By: M. Barnett Lawley, Commissioner
Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has undergone much-needed change over the past four years. The changes were long overdue and did not necessarily come easy.

Hunters and anglers now have more freedom to choose methods to use in their sport, so long as the natural resources are not compromised. For example, legalization of crossbows and turkey decoys offer new choices to hunters while bringing many hunters back into the woods.

The “Outdoor Alabama-Share the Wonder” advertising campaign was launched to promote a variety of outdoor activities. The hunting ads and commercials show that hunting is a great family activity and an effective tool for controlling deer and alligator populations. The campaign emphasizes the value of spending time with kids, whether fishing, hunting, and just getting outdoors to enjoy God’s creation.

Unlike past thinking within the agency, the Department of Conservation is expanding the role of hunters and anglers in its rule making process, rather than dictating regulations and policy to them. For example, the Conservation Advisory Board expanded to three meetings per year and moved to new locations around the state. A public forum is being created on the Department website at www.outdooralabama.com to feature ongoing surveys, public opinion polls on various conservation topics, and an open forum for public comment.

Several new initiatives stem from public input, such as the Barbour County buck harvest regulation patterned after the successful quality deer management practices on Barbour Wildlife Management Area. The pilot program is implemented countywide. Ongoing feedback will enable us to determine whether hunters really prefer quality deer over quantity.

Hunter Education is one of our most important initiatives, and Mark Whitlock helped to greatly expand its reach. Thanks to his leadership, Hunter Education field days are now being offered in sporting good stores statewide. As an incentive, a drawing will be held each year and ten Hunter Education graduates will receive a $500 gift certificate to be redeemed at the sporting good store of their choice. 2006 was our safest hunting season ever!

This administration is making great strides to increase public involvement in the decision making process. Sportsmen have more opportunities for input than ever before, but we aren’t finished. Much more remains to be done. For example, we need broad input on topics such as buck harvest restrictions and February deer season.

A great deal of work is being done for offshore and inshore fishing with our reef initiatives. Gulf State Park will soon be demolished and concrete from this structure will be used for offshore and inshore fishing reefs. Alabama occupies a little over 4% of the Gulf coast, yet some 48% of the Red Snapper caught in the Gulf come off our coast. Many of these are caught on the 10,000+ public and private reefs.

Two new initiatives address water quality and stream biodiversity. First, we recently opened the Aquatic Diversity Center in Marion, AL. The main purpose is to raise and stock mussels and snails in streams where they have become threatened or endangered. That may not sound exciting, but these organisms are nature’s filters. One 3” mussel filters 12 gallons of water a day. Stocking snails and mussels is an effort to clean up imperiled rivers and streams. Second, Marine Police are inspecting marine sanitation devices on houseboats and other vessels. Both of these clean water initiatives will improve our fisheries.