outdoors
David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
With the social distancing requirements from COVID-19, many people have turned to the outdoors to escape the impact of the lockdowns.
The number of people fishing and hunting for a variety of game species has seen a...
Editorial: Simple swaps toward sustainability
Today, April 22, is Earth Day! www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023
Sustainability can be a hot topic these days, and in a world as busy as ours, it's typically not on the top of our to-do lists. Between the day-to-day of school drop-off line, work, shopping and family time,...
Begin deer season with food safety in mind
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala.—Withdeer season opening Oct. 15, Mark Smith, a wildlife scientist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, says hunters need a game plan to get venison from the field to the table safely.
“Hunters need a plan for managing heat, moisture and bacterial contamination,” said...
Free admission to AL State Parks Sept. 24
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – All entrance and parking fees for Alabama State Parks will be waived on National Public Lands Day, which takes place Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.
“The past few years have shown us just how important outdoor recreation is to our health and wellbeing,”...
Zip in for some fun!
CULLMAN, Ala. – The ribbon was cut on the grand opening of Smith Lake Ziplines Friday, June 2, with representatives from the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, Cullman County Commission and more on-hand to celebrate with owners Craig Chapman and Brian Waldrep.
Smith Lake...
Begin 2024 with a First Day Hike at an Alabama State Park
Alabama State Parks is hosting 11 First Day Hikes as part of a national program designed to celebrate the new year and the great outdoors. The hikes will take place at parks throughout the state, from Gulf State Park on Alabama's Gulf Coast to...
Sheriff Gentry issues lake safety tips
CULLMAN, Ala. – With an increased number of incidents on the water this summer the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) wants the community to be aware of their surroundings while on the water.
“I want to encourage everyone that comes to the lake to follow...
Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest opens Aug. 1
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The 2024 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest is now accepting entries. 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 Oct. 31, 2023.
The 2024...
Black panthers: Uncovering another big cat mystery
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — From high-school mascots to the Marvel Universe, black panthers have appeared in many forms in today’s culture. However, is this big cat real or just an illustrated piece of fiction? Alabama Cooperative Extension System wildlife experts are here to help...
WFF’s goal: Make public fishing lakes even better
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama State Public Fishing Lakes (PFLs) program is adapting to better serve the citizens of the state who depend on these lakes for recreational angling opportunities.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division...
‘Connecting with Conservation’ highlights funding for state wildlife agencies
How conservation and outdoors recreation are funded throughout the nation is somewhat of a mystery for most people.
In an effort to inform the public about where state wildlife and fisheries agencies get the money to conserve habitat and provide quality outdoors recreation, the Alabama...
ADCNR: Registration for 2023 youth dove hunts opens Aug. 21
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - 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. A simple hunting setup combined with a fun, family-friendly atmosphere makes WFF’s youth dove...
Ivey proclaims National Hunting and Fishing Day
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday, Sept. 21, signed a proclamation celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day, which is Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Since 1972, the fourth Saturday in September has been designated as National Hunting and Fishing Day to highlight the...
4-H Adventure Classes begin in January
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman County Extension Office announced an exciting new set of educational courses for Cullman County’s 4-H program in 2024. Three new Adventure Classes will introduce children and teens aged 9-18 to hiking, kayaking and camping.
“The goal of this new club...
Cullman County’s Ryleigh Jordan places in Alabama National Fair Youth Sheep Show
Alabama National Fair preserves decades of tradition
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Smells of fresh pine shavings and a buzz of excitement hung in the air around Teague Arena as youth showmen and their parents prepared for the 70th Alabama National Fair. Exhibitors from across the state...
Sneaky snakes: The good, the bad and the misconceptions
CULLMAN, Ala. - Spring is almost here, and that means that soon enough, the snakes inhabiting north Alabama will make their way back out into civilization from their weather-induced slowdown. Cullman is home to many snake species that hide in a variety of spots....
Ivey issues statewide ‘No Burn Order’
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed a statewide Drought Emergency Declaration – often referred to as a “No Burn Order” – prohibiting all outdoor burning in Alabama. This order is effective Nov. 9, 2023. at 8 a.m. CST.
“Alabama is currently experiencing extremely dry...
ADCNR: Celebration of bats continues at Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Bats are ubiquitous during the Halloween season, but these creatures deserve celebration year-round for their contribution to our sustainable food production. By eating insects by the billions, bats save U.S. agriculture as much as $3.7 billion per year in pest control....
New trail opens for mountain bikers, hikers at Oak Mountain State Park
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. - A new trail named Room Service at Oak Mountain State Park opened recently, as members of the Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP) christened it with a group ride.
The new 1.5-mile multiuse trail connects the Slingshot and Centipede trails and is...
Rainer: Shipp leaves lasting legacy in marine fisheries
When I reflect on my 30-plus years of covering the outdoors in Alabama, several people who influenced and contributed to my writing come to mind. No one on that list is more prominent than Dr. Bob Shipp, who died last week at age 81.
“It’s...
ACES: 4 ways to participate in National Bird Feeding Month
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. - February is among one of the most important months for feeding birds in Alabama, as backyard songbirds have limited access to their favorite foods during the winter. Grab a camera and join the Alabama Cooperative Extension System outdoors to participate...