Ace Magazine - Winter 2013

Official Publication of the ACEOA

ACEOA Magazine • 1

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 2013. All rights reserved.

EDITOR: Gayle Morrow

PUBLISHER: Brent-Wyatt West 8436 Crossland Loop, Suite 207 Montgomery, Alabama 36117

SALES OFFICES: Chris Banks / Jim Downing 8436 Crossland Loop, Suite 207 Montgomery, Alabama 36117 (334) 213-6229

WWW.ACEOA.ORG WINTER 2013

ON THE COVERMobile County CEO Kevin Hill earns

ACEOA’s Officer of the year recognition for going beyond his regular duties to uphold the law and to seek justice and for being a team

player in sharing credit for his successes.

in this issue...2012 – 2013 State Officers and Directors �� 3

From the Trenches �� 5

2012 Officer of The Year — Kevin Hill �� 7

Annual Scholarship Winners �� 15

Beyond The Basics �� 17

Life Hunt Classic 2013 �� 25

Disabled Police Officer Enjoys Buckmasters Life Hunt �� 33

Alabamian Named NWTF Law Enforcement Officer of the Year �� 39

EnviroScape Watershed Model �� 41

Youngsters Swarm to Barbour WMA Youth Hunt �� 43

Sykes Becomes WFF Director on Birthday �� 49

Kid’s Korner �� 55

Coosa County Forestry Tour 2012 �� 57

Limestone County Youth Dove Hunt �� 61

Alabama Hunter Education Banquet �� 67

Bluebill’s Long Journey Leads to Alabama �� 71

February Deer Season Proposed for SW Alabama �� 77

Youth Hunt at The Oaks �� 83

Camden Youth Hunt �� 89

On Gulf Coast Restoration �� 95

Preservation or Conservation? �� 99

Alabama’s Largest and Most Affordable Hunting Club �� 103

Henry County 2012 Youth Dove Hunt �� 105

ACEOA Membership Application �� 109

Advertisers Index �� 189

Business Directory �� 197


2012 – 2013 State Officers and DirectorsExecutive Director

Rusty Morrow (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Enforcement Retired)

2012 – 2013 ACEOA State OfficersChris Jaworowski – President • Heath Walls – Vice President • Chris Lewis – Secretary/Treasurer

DISTRICT IErnie Stephens – Director • Wendell Fulks – Associate Director

Blount, ColBert, Cullman, Fayette, Franklin, lamar, lauderdale, lawrenCe, limestone, madison, marion, morgan, walker, winston

DISTRICT IIScott Kellenberger – Director • Jerry Fincher – Associate Director • Joel Glover – Associate Director

Calhoun, ChamBers, Cherokee, Clay, CleBurne, Coosa, dekalB, etowah, JaCkson, marshall, randolph, st. Clair, talladega, tallapoosa

DISTRICT IIIGrady Myers – Director • Cliff Robinson – Associate Director

autauga, BiBB, Chilton, dallas, greene, hale, JeFFerson, lowndes, perry, piCkens, shelBy, sumter, tusCaloosa

DISTRICT IVJohn Bozeman – Director • Vance Woods – Associate Director

BarBour, BulloCk, CoFFee, Covington, Crenshaw, dale, elmore, geneva, henry, houston, lee, maCon, montgomery, pike, russell

DISTRICT VDon Reaves – Director • Joe Little – Associate Director • Bo Willis – Associate Director

Baldwin, Butler, ChoCtaw, Clarke, ConeCuh, esCamBia, marengo, moBile, monroe, washington, wilCox

ACE MagazineGayle Morrow – Editor

For questions about your District Director, ACEOA, or membership contact: Rusty Morrow, P.O. Box 74, Lowndesboro, AL 36752, (334) 391-9113, [email protected]


From the TrenchesBy Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director

T he delay of the winter issue of ACE Magazine has several reasons. First of all, our Newsletter to all officers comes out in January of each year. A good

portion of our time is spent preparing our budget; so the officers in each district can make sure the events are funded. The newsletter informs them of where your contributions go. This year our events and funding have increased thanks to the support of our corporate sponsor-ship. We appreciate your continued support. Only you make this possible.

Secondly, but not any more important, is the Legislatures plan to consolidate state law enforcement under Public Safety. This is being discussed at the time of writing and by the time this issue is distributed it could be

law. How does this affect our Conservation Officers? The answer would be so broad I’m not sure the space allowed in this column is enough. I do not plan to bore you with a lot of politics. But, because you support ACEOA, you in turn support Conservation Enforcement Officers.

SB 108 is the Governor’s bill that consolidates state law enforcement. In this bill the Marine Police Division will go across to Public Safety. Wildlife and freshwater fisheries law enforcement and marine resources law enforcement will remain under the Conservation Department. There

are several reasons why we are left behind. Some are credible, some I’m not sure have merit. With this being said, we believe we are hung out to dry. It is a fact that the consolidation of 14 state law enforcement agencies under the Public Safety umbrella will be a very powerful lobby. Headlines in today’s paper (2-21-13) only prove this theory. The money saved in this consolidation plan could go to raises for the public safety employees.

