ACE Magazine - Winter 2010

WINTER 2010

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ALABAMA CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ASSOCIATION

2010 ACEOA OFFICER OF THE YEAR

JOHN THOMAS JENKINS

Official Publication of the ACEOA

WWW.ACEOA.ORG

WINTER 2010

EDITOR:
Warren Hinson

in this issue...
President’s Corner ....................................................................................3 Notes from the Trenches ..........................................................................5 2010 State Officers and Directors ............................................................7 Officer of the Year Banquet ......................................................................9 William “Bill” Perryman Award ..............................................................13 The Painting of Sedgefield Clubhouse ....................................................17

ASSISTANT EDITOR:
Gayle Morrow

PUBLISHER:
Brent-Wyatt West 601 Interstate Park Drive Montgomery, Alabama 36109

SALES OFFICES:
Bryan Elkins, Sr. Jim Downing 601 Interstate Park Drive Montgomery, Alabama 36109 (334) 213-6229

Alabama Chapter C.O.P.S. Thank You ..................................................23 Lamp Muscles ........................................................................................27 Raw Weather Day Cannot Stop the Youth ..............................................33 Oak Mountain State Park White-Tailed Deer ..........................................43 Big Oak Youth Hunt 2010 at the Oaks ..................................................49 Hunter Safety ........................................................................................57

ON THE COVER
ACEOA 2010 OFFICER OF THE YEAR JOHN THOMAS JENKINS.

The 2010 Buckmaster Expo ..................................................................63 Choctaw Youth Dove Hunt 2010 ............................................................67 Trout ......................................................................................................73 Pennsylvania Conservation Officer Kill in the Line of Duty ....................79 Geneva and Covington County Youth Dove Hunts..................................83 Henry County Youth Dove Hunt 2010 ....................................................87 Limestone County Youth Dove Hunt ......................................................93 Delta Shooting........................................................................................97 Morgan County Youth Dove Hunt ........................................................103 ACEOA Supports Hunter Education ....................................................109 Wilcox County Youth Dove Hunt ..........................................................115 ADCNR Honor Guard ..........................................................................123 Advertisers Index..................................................................................168 Business Directory ..............................................................................174

ACE Magazine is the official publication of the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer Association. Purchase of advertising space does not entitle the advertisers to any privileges or favors from members. ACE Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements of fact or opinion made by any contributor. This magazine is created and produced by Brent-Wyatt West. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

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President’s Corner
by Chris Jaworowski- Wildlife Biologist and ACEOA President s the leaves turn yellow and signal the beginning of another fall season, ACEOA is preparing for another busy season. After a fun filled summer of youth fishing events, shooting sports, and dove hunts, the ACEOA Board of Directors and Elected Officer’s are now preparing for youth deer hunts, youth squirrel hunts, and the Buckmaster’s Life Hunt. Special thanks go out to our sponsor’s that make these events possible. As the seasons change, ACEOA is also changing for the better. We have now entered the technological age and have made becoming an ACEOA member easier for Officers and Associate members. On our website, www.ACEOA.org prospective members can now join ACEOA online utilizing their PayPal

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accounts. New memberships as well as renewals can now be handled using this system. Please help support ACEOA and join today! In this issue of ACE magazine, we would like to congratulate two very special people. Recently, Director John Thomas Jenkins, Marine Police, was selected as the ACEOA Officer of the Year and Louise Grider was selected as the recipient of the ACEOA Bill Perryman Award. Please review the accomplishments of these two extraordinary people and join the ACEOA Board of Directors and Elected Officers in recognizing their dedication to the conservation of Alabama’ s natural resources. I hope that you enjoy this issue of ACE magazine and wish you a safe and successful hunting season.

ACEOA…Making a Difference.

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Notes from the Trenches
by Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director

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hope all of our corporate sponsors, associates, and officers received their summer issue of ACE Magazine. We are especially proud of this issue because we can show those summer events that really bring the youth into the great Alabama outdoors. Congratulations, again, to Matt Weathers, our 2010 Top Gun. We really had some great competition this year. You don’t want to get into a gun fight with these guys! We’ll put them up against any state enforcement agency. Now, there’s an idea! I was fortunate to spend the second day of youth deer season with my grandson, Chase Little. We had spent an afternoon after school the previous week checking his rifle. I even took a few to check and re-sight from last year. He loves to shoot so I knew he would be eager to help. We got in our stand for an afternoon of deer hunting. The afternoon was rather warm for mid-November. He was battling a cold and I was recovering from a sinus infection. We sounded more like the emergency room at Baptist Medical Center than two eager hunters in a deer stand. Auburn was playing Georgia; so he was keeping me informed on the ballgame with aid from my Walkman and headphones. About 4 pm I looked at Chase and asked if he wanted to get the four-wheeler and check the food plots. I didn’t get it out of my mouth good before he started packing his bag. Like his granddad, Chase was satisfied with just being outside and enjoying nature. We probably could have stayed in the stand and maybe harvested a deer but – so what. Riding the four-wheeler was more important at the moment.

It’s great to have Jerry Fincher back writing editorials. I hope you read his article, “Hunting with Children”, in the Summer Issue of ACE. You will discover that a lot of what he says is true. The key is to make enjoyment the priority of the hunt. Oftentimes, the harvest of an animal is made the priority. This should never be your goal – especially dealing with young hunters. Make it a memorable experience and the harvest part will come. Please enjoy the Fall Issue of ACE Magazine. It features two very special people, Director John Thomas Jenkins and Mrs. Louise Grider. Read their stories and I’m sure you will agree with our findings. Our mission statements for ACEOA are broad. With all of the events and National benefits we sponsor, we often lose sight of one of our most important. That is to support our Conservation Officers in this state. We must defend and protect the integrity of these positions and all dedicated men and women that hold them. When this is threatened, this association will react. No battle is too large. We are the voice of these men and women and we will be there. Thank you for your continuous support. Enjoy the Fall Issue and, when finished, pass it on. Remember that all memberships are renewable on January 1, 2011. Memberships can now be renewed online by visiting our website at www.aceoa.org Visit us also on Facebook!

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2010 State Officers and Directors
Executive Director
Rusty Morrow (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Enforcement Retired)

2010 ACEOA State Officers
President – Chris Jaworowski Vice President – Trey Pose Secretary/Treasurer – Chris Lewis

2010 District Directors and Associates
D-I Director – Ernie Stephens D-I Associate Director – Wendell Fulks D-II Director – Scott Kellenberger D-II Associate Director – Jerry Fincher D-III Director – Grady Myers D-III Associate Director – Joe Little D-III Associate Director – Cliff Robinson D-IV Director – John Bozeman D-IV Director – Vance Woods D-IV Associate Director – Heath Walls D-IV Associate Director – Don Reaves D-V Associate Director – Bo Willis

ACE Magazine
Editor – Warren Hinson Associate Editor – Gayle Morrow

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OFFICER OF THE YEAR BANQUET
by Gayle Morrow banquet honoring the 2010 ACEOA Officer of the Year was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama. The room was filled to capacity as friends and peers of Director Jenkins gathered to honor him on August 23. Everyone enjoyed a very tasty meal prior to the award presentation. Captain Johnny Johnson read the letter of recommendation for Director John Thomas Jenkins

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while Captain Dennis Sanford and Lt. Ryan Bennett stood nearby. Rusty Morrow presented Director Jenkins with a beautiful ACEOA acrylic award. Ex-Commissioner Barnett Lawley was present and commended Director Jenkins for the excellent work he has done.
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Rusty Morrow presents Director John Thomas Jenkins with the prestigious Officer of the Year Award. Also pictured are Captain Johnny Johnson, Captain Dennis Sanford, and Lt. Ryan Bennett.

The room was filled with supporters of Director John Thomas Jenkins.

Commissioner Barnett Lawley commends Director Jenkins for the excellent work he has done. ACE Magazine 9

Officer of the Year – continued

Captain Johnny Johnson reads the letter of recommendation for Director John Thomas Jenkins. Also pictured are Captain Dennis Sanford and Lt. Ryan Bennett.

John Thomas.

