Forever Wild Secures More Than 7,000 Acres in East-central Alabama

The Forever Wild Land Trust recently completed two significant land purchases in east-central Alabama. The week of January 4, Forever Wild concluded lengthy negotiations for the purchase of 3,518-acres on the western side of Yates Reservoir, and a 3,866-acre addition to the Barbour County Wildlife Management Area (WMA), one of the state’s largest and oldest WMAs. The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) provided funding for the appraisal of the Barbour WMA tract of land during the purchasing process.

The Yates Reservoir purchase, located south of Lake Martin, will protect over 6 miles of waterfront and provide for additional outdoor recreational opportunities. Combined with the 1995 purchase of the Coon Creek Tract on the east side of the lake, the Yates Reservoir acreage now totals 3,838. This tract will also be the subject of longleaf pine restoration. The Barbour County purchase is the largest addition to the WMA’s public hunting area since its inception. The Barbour WMA is one of the most heavily utilized public hunting areas in south-central Alabama.

Read more about the purchase on Yates Reservoir here.

Read more about the Barbour County purchase here.

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Alabama Forestry Commission and WFF Partner to Restore Longleaf Pine

The Alabama Forestry Commission, in partnership with the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF), is restoring longleaf pine through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The award amount of $360,350 will be used to restore longleaf pine on Barbour County Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and private lands. Restoration of longleaf pine on private lands is being administered through the WFF Landowner Incentive Program. Projects were selected to assist private landowners with the cost of containerized longleaf pine seedlings. Under this grant, restoration activities will cover seven counties with over 370,000 longleaf pine seedlings planted on approximately 800 acres.

The first phase of the Barbour County WMA project consists of an approximately 500-acre block that can be observed from the boundary formed by North Road and John Road. Restoration practices funded by this grant include site preparation spraying, prescribed burning, herbaceous weed control, purchase of longleaf seedling and planting. The longleaf pine ecosystem once covered almost 90 million acres in North America. Due to a number of factors, such as land clearing and fire suppression, the longleaf pine habitat has been reduced to about 3 million acres.

Read more here.

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Snapper Stocks Updated; Increased Quota Delayed | By David Rainer

Red snapper fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico got a Christmas present this holiday season. Problem is those anglers won’t be able to open the package for at least a year. After an update to the red snapper stock assessment late last year, the designation of “overfishing” has been lifted from the Gulf snapper stock. However, the “overfished” designation remains. Therefore, anglers will likely have to wait at least another year before red snapper bag limits and season dates are increased.

Vernon Minton, Director of the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said getting rid of the “overfishing” stigma gives the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council a great deal more leeway in the snapper management plan. “That’s real good news and we can start to look at increased quotas down the road,” Minton said. “Part of the problem, though, because of the success of the program, last year anglers caught less fish but they weighed more. So they still went over the quota by more than a million pounds.”

Read more here.

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You Can Help Stop Poaching in Alabama

Operation GameWatch is a program designed to stop fish and game law violators in Alabama. Citizen involvement is and always has been the key to its success. The problem is serious. Many of Alabama’s natural resources are declining under the increasing pressure.

Critical information that leads to an arrest and conviction in one of six categories makes you eligible to receive a reward from $50 to $2,500. The categories are: Big game – deer and turkey; small game and furbearers; fishing, freshwater and saltwater; protected, endangered and threatened species; selling fish and game; and intentional, malicious destruction of fish and game habitat.

To Report Violators (24 Hours A Day/7 Days A Week): Call: 1-800-272-GAME or email: Dcnr.Gamewatch@Dcnr.Alabama.Gov.

For more info click here.

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2010 Outdoor Alabama Calendar Now Available

The 2010 Outdoor Alabama calendar is now available from the online OA Nature Shop! Packed with vivid photography, seasonal hunting information, and outdoor adventure suggestions sure to inspire lasting memories, the OA calendar is a great and inexpensive anytime gift that will last the entire year. A directory of ADCNR divisions and facilities, as well as other federal and private environmental organizations, is included.

Get your copy here.

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State Fishing Lakes Return to Regular Hours

Since Alabama’s State Public Fishing Lakes returned to regular hours on February 1, now is the perfect time to renew your State Fishing License, which can be purchased online or by calling 1-888-848-6887, 24 hours a day - 7 days a week! Fishing licenses are also available for purchase at various retailers throughout the state. Listed below are a few February fishing events.

2-6-10 Bass Fishing League Tournament – Guntersville

2-6-10 Bassmaster Weekend Series – Eufaula

2-13-10 Central Alabama ABA Couples Tournament – Martin

2-27-10 Fishers of Men – Mobile Delta

For more information click here.

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Alabama State Parks to Help Alabamians Scale Back

Alabama State Parks has partnered with Scale Back Alabama to offer three free weekends to Scale Back participants during the 10-week contest. Entrance and parking fees at all 22 Alabama State Parks will be waived for Scale Back Alabama participants on February 20-21, March 20-21, and April 3-4. To qualify for free admission and parking, participants must show either a printed confirmation email or yellow weigh-in card at the park gate. Special guided hikes will be held at various parks during the three free Scale Back weekends. Information about the guided hikes will be posted to the State Parks and Scale Back Alabama Web sites as it becomes available.

For more information click here.

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February Open Trails and Community Fishing Events

The Wehle Nature Center in Bullock Co. will open its gates on Feb. 6 and 20 for Open Trails and Community Fishing events. Featuring conservation and environmental education exhibits and located on 25 acres of rolling hill country in Bullock Co., the Wehle Nature Center is perfect for a weekend adventure. The Nature Center is located approximately 5 miles southeast of Midway, Ala. in Bullock Co., on County Road 47. No admission charge.

For more information click here.

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Help Support Alabama’s Nongame Wildlife Program in 2010

If you enjoy watching wildlife, here is your chance to lend it a helping hand. Make a donation to the Alabama Nongame Wildlife Fund on your 2009 state income tax form. These donations are matched with federal funds, so even the smallest donation is valuable. Past donations have helped bring back bald eagles, ospreys and bluebirds to Alabama, but many other nongame wildlife species still need help.

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