Registration for the 2012 Alabama Alligator Hunting Season Opens June 5

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will open registration for Alabama’s seventh regulated alligator hunting season on June 5, 2012. The hunts will be held on August 16-18 and August 23- 25 in the Mobile Tensaw Delta and west central Alabama, and on August 10-26 for the southeast Alabama area. To register for the alligator hunts visit www.outdooralabama.com starting June 5. Online registration for the random tag drawing will end at 8 a.m. on July 13.

A total of 295 tags will be issued for the hunts. Fifty tags will be issued for the hunt area in west central Alabama, which includes Monroe County (north of US Hwy. 84), Wilcox County and Dallas County. A total of 120 tags will be issued for the southeast Alabama area. For the Mobile-Tensaw Delta hunts, which take place in parts of Baldwin and Mobile counties, 125 tags will be issued. If selected for an Alligator Possession Tag at two or more locations, the hunter will be allowed to choose which location they would like to hunt. The other locations(s) not chosen will be filled from a list of alternates.

The cost is $6 to apply and individuals may register multiple times. Only Alabama residents age 16 years or older may apply for an Alligator Possession Tag. Hunters will be randomly chosen by computer to receive one Alligator Possession Tag each, and the tags are non-transferable.

The random selection of hunters takes place on July 13. Applicants will be able to check their status (selected, alternate or not selected) at www.outdooralabama.com after the selection takes place. Applicants selected to receive a permit must complete an online acceptance by 8 a.m. on July 16. After that date, alternates will be called by telephone to fill any vacancies. All vacancies will be filled this way until the dates for the training classes. After the training classes, vacancies will be filled with the next alternate on the list who attended the training class.

Selected hunters and their assistants are required to have in their possession a valid 2011-12 hunting license. Each hunter is required to complete the Alligator Training Course provided by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division personnel. Hunters are exempt from the mandatory training class if they were drawn for the same area as they hunted in previous years. If chosen this year, hunters, who were chosen and participated in previous alligator hunts, are encouraged to contact their local WFF district wildlife office to determine if they are exempt from the mandatory training class.

Each person receiving an Alligator Possession Tag will be allowed to harvest one alligator 6 feet in length or longer. Hunting hours will be from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. each day. All Alabama hunting and boating regulations must be followed.

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is the largest reptile in North America. A fully mature alligator may grow to 14 feet in length and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. Known for its prized meat and leather, the species was threatened with extinction due to unregulated harvest during the 1920s, 30s and 40s. No regulations existed in those days to limit the number of alligators harvested. In 1938, it is believed that Alabama was the first state to protect alligators by outlawing these harvests. Other states soon followed and in 1967 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service placed the American alligator on the Endangered Species list. By 1987, the species was removed from the Endangered Species list and the alligator population has continued to grow.

To learn more about alligators in Alabama watch the Outdoor Alabama Live episode “Alligators and Snakes: What You Need to Know” on Outdoor Alabama’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/OutdoorAlabama.

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Alligator Hunting Focus of Next Alabama Conservation Q&A

Join the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) for an hour-long web chat on Friday, May 18, 2012, at noon to have your wildlife and fishing questions answered. The focus of this chat will be the upcoming alligator hunting season, which begins in August. Visit www.outdooralabama.com/chat, between noon and 1 p.m., to join the chat on the day of the event. You can also send yourself an email reminder about the chat from the chat page any time before May 18.

WFF specialists in the fields of wildlife, fisheries, and conservation enforcement will also be available to answer your other wildlife, hunting, and fishing related questions live. As many questions as possible will be answered during the hour. The chat will be archived on the website so it can be read in its entirety following the event. To read the archived chats visit www.outdooralabama.com/chat/archive/.

Curious about alligators and can’t wait for the web chat? You can also watch last year’s Outdoor Alabama Live episode “Alligators and Snakes: What You Need to Know” on Outdoor Alabama’s YouTube channel,www.youtube.com/OutdoorAlabama.

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Republican Presidential Primary Candidates Jockey for Sportsmen’s Votes

You might be a fake redneck if…

With Alabama and Mississippi both having their presidential primaries on Tuesday, residents of both states were treated to some comical and not-too-convincing displays from Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. In the days leading up to the primary both candidates tried their best to assure residents from the two states that they are really just good ol’ boys.