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LOUISE GRIDER RECEIVES 2010 WILLIAM “BILL” PERRYMAN AWARD
here are very few people who have devoted so much of their time and money to the rehabilitation and public education of birds as Louise Grider. Louise is a resident of Coffee County, Alabama and is the only privately owned bird rehab center in Alabama. There are two other rehab facilities in Alabama, one in Auburn and the other at Oak Mountain. Louise always had a love for taking care of injured birds as she grew up. As an adult she became a wildlife

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artist, thus she studied birds so she could become a better artist. Many people would bring her injured birds to take care of but she could not take federally protected species so in 1987 Lt. Randy White of Alabama Department of Conservation suggested she get a federal permit. After her application and many letters from Veterinarians, Mayors, Councilmen and Lt. White she
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Jingles.

Rusty Morrow presents Louise Grider with the award and an ACEOA donation. Casper. ACE Magazine 13

Perryman Award – continued
was given a License for protected bird rehab. She eventually applied for an education and position permit which would allow her to exhibit for education and keep the birds which were not able to rehab and return to the wild. With this permit came many federal restrictions which included large aviaries. Louise specializes in birds of raptor (owls, hawks, etc.) but will help any bird she can. She does not rehab any eagles but refers them to Auburn where they have an excellent rehab program. On the average she will have 15 to 17 birds at one time and has had as many as 25. On the average a bird will be with her for a year before it can be released to the wild again. Louise feeds the birds mice, which she buys commercially or chicken thighs she buys at the grocery which amounts to around five hundred dollar a month bill. These birds are brought to her by Conservation Officers, Animal Control Officers and the public. She operates the facility only with the assistance of one family per year where she teaches the family members how to take care of injured birds. Louise’s funding for her facility comes from her and the monies she gets from giving education programs about birds and donations from the public. The most memorable bird she ever cared for was an Osprey, Mama Oz, which came from Dale County Lake which she had for eight years. Mama Oz was not rehab able thus she became an education bird. What made Mama Oz so remarkable was that she would rest on the arm of the public and this is rare because Ospreys are high strung birds and do not adjust to humans very easily. With citizens like Louise Grider birds can expect if possible to be able to get their wings back with time. If you have a bird that is injured or would like to make a donation you can contact Louise Grider at (334) 8946229 or mail her at 14023 Highway 167, New Brockton, Alabama 36351.

Officers gather in support of Louise Grider.

Pumpkin.

Rusty Morrow, Louise Grider and Officer John Bozeman. ACE Magazine 15

THE PAINTING OF SEDGEFIELD CLUBHOUSE
by Rusty Morrow met with Jimmy Hinton, Jr., in January 2010, on the last day of the BADF Life Hunt Classic. I asked what our association could do to help the effort of putting the Classic on at Sedgefield Plantation. He was quick to respond with a request for the association to consider painting the clubhouse. I knew this was doable and that our board of directors would readily agree to this worthwhile project. We always budget some of our funds to benefit special community projects such as this one. The board of directors was eager to help and the project was on. Several trips later and many hard hours

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of removing many years of old paint the project came to an end on November 8th. We are proud to say that the clubhouse has a fresh coat of white paint. Never let it be said that this association won’t step up to the task at hand and “Get ur Done!” What a tremendous honor that ACEOA has in knowing that we have contributed in making the 2011 BADF Life Hunt a great success. We appreciate the Hinton family at Sedgefield and all they do to make the Life Hunt a great success.
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ACEOA noticed last January that the Sedgefield building was in need of a little paint so we volunteered to get the job done before the 2011 Life Hunt. ACE Magazine 17

Sedgefield Clubhouse – continued

Before the paint job!

Our painter in action!

The newly painted building at Sedgefield. ACE Magazine 19

ALABAMA CHAPTER C.O.P.S. THANK YOU

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LAMP MUSCLES
by David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (251) 945-6889 • (251) 454-6543 • www.outdooralabama.com xploring streams and creeks as a youth, my discoveries included plenty of species that I didn’t really understand. Why was the bottom lined with mussels except to provide meals for the raccoons, muskrats and otters? For the most part, that lack of understanding is common today among mainstream America. That fact highlights the importance of work being done at the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center, which celebrated its grand opening last week near Marion. Like most people, I had very limited knowledge that mussels, snails and other mollusks are the keys to water quality in our rivers and streams and that one large mussel can filter a gallon of water per hour, 24 hours per day. When you have a thriving mollusk population, you can understand the implications. However, pollution and flow alterations have caused many species to decline to the point of being listed as an imperiled or endangered species. With Paul Johnson at the helm, the center is working to identify, retrieve, culture and restock as many threatened species as possible to Alabama’s waterways. The 36-acre facility was abandoned by the U.S. Geological survey and deeded to Alabama in 1999. Barnett Lawley, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Stan Cook, Chief of the Fisheries Section of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, toured the facility seven years ago to try to see if it could be put to good use. “This was a project that was destined to be successful,” Lawley said at the grand opening. “After looking at the site, I thought that is a great asset to have and not be able to utilize it. I had a flashback – at my age it’s a flashback and not a good memory – of the 10th grade biology class that mussels and snails were nature’s filters and that was the way the Lord intended for the water to be kept clean. “I asked Stan if it was possible for us to raise mussels and snails in the amounts necessary to stock the rivers, streams and estuaries around the state to have a clean water initiative.” Lawley and Cook recruited Paul Johnson, who was at the Tennessee Aquarium at the time. Within a year, Johnson was in charge of the Aquatic

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Alabama Lamp mussel.

Photo by Thomas Tarpley

Biodiversity Center. “I can’t say enough about what Stan Cook, Nick Nichols and you have done,” Lawley told Johnson. “This started with and idea and has grown to what it is today – a working project. Every time I talk about this, people get excited. This is not just a state initiative; it’s a state-wide initiative and counties and cities, private groups and corporations need to be a part of this. I want to thank all the groups that have helped because it takes money to do this. This is going to help.” Linda Kelsey of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Alabama has 306 fish species 155 mussels and 160 snail species. That equates to three-quarters of the fauna that lives in North America. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has 14 hatcheries around the Southeast, 70 across the country,” Kelsey said. “We’ve been looking hard at our fish hatcheries and how we can modify them to take on propagation of imperiled aquatic species, recognizing this need. “The Southeast is blessed with a tremendous biodiversity of aquatic species and wildlife, but we’ve also been tasked with some of its greatest challenges. No one knows this more than the state of Alabama. The Mobile and Tennessee River basins have the highest
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Lamp Muscle – continued
“For mussels, we work them to extract the larvae and put them on the host fish. In three or four weeks they fall off as a juvenile mussel. There is an intense culture period that is the second most difficult part of the process – culturing them from a quarter of a millimeter to a threeto four-millimeter size range. That’s where we have the most difficulty. Once they get about a four-millimeter size, we can use other culture methods to grow them to a larger size before release.” Johnson said the bulk of the work now is in the basins of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers and the Mobile Basin. Future work will include the Gulf Coast fauna. The main efforts right now are in the Paint Rock River, Cahaba River, flow restoration areas in Elk River and Bear Creek areas off the Tennessee River. The flow restoration on the Weiss Bypass on the Coosa River will also be included when that project is initiated. “We completed releases in Choccolocco Creek and the Paint Rock,” Johnson said. “And one species is one of the rarest in the nation – the Alabama Lamp Mussel. It’s left in about eight miles of the Estill Fork of the upper Paint Rock. We’ve raised 2,000 of them from a half-inch to an inch-and-a-half.” Johnson said that although species restoration is the first priority, watersheds will reap the benefits because of improved habitats in the drainages. “Ultimately, we hope that this is an effort to recognize the values of the rivers, the values of the rivers as they’re meant to function,” he said. “Mussels are the key biodiversity components in our rivers. At one time, a square yard of river bottom had 80 to 300 individuals. Now we’re down to peanuts.” Johnson said one of his favorite stories is about Timothy A. Conrad, a scientist who traveled Alabama in the early 1800s, who described many of the species that live in the state. One of the mussels Conrad described came from the Warrior River at Tuscaloosa. He captured the mussel by sawing a tree branch and dropping it down in 8 feet of water because he could see the mussel’s siphon. He stuck the tree branch in the siphon and the mussel closed up and he pulled it out of the bottom. “He could see it at 8 feet,” Johnson said. “Most of these rivers had a water clarity of 20 feet or more. But it’s a forgotten thing because nobody has seen normal. “Going forward, we really want to use these animals to promote watershed conservation and restoration within the state. The idea is to promote this to help solve several regulatory problems at one time, whether water quality or biodiversity. However, the program has the added benefit of helping to ensure public water supplies for communities that depend on those rivers.”

Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division biologists Todd Fobian, right, and Andrew Henderson show the equipment used in the ponds at the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center near Marion to raise rare and endangered mussel species, including the Alabama (Photo by Billy Pope) Lamp mussel.

freshwater diversity of any region in North America. So you have a tremendous resource here that needs to be protected and I applaud the state of Alabama for conservation of these species, and this state-of-the-art facility is a testament to that.” Cook said that when the Alabama Game and Fish Division changed its name about a decade ago it was done with aforethought. “We made the decision to rename our agency to the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries,” Cook said. “We did that to get away from the concept that we’re just a ‘hook and bullet’ crowd. We wanted to diversify in our name who we are. This facility demonstrates that we are concerned about all wild things that grow, crawl and swim in our waters.” The biodiversity center staff identifies threatened and endangered species, collects the mollusks and then goes through an arduous process of propagating the species in numbers sufficient to warrant restocking efforts. “We hand collect the animals,” Johnson said. “We live and die by our knowledge of where these rare species are. When you’re trying to culture them, you have a narrow window. There are only a couple of weeks a year when you can actually collect the females for the restoration. That’s usually in the spring when the rivers are higher. So you have to do all your ground work beforehand to know the precise localities to examine for brood stock for that species. Sometimes it literally is only one or two sites that we can reliably collect these really rare animals for the recovery work.

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RAW WEATHER DAY CANNOT STOP THE YOUTH
by Ken White The Barbour County Wildlife Management Area Youth Hunt was another great success. Despite a raw, winter day following a rainy, cold week the event took place as scheduled and all the workers and volunteers waited in anticipation to see what the turnout might be. Looking forward to participating in the regular venues consisting of BB-Gun competition, Sling-Shot, Archery, Skeet and Turkey calling, the thirteenth edition of the BCWMA Youth Hunt, 245 youth signed up for the event. That just goes to show, there is no stopping the enthusiasm of youth when it comes to the annual Youth Hunt. The Eufaula Lions Club, Barbour County Coon Hunters Association and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources host the Barbour County Wildlife Management Area Youth Hunt. It is held at the Barbour County WMA located on Hwy. 49 between Clayton and Comer on the first Saturday in February. The hunt is open to all youth ages “mighty young to 15 years-of-age”, and all youth ages 7-and-Under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the event. Youths are not allowed to bring firearms or weapons to the event as all firearms and ammunition are furnished and under the control of the hunt masters and venue instructors at all times. There is absolutely No Charge for admission to this event.

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The cost of the event is covered strictly by donations from local and area businesses, individuals and a couple of special organizations to include the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association which has become a major donor and supporter over the past three years. Amazingly, this hunt is among the Top Five youth hunts occurring across the entire United States and it does not have a major corporate or “name” sponsor. It should also be noted that the entire event is staffed by volunteers in conjunction with, and assisted by, officers of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. The day gets started as registration opens at 10:00 AM at the Barbour County WMA Headquarters area. The venues surround this central operational area and are spaced out as required to maintain safe shooting areas. Each venue is reached via wagons which are pulled by pick-ups and leave the central area at approximate 15minute intervals. There are six major venue sites available for all youth and accompanying adults to attend. The first is the traditional BB-gun instructional venue featuring a shooting competition. The winners and
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First stop of the day is the traditional BB-gun venue.

4-yrs. old Cohen Prittchett gets shooting instructions from his father, Adam Prittchett. Adam is a wildlife biologist for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the manager of the Barbour County Wildlife Management Area which the annual Barbour County WMA Youth Hunt. ACE Magazine 33

Barbour County – continued

Trey Gary gives 12-yrs. old Damian Smith some helpful hints at the Archery Venue.

4-yrs. old Will Rinicker of Eufaula, AL recieves instructions from Kevin Lawson at the Clays Shooting Venue.

11-yrs. old Calleigh Rinicker of Eufaula, AL recieves instructions from Pat Kott at the Clays Shooting Venue.

Harley Smith, Breanna Pilgrim, Amber Greer and Will Rinicker get to talk a little “turkey” with Conservation Enforcement Officer Larry Doster.

awards are given out following the evening hot-dog supper. For many of the younger participants, this is the very first gun safety instructions they receive. Most importantly, it sets the stage for the continued specialized instructions they, and all other participants, receive based on the particular venue they are attending. From the BB-gun venue the participant will travel to the Sling-Shot venue. We have come a long way from the traditional limb “Y” and strips of rubber cut from discarded tire inner-tubes. Today’s version of the SlingShot is a technological marvel with models now being made available for true light-game hunting purposes. These are a lot of fun for those that really enjoy “plinking” and some old-fashioned, friendly shooting competitions. While they are a lot of fun and entertaining, it is absolutely critical that the youth understand the safety requirements, shooting dangers and even the

sporting ethics involved with this particular sport. This information is disseminated by the instructors to the individual wagon groups and continues as the youth receive hands-on shooting instructions and assistance as well. Next up is the archery venue. The youth attending this venue are introduced to the world of archery and are shown the basic components required for this sport. With archery being introduced as an acceptable sport in many of our schools through the efforts of the ADCNR, more and more youth are spending longer periods of time at this particular venue. Along with the safety instructions, they get hands-on help from the instructors as they take their shots. The next venue is actually two stations due to the high participation rates experienced each year. This is the
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Barbour County – continued
skeet venue and there are two full shooting stations in operation. Located in two different areas to maintain safety requirements, this is the most popular of the venues for all age groups. The youth receive the basic gun-safety instructions and are also made aware of the need to use proper safety equipment for hearing and eye protection purposes. It is interesting to note the reactions of the adults attending this venue with the youth. While they listen in as the safety aspects are explained to the youth , those that shoot really perk up, and become all attentive, when the discussion turns to the “how-to’s” of proper shooting techniques. It is also absolutely amazing how many of the youth actually score a hit on one or both of their clays when they fly. Following the skeet-shooting and all its excitement, you would think there is no way to top that with another venue. If you have ever been in the turkey woods then you might agree there really is. The final stop of the event is the turkey-hunting venue. Here the youth are provided a chance to learn about this majestic bird and the magic allure of the hunt. From the background info provided by the instructors they learn a bit about the bird, its environment and get to hear some of the different calls the birds use. They are then invited to try their hand at the calling as well as taking a little target practice at a bird silhouette. From the turkey-hunting venue, it is on to a quick hot-dog lunch and then the afternoon hunts. The afternoon hunts were split into rabbit hunting groups and squirrel hunting groups. A major change was made this year that gave the 12 years and older group another alternate to the hunts. They had a choice of participating in the hunts or going to the newly-added deer-hunting venue. The Barbour County WMA shooting range is just perfect for this added venue. The range has a shotgunning area, 25-yard range, 100-yard range and an archery area with berms between each, making it ideal for the deer hunting venue. The short range was used for the event as .22-cal. rifles were used for a competition during the event. Here the youth participated in a safety instructional period concerning rifles and their special considerations as compared to shotguns. This was then followed by a short discussion on the popular sport of deer-hunting. Next on the agenda was a rifleshooting competition and it was a spirited competition, to say the least. With the high-scorer in the boys and girls groups winning a 22-cal. rifle each, needless to say, it was a huge success. The squirrel and rabbit hunts are actual hunting events which take the youth into the woods and fields of the Barbour County Wildlife Management Area. Dividing into
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12-yrs. old Daniel Beaty and his grandfather, Danny Beaty, await the start of the afternoon hunts.

Justin Young explains the rules, scoring and the do’s and don’ts of the Deer Hunting Venue.

12-yrs. old Daniel Beatty squeezes off a round at the Deer Hunting Venue. ACE Magazine 37

Barbour County – continued

12-yrs. old Mason Wallace of Westville, FL and 12 yrs. old Cassandra Gifford of Eufaula, AL taking their rounds at the rifle shooting competition at the Deer Hunting Venue.

12-yrs. old Malachi Ards of Eufaula and 12-yrs. old Cassandra Gifford the top shooters at the Deer Hunting Venue. Each was awarded the .22-cal rifle used in competition for their being the leader in the boy/girl divisions.

groups based on personal interest, the groups are assigned to a hunt master who is usually the dog-owner or trainer. We have excellent squirrel and rabbit dogs, many of which are experienced competition dogs, so the youth are treated to something special in these hunts. A shooting order is determined by the members of the groups and the firearms are under the control of an arms master and/or the hunt master at all times. You can rest assured the youth, and the adults accompanying them, will leave with memories of a special day in the woods and fields. As they return, the evening sun starts to disappear over the horizon and you can feel the winter chill in the air. With the close of the afternoon, and as darkness begins to fall, it is time for the hot-dog supper. Supper is followed by the sponsor recognitions and it is then time for the awards and door prize drawing. This is quite an event in its own right as every youth left with a nice prize. Dozens of rod-and-reel combos, lures, bb-guns and a collage of other outdoor prizes are given away. Once this is completed it is time to load up on the trailers and head into the Barbour County woods for some night-time coon hunting. There is nothing quite as enjoyable as listening to the baying of the hounds across the night-time woods. To head into the woods by the light of a flashlight seeking a treed raccoon and the baying hounds is to create a very unique memory for the youth and adults participating. You just have to be there to understand the awe of an oldtime coon hunter as he notes “it is like a thousand twinkling stars floating through the shadows of the nighttime trees and brush” as the huge group approaches

the treed location. Following the hunt everyone returns to the main event site and it is time to call it a day. If you have never attended this Youth Hunt then you have missed a real treat. It is hard for people to imagine almost 300 youth attending an event in today’s world where the outdoor world is brought to life as it is during this event. It takes on an even more unbelievable aspect when you realize these youth are actually taken on a real, live-fire squirrel or rabbit hunt in the woods and fields of the Barbour County Wildlife Management Area during the afternoon hours. How about over 400 youth and adults taking a walk in the night-time woods to find the coon hounds and a treed raccoon? There is just no way to describe the reaction of a youth getting an opportunity to receive expert firearm safety instructions and then being allowed to actually fire a bbgun, shotgun or 22-cal. rifle as they make their rounds visiting the various venues during the day. Many are having this experience for the very first time in their young life. It is remarkable that many actually hit their target with a high degree of accuracy, including those attempted to knock a clay pigeon out of the sky, following these short, but highly informative, instructions. Magic moments occur as these youth traverse the woods and fields and discover the “real” outdoor world, where animal tracking comes alive or an antler shed is discovered. This is a great testament to the knowledge and expertise these volunteers and ADCNR officers bring to these venues. It is easy to talk about “giving back”; G but, these folks make it happen!

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OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK WHITE-TAILED DEER
by David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (251) 945-6889 • (251) 454-6543 • www.outdooralabama.com ince 2004, the Alabama State Parks Division has attempted to keep the burgeoning white-tailed deer population at Oak Mountain State Park under control through a series of regulated archery hunts. While those hunts have succeeded in taking more than 200 deer out of the park, the limitations of the format caused concerns. Previously, the hunters were only allowed a few hunts per season and the entire park was closed during these hunts. Of course, the success of the hunters was dictated to a great degree by the weather. The 2010-11 hunts, which start Nov. 15, will be conducted under a significantly different format with many more hunting days available to the archers and the park will not be closed. “The way we’ve proceeded since 2004 with our Oak Mountain hunts is we set them up three to four months in advance,” said Forrest Bailey, State Parks’ Natural Resource Chief. “We let the dice fall where they may. It has been very successful up to this point with the exception of the bad weather/rainout days, which kept people out of the woods, of course. Anybody who hunts knows this and you can’t predict whether you’ll have good weather. “This year, State Parks, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and Bowhunters of Alabama (BHA) took a look at expanding the time frame to hunt under certain conditions.” The format that resulted is the Oak Mountain archery hunts are Monday through Friday from Nov. 15 through Jan. 31. No weekend hunting is allowed, which also covers the Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods this year. “We’re doing this in hopes that our core group of bowhunters - 45 bowhunters who were screened through applications and through proficiency testing just like our rules and regulations from the past hunts, as well as our safety briefings and meetings like our past hunts - will be able to hunt at their discretion,” Bailey said. “We feel like, at the most, there will be 10-12 hunters in the park at any given time. The park will not be closed, as far as any facilities. The hunters will check in upon arrival at the park and check out, based on prior rules and regulations.”

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Several of Alabama’s state parks have abundant deer herds and several of the parks, including Oak Mountain near Birmingham, have an overabundance, which leads to habitat damage and numerous deer-vehicle collisions. In an effort to reduce the deer herd at Oak Mountain, archery hunts have been used to take animals off the park since 2004. The 2010-2011 Oak Mountain hunts will be held under a new format that gives bowhunters much more flexibility in the hunting schedule. PHOTO By David Rainer

Bailey said the safety rules, which are being communicated to the public, stipulate that no hunter can hunt within 300 feet of any recreational facility, road, trailhead or building.
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White-Tailed Deer – continued
Bailey also knows this new format will come under extra scrutiny because of the interaction of the park’s other user groups. “This is a large step for us and the Bowhunters of Alabama because basically the whole world is watching,” he said. “The user groups at Oak Mountain are diverse. There are numerous hikers and a tremendous number of bikers, both off-road and on the roadways, as well as horseback riders. So, all of the entities will be utilizing the park at the same time. “We feel very comfortable with this new format. We will monitor any complaints by any user groups. We’re relying on the hunters to be cognizant of exactly where they are. At the last safety meeting we had, only 11-12 of the hunters had not participated in a hunt at Oak Mountain, so the rest of the group knows what to expect. They know the parameters we’re working within and are very much aware the park will not be closed during this time.” Barry Estes, chairman of the urban deer control program with BHA, said the bowhunters who were fortunate enough to be chosen for the Oak Mountain hunts are looking forward to the flexibility. “Everybody is very excited about the new format,” Estes said. “We will be able to hunt when it’s not raining eight inches a day or with tropical storms and tornadoes. This should help accomplish the objective of taking more deer off the park. I guess you could say this format will be more user friendly. We’ve got some hunters who live very close to the park and can hunt in the afternoon. Some will have to take vacations days or off days, but it’s all going to work out. It’s going to be good.” To ensure the hunting pressure will be distributed evenly, the 9,940-acre park has been divided into 11 zones. Each zone will accommodate four to five hunters, who made a zone preference during the application process. “They will basically stick to those zones,” Bailey said. “Each of those zones will have a team captain to facilitate communications. We felt this was a fair and equitable way to break the park up without putting so much pressure in certain zones.” Instead of a harvest check-in station at the park, hunters will take the deer to the processors, where all pertinent information (weight, age, sex, antler configuration) will be recorded and provided to parks personnel. Successful archers can keep the deer or donate it to Hunters Helping the Hungry. “The statewide three-buck rule will apply at Oak Mountain even though this is a special hunt,” Bailey said. “Everybody is very cognizant about not passing up a doe and waiting on a buck. They learned this lesson the first two seasons of the hunt because people thought that the white-tailed deer in the park would be less wild than those on private property, but that is not true. We hope these changes will result in more deer removed from the herd at Oak Mountain.” Bailey hopes at some point to be able to conduct a population dynamics study on the Oak Mountain deer herd to determine the total number of deer in the park and determine how many deer need to be removed to improve the health of the herd. “That study would be an invaluable tool to help us evaluate that,” Bailey said. “It’s based on camera census and camera check over a period of time, utilizing bait stations within a grid in the park. All that information is tabulated and interpreted over a two-year period. But budgetary constraints won’t allow us to conduct the study right now.” Since the Oak Mountain hunts started, Bailey said the archers have taken an average of 28 deer per season with a ratio of 75-percent does and 25-percent bucks, which is to be expected with an estimated doe-to-buck ration of about 5 to 1. While Bailey hopes for increased harvest under the new format, the herd reduction to date has benefited the park’s plant life. Before the archery hunts started, the damage to the flora in the park was obvious with a noticeable browse line and the absence of numerous native plant species. “There are improvements to the vegetation, depending on what part of the park you go to,” Bailey said. “One of the things we tried to do, noting that Oak Mountain is basically a closed-canopy forest, is we have taken areas we have opened up because of pine beetle damage and storm damage and improved those areas with forest mulching, some right-of-way herbicide work, and some replanting of native species. We have created situations where we have native forbs and grasses growing in these areas. We have seen more native wildflowers that have survived. There are more climbing vines. We’re seeing more turkeys in the park because the increased vegetation gives more cover for the groundnesting birds.” Those who visit any of Alabama’s state parks also need to know about a rule passed last year that prohibits the feeding of deer inside the parks. “We did that for a number of reasons,” he said. “Deer are creatures of habit to a degree. When they get used to handouts, especially from campers in the campgrounds, they tend to gravitate toward those areas around dusk. We’ve had deer-vehicle collisions and have had to put deer down. This rule was put into effect for the health of the herd, because the food the deer get from people is not nutritious.” Visit www.alapark.com for more information.
ACE Magazine 45