Gingrich struck first by garnering the endorsement of Bass Angler Sportsman Society founder Ray Scott. Gingrich even appeared in a photo opportunity wearing a shirt sporting a B.A.S.S. logo.

In the one-upmanship game Romney trumped Gingrich big time. He appeared in Mobile, Alabama with Jeff Foxworthy and accepted the comedian’s endorsement. He told Foxworthy he was looking forward to “going hunting with him sometime.”

Romney was mocked in Mississippi for trying to sound Southern as he talked and telling residents in that state how much he liked grits. On Monday he said he ate catfish for the second time and said he like it. Previously he said he didn’t care much for it.

Romney apparently doesn’t learn very well. In 2008 while running for president he told voters that he was a lifelong hunter but after being pinned down admitted he had been only twice. Romney has two shotguns registered in his name, both purchased after the 2008 election.

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Impressive Submissions for Alabama’s Duck Stamp Contest

For someone who can barely make stick men recognizable, viewing the entries in the Alabama State Waterfowl Stamp Contest left me amazed at the artistic talent that calls Alabama home.

From the accuracy of the multiple colors on a drake wood duck to the difficult-to-recreate head and bill of the drake canvasback, the artists were able to bring the waterfowl to life.

In the closest scoring of recent memory, Steven Burney’s rendering of a pair of Ross’ geese captured the top prize, followed closely by John Denney’s wood ducks in a flowing stream. A lone drake canvasback painted by Bill Stem of Madison took second runner-up. Burney’s Ross’ geese will appear on the 2013-2014 Alabama State Duck Stamp.

Burney had been so close to the pinnacle in years past, and he wishes he had made the trip to Montgomery on last Friday’s stormy morning.

“I’ve been trying to win for 16 years,” said Burney of Town Creek. “I’ve been first runner-up three times and second runner-up twice. I always felt like I could win. It was just a matter of having the right painting at the right time.”

Former winner David Nix of Cottondale was the first to get in touch with Burney after the final judging was announced.

“When David called, he asked where I was,” Burney said. “That was a pretty good indication I had won. He said, ‘Let me be the first to congratulate you.’ I was in the studio cleaning up, getting ready to start on the next painting. I sure wish I had been there.”

Burney, who was first runner-up last year with a painting of white-fronted geese, said the win should be a significant boost to his artistic career.

“Alabama is a hard place to get established,” he said. “Just the recognition of winning this competition will do a lot. There are very few people who have won it. Larry Chandler [award-winning Alabama wildlife artist who died in 2007] was a friend of mine, and he encouraged me and several other artists. He was an inspiration to us.”

The contest is limited to Alabama artists, whose artwork must not exceed 9 by 12 inches (15 by 18 inches matted). Entries must be original horizontal artworks depicting a species of North American migratory duck or goose. The species that won the previous three years are not eligible to be painted. Not eligible for the 2013-2014 competition were pintail, American wigeon and ring-necked duck.

Contest coordinator David C. Hayden, Assistant Chief of the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Wildlife Section, had each judge select the top 10 from the 16 entries to advance to the final round. That resulted in the top 11 moving to the final round.

Those 11 entries were judged in five categories: suitability for reproduction, originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and general rendering.

Under suitability for printing, the judges were asked two questions – is the work produced with tones that endure on the stamp during off-set printing, and how much of the detail will be picked up during the printing process? The originality category asks if the work is a copy or near copy of entries from the past, and to what extent did the artist attempt a new and pleasing composition? In artistic composition, the questions posed were: Is the waterfowl the dominant element in the design, is the design pleasing to the eye and is the spatial arrangement pleasing? For anatomical accuracy, the judges were asked to look at the definition in the wing and feather construction, as well as the tone and detail of the waterfowl. Finally, the entries were judged on general rendering, defined as the use of the artist’s medium (oil, acrylic, watercolor, etc.), and the correct use of the medium in terms of splatters, shading, unpainted canvas, etc.