BIG OAK YOUTH HUNT 2010 AT THE OAKS
by Wayne Harrell, The Oaks Manager n November 13th, we once again hosted John Croyle’s Big Oak Ranch at The Oaks in Boligee for a youth hunt. We had 16 young hunters, eight girls and eight boys, arrive at 7:30 AM after a long drive from North Alabama. They were excited to be with us and most of them had never been on a trip like this. The Big Oak Ranch is home to approximately 150 kids that otherwise would have a tough time coping with everyday circumstances. Every one of them that visited us that day showed evidence of the excellent leadership they’ve been exposed to. They are polite, and grateful for all we do for them and thanked us profusely for our efforts. The day starts off with introductions and welcome to all in attendance. Our members at The Oaks prepare food and handouts for the kids and we get as much or more out of the day than the guests do. After a safety lesson brought by the local Conservation officers, we adjourned to the shooting range. They were allowed to shoot .22 rifles at spinner

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targets, 20 gauge shotguns at skeet, and enjoyed a trapping seminar. Dwight Thrasher, Frank McMillan, Mike Sievering, and Tommy Atkins represented the State of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. This hunt was the sixth annual of its kind here. When we started with our Youth Hunt, we contacted Mike Sievering and got the go ahead from their department. This was the first State supported hunt and as a result, we get the State shooting sports equipment and supplies to be able to allow these youngsters to practice their outdoor skills. They all enjoy this part of the day almost as much as the actual hunting. We had lunch, handed out gift bags, and drew for stands. Our members and their wives act as guides for the kids, along with several adults that are not members. It amazes me each year to get phone calls from folks asking to be included and allowed to guide, cook, clean up, or just anything to help a worthy cause. One of our neighbors volunteered his land to host two of the kids so we could spread them out more. Everyone went to their assigned stands and sat hopefully waiting on a deer or wild pig. I’d love to say everyone got a deer, but if you’re a hunter, you know that
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Max and his buck, along with his guide Leroy Dixon.

Fellowship and Chili Supper ACE Magazine 49

Big Oak – continued
isn’t always the case. We did harvest four does and one very nice nine point buck. Two of the hunters killed their first deer and smiles were abundant on all the youngsters’ faces. We awarded prizes for the first deer killed and for the largest deer killed. Zack took the first deer and was given a $30.00 gift card to Academy Sports. Max killed the big buck and received a $50.00 gift card to Academy Sports. I’m sure they’ll be buying more hunting stuff with that. None of this would have been possible without our local merchants and others that actively support our sport and want to see it grow. They are listed here, in alphabetical order. Academy Sports Ann Payne Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Assoc Bud’s Best Cookies Central Alabama Branch-QDMA Edgars Market Greene County Farmer’s Federation Marks Outdoors Piggly Wiggly Red Diamond Coffee Simmons Sporting Goods Tuscaloosa Coca-Cola The Oaks Members
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Tommy Atkins and shotgun training.

A trapping seminar with Mike Siervering.

The Big Oak Ranch kids, their house moms and dads, with the ACEOA Banner. ACE Magazine 51

Big Oak – continued

Nina and her deer (not her first!).

Tyler with the two does he shot.

Zack with the first deer killed.

.22 training with Dwight Thrasher and Frank McMillan.

ACE Magazine 53

HUNTER SAFETY
by David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (251) 945-6889 • (251) 454-6543 • www.outdooralabama.com he buzz is definitely in the air, especially with the cold front that moved through earlier this week that piqued the interest of those who anxiously await the opening day of Alabama’s gun deer season. Because of the excitement generated, there is one issue that is infinitely more important than where or when

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Hunter Education Coordinator Ray Metzler dons a full body harness before climbing into a tree stand to demonstrate how to hook up the safety trap to the tree before starting to ascend the tree. Photo By Billy Pope

you’re going to bag that big buck - hunter safety. “It’s been a long time since people have been in the woods and people need to make sure all their equipment is in order,” said Ray Metzler, Hunter Safety Coordinator with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. “They need to check everything ahead of time. They need to go to the range and make sure their gun is sighted in. “All the basic aspects of hunting apply, as well. They need to make sure they are abiding by all the laws and regulations, including wearing their blaze orange. I also highly recommend carrying a flashlight. That’s not a regulation, but I refer to that as something hunters can do to protect themselves from the actions of other hunters moving around the woods in dim-light conditions. It distinguishes you as a human. There’s not a deer in the woods that carries a flashlight.” For those who haven’t been bowhunting, each hunting stand needs to be checked, especially climbing stands or fixed position stands that are locked onto the tree with a cable, chain or nylon strap. “I’ve got five stands that I checked back in September before bow season started,” Metzler said. “When I check my stands I’m looking for broken welds or any cracks. I make sure all the material, including the seat, is in good working order. I check the nuts and bolts and make sure they’re in good shape.” During the 2009-2010 season, there were 14 tree stand-related accidents, including one fatality, which occurred in Escambia County. Metzler said the report indicated the 39-year-old victim fell from the tree after a pin came out of climbing stand while he was descending the tree. His safety belt was not attached to the tree. “Everybody should know by now that you should wear your full-body harness from the time you leave the ground until the time you come back down,” Metzler said. “Of the accidents we have, very few of the people have on a full-body harness. People will put it on but won’t attach it to the tree until they get where they are going. What most people don’t realize is that the vast majority of accidents don’t happen when they’re sitting
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ACE Magazine 57

HUNTER SAFETY – continued
there. It happens when they’re going up or coming down, unless they happen to fall asleep in the stand.” There were 10 non-fatal firearms accidents last year and one fatality where the victim was mistaken for game in Monroe County. Metzler said mistaking a hunter for game is the most common reason for firearms-related accidents. “You don’t pull the trigger unless you know what it is, especially in the morning or late in the afternoon in dimlight conditions,” he said. “Almost all of the firearms accidents we see are during dim-light conditions. Again, that’s the reason people need to carry a flashlight. The thing is you have to make sure of the target and what’s beyond. And you need to identify your target with your binoculars, not your scope.” As tragic as the fatalities and accidents are, Alabama’s hunter safety record has improved dramatically during the last decade. Hunter safety has been mandatory since 1993 and anyone born on or after Aug. 1, 1977 is required to complete the course before the person can purchase a regular hunting license. A recent addition to the license law allows people of license-buying age (16 and older) who haven’t completed the hunter education requirement to purchase a restricted license to hunt with a properly licensed hunter as a mentor. The license will indicate ‘supervision required,’ which means the new hunter must be within normal voice control - not over 30 feet - from a properly licensed hunter who is at least 21 years old. Metzler said during the past seven seasons, the statistics indicate that Alabama has between three and five accidents per 100,000 licenses sold. “That’s a significant improvement,” he said. “About 15 years ago those numbers (ratio per 100,000 hunters) were in the teens. I think hunter education has been a part of the decline, but I can’t say it’s the only reason. The way we hunt is different. More people are sitting on stands and not moving around the woods like they used to. Clubs have sign-out boards to let people know where they are. Safety equipment is better, as well. Plus, we have a mandatory blaze orange requirement (a minimum of 144 square inches of hunter orange or either a full size hunter orange hat or cap).” Metzler said he understands the excitement Alabama hunters experience on opening weekend, but he urges those who take to the woods to keep their wits. “They just need to be calm and abide by all your basic safety rules,” he said. “Don’t get excited. Walk carefully and be cognizant of your surroundings. Don’t get in a hurry, especially going up and down a tree. Take it one step at a time, whether going up a ladder stand or in a climbing stand. The main thing is not to get in a hurry.

Full Body Harness

Photo By Billy Pope

That’s a simple way to say it.” And remember the 10 commandments of firearms safety: 1. Treat every firearm as if it was loaded. 2. Control the muzzle of your firearm - keep the barrel pointed in a safe direction; never point a firearm at anything that you do not wish to shoot; insist that your shooting and hunting companions do the same. 3. Be sure of your target and beyond - positively identify you target before you fire and make sure there are no people, livestock, roads or buildings beyond the target. 4. Never shoot at water or a hard, flat surface - there is no control of a ricocheting bullet. 5. Only point a firearm at things you want to shoot - and don’t use a scope for target identification, use binoculars. 6. Never climb a tree, cross a fence or jump a ditch with a loaded firearm. 7. Store guns and ammunition separately - store firearms under lock and key and use a gun case to transport firearms. 8. Make sure your barrel and action are clear of all obstructions. 9. Unload firearms when not in use - never take someone else’s word that a firearm is unloaded. Check yourself. 10. Avoid drugs and alcohol when hunting or shooting even some over-the-counter medicines can cause impairment.
ACE Magazine 59

THE 2010 BUCKMASTER EXPO
by Scott Kellenberger, District II Director

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CEOA had the privilege of attending the Buckmaster Expo again this year. We enjoyed three days of good food, great scenery, familiar faces and great entertainment. The very most fun was raising money, through a gun raffle, for our good buddy and BADF Life Hunter, Chris Jackson.