The quality of the work made me glad that I wasn’t one of the three judges who had to make the final decisions. That difficult task was left to judges Jerry Johnson, Chairman of the Department of Art and Design at Troy University; Kenneth Hood, an avid outdoorsman and longtime advocate for waterfowl conservation organizations from Lee County; and Catherine Rideout, coordinator of the East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture (aimed at restoring bird populations in the Southeast) at Auburn University and former ornithologist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

“I’m certainly looking for a rendering that’s artistic, but I’m also looking for something that represents what the bird looks like in nature,” said Rideout. “We had a lot of beautiful entries this year that were inspiring. The folks who produced the works are obviously passionate about wildlife and also very talented.

“The winning entry had really wonderful, interesting composition. It really looked like the birds in the field, and it looked like it would translate well into the stamp. The wood ducks are absolutely beautiful. The male wood duck gets most of the attention because it’s so colorful, but the female is really beautiful, too. It’s just a little more subtle. It was a beautiful piece of art, and I really enjoyed the setting the birds were in with the maple leaves and reflection on the water. The canvasback is a really beautiful bird, too. They look a lot like redheads, so what’s interesting is to see if the artists are able to pick up the differences in the species.”

Johnson is a veteran of several state waterfowl stamp contests. He also has family members who love to hunt, as well as artist friends who compete in waterfowl art contests all the way to the federal level.

“I think the top three were excellent,” Johnson said of the Alabama competition. “One reason was the craftsmanship with the impeccable detail. It’s a trick to get that kind of detail and yet still have something that’s reducible to a stamp and that can be reproduced and still hold its contrast and other characteristics. I think the top winners were really beautiful selections. I’ve been involved in this type of competition in at least three other states, and this competition was right up there.

“My background is art and design, so the things that catch my eye are composition, color and design elements. Secondarily, I want to know if it’s believable. Is that purple water really believable? I know we have beautiful sunsets that reflect, but sometimes the colors get a little bit strange. So I have to measure my love for color with what’s believable. I understand the nature of this competition is to have authenticity, as well as great art.”

John Denney of Alexander City, whose twin brother Jim won the 2011 competition with ring-necked ducks, had hoped a different rendering of wood ducks would provide a title like the one that prevailed in 2008. This time he came up only three points short.

“I won with a wood duck before, so I decided to give it another try,” Denney said. “I have a lot of wood duck photography for reference, plus, to me, it’s the most handsome of all the ducks. I’m pleased. Of course, I would have loved to have won, but second isn’t bad.”

All licensed waterfowl hunters are required to purchase state and federal migratory waterfowl stamps. Funds from stamp sales are used to procure and manage wetland habitats for waterfowl. Like the federal stamps, state-issued stamps are popular with collectors. Those who purchase waterfowl stamps online can request an actual stamp, which will be mailed at the end of each waterfowl season.

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Forever Wild Board Meets at the Alabama State Capitol Auditorium Feb. 9

The Board of Trustees of the Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust will hold its first quarterly meeting on February 9, 2012 at the Alabama State Capitol Auditorium, Montgomery, Ala. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m.

At this meeting the Forever Wild program’s annual report will be presented. Forever Wild program activities and tract assessments will be updated as well. This meeting will also serve as a public hearing for anyone who would like to make comments concerning this program.

The public is invited to attend this meeting and is urged to submit comments and nominations of tracts of land for possible Forever Wild Program purchase. Written nominations may be made by letter addressed to the State Lands Division, Room 464, 64 N. Union St., Montgomery, AL 36130.

Quarterly meetings of the Forever Wild Board are held to maximize public input into the program. Only through active public participation can the best places in Alabama be identified and protected in order to remain forever wild.

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Special Alabama Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days Will be Feb. 11-12

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) has designated February 11 and 12, 2012, as Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. On those days, youth under age 16 may hunt when accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. Regular waterfowl season shooting hours, bag limits, legal arms and ammunitions apply to the special days.

“Hunting under the supervision of an experienced adult hunter is one of the best ways young people can acquire the necessary skills to become an accomplished, lifetime hunter,” said N. Gunter Guy, Jr., ADCNR Commissioner.

Youth are defined as individuals age 15 years and younger. Adults are defined as individuals age 25 years and older, or as the parent of the youth. The adult must have a state hunting license, state and federal waterfowl stamp, and a free harvest information program stamp.