ACEOA raised money to Benefit our current Life Hunter, Chris Jackson. Funds will be used to pay for medical apparatus.

Crystal Pitts was a great help in the ACEOA booth. Jackie Bushman came by to give her a hug.

Bucky came over to the booth to visit with Rusty and Gayle Morrow.

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CHOCTAW YOUTH DOVE HUNT 2010
by Vance Wood, ACEOA D-5 Director t was a tough time putting this hunt together this year. The crew overcame many obstacles and we rallied to have one of the best hunts to date. Bubba Carlisle really worked hard to get the field ready, while Riley Ezell and I gathered donations for door prizes. Overall, the hunt was a huge success. There were a total of 43 youngsters that took the field. They were treated to several hours of skeet by Rusty Morrow and the ACEOA Shooting Sports equipment. A fabulous lunch of chicken,

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ribs, sausage, hotdogs and hamburgers was then served. Door prizes, including a Lifetime Hunting License (Donated by the ACEOA) and a safety brief were given prior to the hunt. The birds did not show up early, so there was a lull in excitement, but by 3:45 they were coming in pretty good. There were a lot of first time hunters and many got their first bird ever. One young man showed me his bruised arm and I asked him if he
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Youngsters enjoying shooting sporting clays provided by ACEOA.

Everyone enjoying good food at the hunt.

Winner of one of the gift certificates.

Winner of one of the gift certificates. ACE Magazine 67

Choctaw Youth – continued
quit because it hurt? He replied with a smile, “No sir! I ran out of shells!” That’s what it’s all about. Family, friends and the sport, not how many you bag. Many thanks to Michael Land for the use of his property, Bubba Carlisle and Family for their tireless efforts and unwavering support, Gilbertown/Butler ACE Hardware Store, MidStar Timber Company, ACEOA and all of the many other supporters for making this the best ever Choctaw County Youth Dove Hunt!

A happy group of youngsters pose in front of the ACEOA banner.

Everyone receives instruction and a safety brief.

Winner of the Lifetime Hunting License donated by ACEOA. ACE Magazine 69

TROUT
by David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (251) 945-6889 • (251) 454-6543 • www.outdooralabama.com or those who live on or within close proximity to the Alabama Gulf Coast, the fall not only means college football and hunting, it also means some of the best fishing of the year. For the first time in a number of years, that fishing also included red snapper. Although Ken Jansen of Fairhope will spend some time in the deer stand, his life is inextricably connected to Mobile Bay and the coastal waters. While some of his fishing efforts are in the Gulf of Mexico with his king mackerel-fishing buddy Freddie Watkins, most of Jansen’s water time is spent on the inshore species. “I’ve been around Fairhope for over 60 years and have fished all my life,” Jansen said. “I’ve caught a lot of mullet, lot of trout, lot of flounder and a lot of crabs. I’ve enjoyed every minute.” When Jansen’s dad (Claude) was alive they would take people out to Middle Bay Lighthouse for several hours of white trout fishing, a tradition Ken continues today. “We used to do a lot of shrimping, too,” Ken said. “My mother used to grind up the shrimp and sent us out fishing with a sack full of shrimp burgers. Just about everything we did or ate was connected to the bay.” Despite many more people out on the water, Jansen said the fishing hasn’t changed much over the years. With few exceptions, he said the white-trout fishing usually remains good until January or the water temperatures falls below the 60-degree mark. “The people we used to take trout fishing would catch all they wanted, starting late in the summer and through the fall,” he said. “The fish continue to be as plentiful as they were 40 years ago. We still have a great fishery in Mobile Bay. Middle Bay Light is one of my favorite places. I go there every time the weather allows. “I have confidence in Middle Bay Light. There are times of the year when it really produces. But there are times when you won’t find anything but catfish and sting rays. It’s just one of my favorite haunts. There have always been oyster shells around Middle Bay Light, and my daddy always said if you were snagging an oyster shell now and then that you were fishing in the right spot. The shell is a draw for redfish, speckled trout, white trout, flounder and mullet. It continues to attract fish year after year.”

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David Brush of Fairhope fights a white trout with the lighthouse as a backdrop. The Alabama Historical Commission has designated $30,000 a year for maintenance of the lighthouse. Photo by David Rainer

When he’s targeting white trout (AKA sand trout), Jansen makes sure there is significant tide movement. “It doesn’t matter if it’s incoming or outgoing,” he said. “But the white trout like some water movement. I mainly use cut bait, either croaker of I’ll cut up the first white trout of the day. Sometimes I’ll tip it with a little bit of shrimp. Sometimes we’ll just use a half a shrimp. The thing I’ve found with white trout is not to get the shrimp too big on the hook. It makes it harder to get a hook-up. “We’ve caught them up to two and three-quarters pounds at the lighthouse. That’s a nice white trout.” The rub with white trout for many people is they don’t freeze well unless special care is taken. Jansen has developed a technique for storing white trout that solves the issue of mushy filets. “I’ve found over the years that if I take my ice chest or fish box and put in a couple of bags of ices and a couple of gallons of water that it will make a slush,” he said. “When you throw a fish in the box, it will swim down under the ice floating on top and immediately chill out. You can take a white trout and throw it on ice, the side on the ice will be good, but the side on top will go bad. It will get soft and the taste will change. I swim mine down
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ACE Magazine 73

Trout – continued
into a slush of water. “When I’m cleaning them, I throw the filets back into slush water. When I get through, I’ll freeze them in water. After they’re frozen I’ll add a little water and freeze it to put a cap on top. They’ll keep up to a year like that, and they’ll taste just like you caught them the same day.” As for the other species along the Alabama Gulf Coast, the bull redfish seem to hang out on Dixey Bar year-round these days, and the anglers on Gulf State Park Pier will also hook nice reds, as well as whiting. Speckled trout have moved to the rivers and deep holes. For the just-concluded fall red snapper season, the fishing communities in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are thankful for the opportunity to get back into the Gulf after a season of sitting at the dock or working for BP during the oil cleanup. There was some question as to whether the charter fleet could get the word out sufficiently to attract customers to the coast. While all charter boat captains didn’t stay as busy as they wanted, several were extremely happy with the outcome, including Capt. Johnny Greene, who runs the Intimidator charter boat. “It was a great fall, in my opinion,” Greene said. “There were a lot of people in town that wouldn’t have been here if we hadn’t had the fall snapper season. I was able to book about 90 percent of the days we had available and the weather cost me a couple of days. “Some of the people I called had missed out on trips this summer and I called them and told them to get ready to come down in the fall. They were ecstatic that the government was finally giving something back. Then I got some calls from people who were within driving distance to the beach. There was no doubt, the vast majority was interested in red snapper.” And, as far as the angling went, the fish couldn’t have been more cooperative. “The fishing was as good as I’ve personally ever seen it,” Greene said. “It was good for big snapper, big triggerfish and amberjack. All in all, I think the total experience was just awesome.” Greene said the peripheral businesses also saw significant boosts during the fall snapper season. Two of the larger bait and tackle shops on the coast - J&M Tackle and Sam’s Stop and Shop - reported the best October sales in years. “I think it benefitted the condo owners and restaurant owners and the gas stations,” said Greene, who also sits on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. “I think it was a positive economic boost for the community as a whole. And there were a ton of private boats that didn’t get to fish last summer. They were able to get out this fall, so they probably benefitted more anybody from a weekend-only season for eight weeks as opposed to a season of 39 consecutive days.” Tom Steber at Zeke’s Charter Fleet in Orange Beach said while the coastal communities are not out of the woods, the fall snapper season sure changed the momentum. “It definitely helped us,” Steber said. “We probably doubled our business from last year, which was definitely a plus. It’s just that you’re competing with football and hunting and all that stuff.” While Steber understands that the oil spill created the opportunity to have a fall snapper season, he also knows that the coastal communities need something to draw anglers during the spring of the year. “We desperately need something for the spring, even if we only had weekends in April and May,” he said. “You could get your hardcore charter fishermen. People have that urge, when spring hits, to get out on the water. “But with this fall season, it was way better than it would have been without it - no ifs, ands or buts about it.”
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Ken Jansen of Fairhope unhooks a nice white trout that took cut bait tipped with a piece of shrimp at Middle Bay Lighthouse in Mobile Bay. Jansen said the lighthouse has been a favorite fishing spot for as long as he can remember. Photo by David Rainer

PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVATION OFFICER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY
by Rusty Morrow he ACEOA family sends our deepest sympathy to the family of Officer David Grove. Conservation Officer Grove was killed during a night hunting stop on Thursday, November 11, at approximately 10:30 p.m. Officer Grove was patrolling a rural area in Adams County, Pennsylvania when the incident occurred. Twenty-seven year old Christopher Lynn Johnson, a convicted felon, was arrested eleven hours later at a hunting camp. He had a gunshot wound in his hip when arrested by Pennsylvania State Police. It is believed that Officer Grove was handcuffing the suspect when the fun fight occurred. Officer Grove was struck four times and received a fatal gunshot wound to his neck with a 45 ca. handgun. Officer Grove was thirty-one years old. He was a highly dedicated officer and well respected by his peers. This association responded quickly with a donation to his established fund to assist his family. We will remain dedicated to assist with further help if needed.

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ACE Magazine 79

GENEVA & COVINGTON COUNTY YOUTH DOVE HUNTS

ACE Magazine 83

HENRY COUNTY YOUTH DOVE HUNT 2010
by Larry Doster, CEO Henry County nce again, the Henry County Youth Dove Hunt was held on opening day of dove season in Haleburg, Alabama. The weather was perfect for an afternoon hunt with low humidity and lower than normal temperatures. This year we had about 55 youth hunters along with their sponsors. The land owner, Mrs. Doster, was present and gave a welcome speech to the crowd. She told them how important she thought it was for

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young people to have the opportunity to go hunting and to have a place to hunt. She was very happy to allow the youth hunt to be held on her property and said she hoped that events such as this would brighten the future of hunting. Mr. Harnidge Elliott did a great job of preparing the field this year. The sunflowers and harvested corn really did help to attract the doves. After registration, the
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L to R: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Richard Tharp Seated District 4 Wildlife Biologist Bill Gray, Mrs. Doster (landowner).

L to R: Henry County District Judge Derek Peterson and son Will Peterson, Henry County CEO Officer Larry Doster.

Henry County Officer Joe Carroll talking to Gene Riley from B&G Marine.

Youth Hunters in the field.

ACE Magazine 87

participants enjoyed boiled peanuts, hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch. After lunch, each youth hunter drew for a door prize that was purchased with funds provided by Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association. The prizes were dove buckets, shells, dove stools and hats. After the welcome speech from Mrs. Doster and a safety talk from Officer Larry Doster, the hunters went to the field and enjoyed an afternoon of dove hunting.

Henry County – continued

Youth Hunters in the field.

Youth Hunters in the field.

Youth Hunters in the field.

ACE Magazine 89

LIMESTONE COUNTY YOUTH DOVE HUNT
by CEO Wendell Fulks he Limestone County Youth Dove Hunt was held September 11, 2010, on property provided by Mr. Brent Shaw. We had 49 youth and 45 adults that participated in one of the best youth dove hunts I have been associated with in my career. We all enjoyed hot dogs, chips, drinks, candy, and, of course, those awesome door prizes. Every one of our youth won a door prize. The hunt wasn’t half bad either. After Capt. Johnny Johnson gave the safety brief, we all convoyed to the field a couple of miles away. The doves were flying great, and many first time youth hunters experienced shooting their first bird from the air. Many hunters harvested their limit of 15 doves fairly quickly. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of our sponsors who provided food, drinks, land, and door prizes. Without your generosity, many of

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our youth would never get to experience such a magnificent opportunity to enjoy hunting. Thank you ACEOA for providing funding that made it possible for all of our youth to leave with a door prize. Capt. Johnny Johnson, CEO Steve Pepper, SGT Travis Gray, and CEO Wendell Fulks would like to thank everyone who came together to make this valuable hunt possible. We certainly appreciate the help from Mrs. Kym Champion.

Door Prize Time!

Participants at the Limestone County Youth Dove Hunt.

Capt. Johnny Johnson, CEO Steve Pepper, SGT Travis Gray, and CEO Wendell Fulks. ACE Magazine 93

DELTA SHOOTING
by David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (251) 945-6889 • (251) 454-6543 • www.outdooralabama.com hat big buck that’s been leaving those huge, splittoe tracks near your favorite stand finally shows up during shooting hours. You try to concentrate on the crosshairs and squeeze the trigger. As the echo of the muzzle blast ripples through the woods, the buck snaps his head up and looks around for the thunder, then prances into the thicket with his white tail held high in alert. It was obvious that the deer was unscathed and you sit there in utter amazement that the shot was a clean miss. As the adrenaline finally starts to subside, the questions flood your brain - was it buck fever or even worse, is the scope not sighted in correctly. Did the gun get bumped or were you just looking at the enormous antlers instead of the deer’s shoulder? The only way to accurately answer those questions is to check the accuracy of your firearm, preferably in a place with a nice bench rest. I’ve seen too many holes in truck beds or hoods

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To ensure the safety of the shooting range at the Upper Delta Wildlife Management Area, large metal tubes were constructed to shoot through. Steve Barnett, Upper Delta manager, demonstrates the method used to shoot through the tubes. Photo by David Rainer

to suggest one try to perform the accuracy check with a vehicle as the rest. If you’re fortunate, there will be one of the public shooting ranges operated by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) in your area. There are 11 ranges scattered throughout the state that gives the hunter or shooter everything needed to check for the proper functioning of a firearm and/or the sighting devices. Starting in northwest Alabama, nine of the ranges are solely operated by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Those ranges are at the Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Colbert County; Swan Creek WMA in Limestone County; Sam Murphy WMA in Lamar County; Skyline WMA in Jackson County; Cahaba WMA in Shelby County; Coosa WMA in Coosa County; Barbour WMA in Barbour County; Oakmulgee WMA in Hale County and the Upper Delta WMA in Baldwin County. Two of the public shooting ranges are operated in partnerships with county governments - Marengo Public Shooting Range in Marengo County just outside Linden and the Etowah Public Shooting Range in Etowah County near Gadsden. Ray Metzler, WFF’s Hunter Education Coordinator, said all the ranges have an area for clay-bird shooting with shotguns, as well as rifle/pistol ranges with target ranges up to 100 yards. Two of the ranges - Skyline and Etowah - have ranges up to 200 yards. All the rifle/pistol ranges have impact berms at least 20 feet tall, the height recommended by the National Rifle Association. “They all have concrete pads and benches,” Metzler said. “All of them but two have a covered shooting line. The ranges at Coosa and Cahaba don’t have covers on the shooting lines. You still get direct sun at those two ranges, but hopefully we’ll able to cover those in the not too distant future.”
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ACE Magazine 97

Delta Shooting – continued
Metzler wishes he had the money and land areas to build more shooting ranges because of the demand for these type facilities. “The ones we have are highly utilized, all of them, especially this time of year,” he said. “A while back several of us were coming back from a meeting and we stopped by the range at the Upper Delta WMA. We had put some sod down earlier in the year and I wanted to see how it was doing. We got there at 9:30-10 o’clock in the morning and there were seven folks there using it in the middle of the week, and that thing is out in the middle of nowhere. “The ranges at Gadsden, Swan Creek, Skyline, Cahaba and Oakmulgee are really utilized a lot.” Metzler said James Altiere, one of the regional hunter education coordinators, has been scouting Choctaw County for a suitable location for a range, which must meet certain specifications. “A suitable site should be wide enough for at least 10 benches,” Metzler said. “We have two ranges - Coosa and Cahaba - which only have six or seven benches. We could use 40 benches at the Cahaba because of the proximity to Birmingham. We’re looking for places on the edge of urban areas where it would be close enough proximity that people could travel there on a regular basis. “You have to have a sufficient backstop and that varies. If you’re shooting into a mountain, your fallout doesn’t need to be as long. We’re looking for a sufficient safety zone behind it and a cooperative partner - county government, sheriff’s department or other partner. Or it could be on one of our wildlife management areas.” Metzler said he plans to look at Lowndes WMA for a possible range site after additional land was purchased through the Forever Wild program. “We’re going to look hard at Lowndes WMA because it’s within 30 minutes of Montgomery,” he said. For those who plan to use any of the ranges, Metzler reminds everyone to utilize eye and ear protection “People can go to www.outdooralabama.com/hunting and they can look at the ranges and they can download and print targets,” he said. “The main thing, as always, is to be safe when handling firearms.”

Renowned outdoor writer Wade Bourne uses the rifle range at Swan Creek WMA during the recent Southeastern Outdoor Press Photo by David Rainer Association Conference in October.

Anyone can use the ranges as long as they possess a valid Alabama hunting or fishing license, a wildlife management area license or a Wildlife Heritage License. “They can shoot paper targets only on the rifle ranges,” Metzler said. “They need to take some sort of paper target with them and some means of attaching that paper target to a holder. Some of the ranges utilize strings and you can take clothes pins to hold the target. Some of the ranges have some type of wire, like chicken wire that you can attach the targets to. “We don’t allow them to bring in tin or aluminum cans or metal objects to shoot because of the problems those cause. The metal ends up causing problems for lawn mower tires and people walking. And we don’t want anything out on the range that could cause a ricochet.” Metzler said the people who utilize a range at the same time need to coordinate plans on when to attach targets or any other activity down range. “Obviously, people are allowed to go down range only when the line is cold,” he said. “You need to work that out with the other people on the line. You want to move in unison, you might say. Everybody goes down range at the same time.” When the line goes cold and anyone is starting to go down range, all guns need to be unloaded with the safety on and the action open. All guns should always be pointed down range toward the berm area. “We don’t want anyone walking around the range with a loaded firearm,” Metzler said. “They can pull up in their vehicle, unload and put the firearms on the bench. Then when they’re done, they make sure the firearms are unloaded, put back in the case and then put back in the car. That keeps everyone safe.”

ACE Magazine 99

MORGAN COUNTY YOUTH DOVE HUNT
by Chris Champion he first ever Morgan County ALWFF Step Outside Youth Dove hunt was held in Priceville, AL on Sep. 4, 2010. Twenty-seven adults took the time to introduce thirty-two kids to hunting. The hunt was held on an 80 acre cut corn field that had been leased through the donation of funds by private individuals in the community. In addition to leasing the field, area businesses donated items for door prizes, drinks and lunch. A drawing was held for door prizes after lunch and every effort was made to make sure that each child on the field received a door prize. In addition to door prizes each child that hunted received a “goody bag”. The bags held coupons to local businesses as well as donated items. Two of the most important items were hearing and eye protection. Byford’s Gun and Pawn in Hartselle

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donated enough foam ear plugs to place a set in each bag and ACEOA purchased and donated enough shooting glasses to provide a pair to each youth hunter. The hunt went as most dove hunts do. After a demonstration of flint knapping by Tim Baker, a local realtor and one of the primary sponsors of the hunt, and a safety briefing the hunters were released to begin hunting at about 1:00 PM. The weather cooperated and it wasn’t extremely hot. The doves did not fly well until about 4:30 PM then the shooting picked up considerably. A survey late in the day showed that most groups had enough opportunity to shoot to make it enjoyable. No limits were taken but everyone was enjoying themselves. Youth dove hunts are a lot of work. There is a tremendous amount of preparation involved both on the
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ACEOA Banner group shot.

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Morgan County – continued
ground and in the office. They are held for the kids in order to introduce kids to hunting in a safe and hopefully successful manner. One such kid that hunted was 11 year old Colton Sandlin. Colton’s mom brought him out to the youth dove hunt. She went out into the field with him and sat with him all afternoon while he was hunting. Colton said that this was the second time he had been dove hunting but was the first time he had been successful. Colton killed his first two doves ever on the field that day, and when asked about them his pleasure and pride were evident. The boy was grinning from ear to ear, and so was Mom. The game warden was pretty proud of him too.

Morgan04. The reason we do what we do.

Tim Baker, one of the primary sponsors of the hunt, demonstrates flint knapping.

Colton Sandlin with his first dove ever.

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ACEOA SUPPORTS HUNTER EDUCATION
by Jerry Fincher, Talladega County CEO he Talladega County Hunter Education Association held its first dove shoot on Saturday, September 18. The event was sponsored by the Alabama Conservation Officers Association and was held as a way to reward the hard work of our volunteer instructors. Approximately thirty volunteers and their family members gathered at Haybrook Farms in Fayetteville, owned by Mr. William Terry of Birmingham Alabama. We grilled hamburgers and attempted to hit a few birds; we were more successful at the eating than hitting doves,

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but we all had a great time. I urge all of our officers to find ways to reward the efforts of our volunteer instructors who give of their time, knowledge, and finances to further the efforts of huntereducation in Alabama. I would also like to thank Mr. William Terry for recognizing the efforts of these men and women and allowing us the opportunity to have the shoot, Mr. Brian Yates who prepared the field, and ACEOA who provided the funding.
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The Talladega group with the ACEOA Banner.

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Talladega County – continued

Thank You!

It doesn’t get any better than this! ACE Magazine 111

WILCOX COUNTY YOUTH DOVE HUNT
by Dan Quincey, Wilcox County CEO e had a really good youth dove hunt this year. We raised quite a bit of money this year and were able to give away seven lifetime hunting licenses, four shotguns, and everything from dove stools, dove calls, blinds, mo-jo decoys, shells, doves vests, shell bags, and call lanyards. A good lunch was provided as well. Our many sponsors are as follows: ACEOA, Mr. Bill Hatley, Browder Veneer, Danny Burford, Camden Coin Laundry, Carl and Rixine Jackson, Camden National Bank, Dr. Don Donaldson, George Fendley,

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Possum Bend Feed and Seed, Holman Insurance, Mr. Joe Hicks, JRD Construction, Lawler Timber, Loftins Bait Shop, Smith Goat Farm, McDonalds Grocery, McGraw Webb Chevrolet, Nelson Plumbing, S.J. and Vivian Henderson, Swanner Heating and Cooling, Town and Country Bank, and the Wilcox County Long Beards. There were many others who helped with the hunts. A big thank you goes out to Mr. Bud Moore for donating the land and equipment for these hunts. A very big thank you to all who donate and help put this together
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Wilcox County – continued
every year. The people and businesses really go all out for this event and always donate for the good of the Wilcox County kids. The weather was not very good to us this year, Mr. William Morton planted the field three times over the summer and we still could not get a rain to make the brown top and sunflowers grow. We did not have many birds but after the meal and the drawing for prizes we had a bunch of smiling kids. Thanks so much to the ACEOA, ADCNR, Mr. Bud, and other sponsors and helpers.
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Wilcox County – continued

ACE Magazine 119

ADCNR HONOR GUARD
by Lt. Ryan B. Bennett, Marine Police

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n March 1st 2009, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources formed its first official Honor Guard in its century-long history. The Honor Guard serves as the ceremonial representative for the entire Department at events authorized by the Commissioner or a Division Director. This prestigious unit was designed to provide our agency with a well-trained ceremonial unit to render honors, preserve traditions, promote esprit-de-corps, and instill pride. Marine Police Director John Jenkins and Assistant Commissioner Hobie Sealy were instrumental in forming this new unit. Director Jenkins stated that it took almost his entire career to see this vision become a reality. After months of practice, organization, and procuring equipment and uniforms, the Honor Guard made its debut at the Conservation Advisory Board Meeting in the State Capitol in February 2010. Since its formation, the Honor Guard has also provided ceremonial services at several funerals for retired DCNR officers and also posted the US and state colors at official government functions. All Honor Guard members are volunteers and sworn law enforcement officers. Members come from all five Divisions of the Department and maintain their own unique Division insignia and uniforms. While the Honor Guard would automatically be activated in response to an officer killed in the line of duty, former employees should be advised that the Honor Guard is also available at funeral services for retirees if their family so desires. The Honor Guard can perform pallbearer duties, provide a motorized escort for funeral processions, provide a silent casket guard during visitation, perform a flag folding ceremony at graveside with a US flag provided by ACEOA, provide a rifle salute and render “Taps” at the graveside service. ACEOA has generously donated three electronic bugles to make the playing of “Taps” more formal and precise. Retirees or their families need only notify their local ACEOA representatives of their wishes and the Honor Guard will be made available to assist in any way they can. Thanks to all the officers of who have volunteered their time and energy for such a noble purpose.

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