To participate in the hunt, individuals must be accompanied by an adult supervisor. The adult supervisor, who may not hunt, must remain within arm’s length of the youth at all times. The adult supervisor may accompany up to two youth participants during the hunt.

Only one firearm will be allowed per youth, and only the youth hunters will be permitted to utilize the firearm for hunting. The adult is expected to review the rules of firearm safety and hunter ethics with each youth and ensure they are followed.

For more information on the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days, contact David Hayden at (334) 242-3469 or visit the Outdoor Alabama website, www.outdooralabama.com.

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Alabama Artists Invited to Enter the 2012 Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest

Alabama artists are invited to enter the 2012 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp art contest, which opens January 1, 2012. The winning artwork will be used as the design of the 2013-2014 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp, which is required to be purchased when hunting migratory waterfowl. Entries will be accepted from Jan. 1 – Feb. 15, 2012. The competition is open to resident Alabama artists only.

All eligible entries will be on display February 24, 2012, at the Richard Beard Building, 1445 Federal Dr., Montgomery, Ala., 36107. Following the showing, three judges from the fields of art, ornithology and wildlife conservation will select the winning waterfowl art.

“Like the federal waterfowl stamp, revenues from the sale of Alabama stamps are used to procure, establish or improve migratory waterfowl habitat,” said N. Gunter Guy, Jr., Conservation Commissioner. “We encourage all Alabama artists to participate in this unique contest.”

Only original horizontal artworks depicting a species of North American migratory duck or goose will be eligible. The pintail, American wigeon, and the ringed-neck duck — depicted in the winning artwork of three previous year’s contests — are not eligible as the subject for the 2013-2014 stamp. A pair of ringed-neck ducks painted by Jim Denney of Alexander City, Ala., won the 2011 contest.

The judging criteria will emphasize uncluttered design suitable for printing as a stamp, anatomical accuracy of the illustrated species, and artistic rendering. Close attention must be given to tone and detail, since those aspects are prerequisites for printing artwork as a stamp. Wing and feather construction must be particularly well defined. Entries may be drawn or painted in any medium. Entries cannot exceed 9 by 12 inches (15 by 18 inches matted).

For contest information and entry forms visit the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website, www.outdooralabama.com, or contact contest coordinator David Hayden, at 334-242-3469.

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Register Now for a Chance to Bow Hunt Little River State Park in Alabama

For the first time in 80 years, Little River State Park in Atmore, Ala., is offering a three-day controlled archery hunt Jan. 26-28, 2012 for just $500 per hunter. Proceeds from the hunt benefit Ironmen Outdoor Ministries, which manages the state park. Ironmen Outdoor Ministries is a not for profit organization that commits itself to compassionately reach out and bless those who are in need; particularly those who are handicapped, children in need, the impoverished and the abandoned.

Click http://www.littleriverstatepark.com/Archery_Hunt_Registratio.html for a chance to take part in this hunt package, which includes food and lodging. Each hunter and one non-hunting guest will stay in a modern (2BR, CHA, full kitchen) handicap-accessible mobile home with a beautiful view of the lake and spillway.

A hot breakfast and dinner will be provided each day with a sandwich lunch. Southern cuisine will be featured including southern fried chicken, fried catfish, T-Bone steaks and baby back ribs along with all the trimmings.

The hunting terrain includes more than 900 acres of prime long-leaf pine plantation and hardwood bottoms surrounding a pristine 25-acre lake. Food plots are scattered throughout the property.

Hunters can arrive as early as noon, Jan. 25. Orientation to the park and staff will be scheduled at 2 p.m. the same day. Hunters will be made familiar with the property boundaries, food plot locations and non-hunting areas. Hunters will then be free to scout the property at 3 p.m. Hunting will not start until the morning of January 26 and will conclude at the end of legal hunting times on January 28. Hunters and guests will be required to check out by 10 a.m. on January 29.

Each hunter will need to bring his/her own climbing stand, ladder stand or ground blind (no stands or blinds will be furnished by LRSP). Four wheelers, side-by-side ATVs and golf carts are welcome for the hunt

LRSP personnel will be more than glad to assist the hunter in the processing of the harvested deer (bring coolers for meat). Hunters can donate any unwanted meat for distribution through local charities to those in need.

ALL hunters will be required to meet all regulations stipulated by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. These regulations can be found in the Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest 2011-2012.

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Brain Abscesses in Alabama White-Tailed Deer No Cause for Alarm

With the exception of a few arid regions in the Southwest, brain abscesses affect white-tailed deer throughout the remainder of their range. Brain abscesses occur more often in the southeastern and eastern United States, which is thought to be due to the humid environment. It is a seasonal condition that occurs roughly from September through April and is associated with antler velvet shedding, sparring, fighting, antler rubbing and antler casting.

Nearly 90 percent of all documented cases of brain abscesses have been from bucks, especially mature bucks greater than 3.5 years old. Some researchers have documented that brain abscesses can account for over half of all cases of natural mortality among 4.5 year old or older bucks. Because brain abscesses are usually fatal, this is a significant non-hunting mortality factor that should be considered in any quality deer management (QDM) program where mature bucks are desired.

Bucks often have injuries to the pedicle (antler base) and skin as a direct result of the antler growing cycle and rutting behavior. These injuries allow bacteria to migrate through the pedicle or skull sutures (cracks) and into the brain. Any number of bacteria can be responsible for this condition, but Arcanobacterium pyogenes is most commonly found in samples. Once the bacterium enters the brain, a pocket of puss forms and enlarges until the deer dies. Deer with this condition often walk in circles and appear to be completely unaware of their surroundings. They may even come toward humans when approached. Some go blind. Most will be emaciated. These signs become much more evident as the condition worsens, eventually leading to death for the deer.

If a deer exhibiting this type of behavior is observed during hunting season, it is probably best to dispatch the animal and call your local Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) office to have their personnel verify the behavior was caused by a brain abscess. If this occurs outside of hunting season, or in an area which prohibits hunting, please call WFF for assistance.

Hunters may not notice clinical signs prior to killing an infected animal, but an abscess often is found when the antlers are removed from the skull. This is when the hunter, deer processor, or taxidermist will notice the puss-filled pocket within the brain, which often oozes when opened and has a very pungent “rotting flesh” odor. A brain abscess should not be cause for alarm about the local deer herd’s health since abscesses are limited to individual deer and are not known to be transmissible from deer to deer. The meat from a deer with an abscess is safe to eat.

Brain abscesses in white-tailed deer are nothing new. They have been around throughout history. People only recently became more aware of this condition, as well as a host of other diseases and parasites that affect the wildlife in which they all enjoy.

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Open-Gate Weekends Improve Hunting Access on Four Alabama Forever Wild Properties

The Alabama State Lands Division announces a series of “open-gate weekends” on four Forever Wild properties designed to increase access to hunting on public lands. During the weekends the internal woods-roads gates will be opened to allow for easier access to hunting on the properties.

The Forever Wild properties listed below are open-permit public lands. Unlike hunting on private land or Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), the hunter only needs a hunting license to hunt the properties. All other hunting rules and regulations apply and the tracts will be patrolled and monitored by conservation enforcement officers.

Open-gate properties and dates during the 2011-2012 Hunting Seasons:

• Lillian Swamp Tract in Baldwin Co. will be open December 8-10, 2011, and January 12-14, 2012.
• Splinter Hill Bog Tract in Baldwin Co. will be open December 8-10, 2011, and January 12-14, 2012.
• Red Hills Tract in Monroe Co. will be open December 1-3, 2011, and January 7-8, 2012.
• Old Cahaba Tract in Dallas Co. will be open December 9-11, 2011.

“The open-gate weekends are pilot projects designed to address requests for improved access to public lands,” said Greg Lein, Assistant Director, State Lands Division. “If successful, this could become an annual event.”

During the open-gate weekends the entire tract will be open to hunting, and hunters are encouraged to practice hunter safety. More information about hunting safely can be found in the hunter education section of www.outdooralabama.com.

All published rules and regulations for these specific tracts remain the same during the open-gate weekends. Visit www.alabamaforeverwild.com for more information about hunting provisions on Forever Wild properties. For other periods of the hunting season, the tracts remain open under the routine designated means of access by public roads and parking area points of entry.

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