There is no mention of raises for the law enforcement agencies not under the consolidation.

I have been very much involved and have been in every session since it started this year. Our association even approved an amendment to SB108 and introduced it in the public hearing in the House committee. This amendment was nothing more than protective language that made sure that the law enforcement agencies of the Conservation Department left behind would main-tain their current law enforcement status and receive any benefits and raises that the agencies under public safety received.

Senator Marsh had issues with the amendment and it was voted down 5 to 4 by the committee. It has never been an issue whether we would be in consolidation but what would happen to us if we were not included. Our concerns have become reality. We are not protected. I can tell you this Association is watching this very closely. We have a dog in this fight and plan to make ourselves heard. The Spring issue of ACE Magazine will inform our readers of its progress.

On a lot more friendly note, this issue of Ace Magazine is our favorite. We get to feature the LIFE HUNT CLASSIC at Sedgefields Plantation in Dallas county and our 2012 Officer of the year. Please enjoy it as much as we have being involved in it. When finished pass it on to a friend.

I’ll leave you with this Quote:

So often time it happens, we all live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key.

— The Eagles, “Already Gone” l


2012 ALABAMA CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

Officer Of The Year PresenTed TO

KEVIN HILL

FOR GOING BEYOND HIS REGULAR DUTIES TO UPHOLD THE LAW AND SEEK JUSTICE AND BEING A TEAM PLAYER SHARING CREDIT FOR HIS SUCCESSES AND PARTICIPATION IN THE ALABAMA CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

HE IS THE EPITOME OF A TRUE LEADER.

Kevin Hill’s friends and family gathered at the ACEOA Officer of the Year Awards Banquet.

CEO Don Reaves, ACEOA Officer of the Year Kevin Hill, and ACEOA Executive Director Rusty Morrow at the Awards Banquet.

2012 OFFICER OF THE YEAR – continued


July 26, 2012

Dear Selection Committee Members:

I would like to nominate CEO Kevin Hill for the ACEOA Officer of The Year Award. CEO Hill has worked in Mobile County since being hired in August of 2006. In that time Kevin has become a force to be reckoned with by making numerous and high-profile conservation arrests as well as making and/or assisting other agencies with drug, theft, and arson-related cases.

On January 30, 2012, CEO Hill was checking a poaching-complaint property and noticed someone hiding along a pipeline; Hill kept driving so as not to alert the poacher. Stopping a short distance away, he walked back to the area and made visual contact with the man. Hill knew the poacher, Darren Lavender, from previous arrests. When Lavender realized Hill was near he ran in an attempt to evade arrest. During the chase Lavender set several fires in the woods in an effort to slow Hill’s dogged pursuit.

CEO Hill attempted to put out the fires but was forced to call for help from a local volunteer fire department. He also called for Blaze, the Alabama Forestry Commission’s tracking dog. Working with the dog’s handler, Hill tracked Lavender to his father’s home in a nearby neighborhood. Hill assisted in gathering evidence and building a felony case on Lavender for arson as well as numerous hunting violations.

Knowing of pending warrants, Lavender went underground and left Mobile County. A tip from an apartment manager in south Baldwin County put Lavender back on Hill’s radar. After arranging for a warrant-service team consisting of officers from several local and state agencies, Hill arrested Lavender and two others in the apartment on May 10, 2012. In addition to Lavender’s various charges, the trio also had drugs and paraphernalia in the living room when Hill and the team made their entry.

After Miranda Warnings, Lavender made a full confession to all the hunting and arson-related charges.

These cases have generated much publicity as they were featured in a popular outdoor magazine. They also prompted a letter from the property owners to be sent to the District Five Office.

This type of tenacious pursuit combined with patience is truly evidence of a seasoned professional. The fact that he readily seeks help and shares the credit for his arrests and caseload indicates that Kevin is a true team player. His actions in these arrests and the pursuit of Lavender certainly put a favorable light on the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with other agencies and the general public.

I believe, and hope you will agree, that CEO Kevin Hill is also worthy of special attention as the 2012 ACEOA Officer of the Year.

Thank you for your consideration, Lt. James M. McNeil

2012 OFFICER OF THE YEAR • Kevin Hill Earns Honors From Trade Group – continued


Mobile County Game Warden Kevin Hill Earns Officer Of The Year Honors

From Trade GroupBy Jeff Dute, Press-Register

Published: Saturday, September 15, 2012

MOBILE, Alabama — Kevin Hill’s eyes light up like a kid on a first dove hunt or fish-ing trip when he talks about his job.

That’s not uncommon for folks such as Hill, 41, who truly love their job.

It’s one of many rea-sons that the Mobilian was named the 2012 Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association officer of the year.

The association is a non-profit organization founded and supported by Alabama conservation enforcement officers and concerned citi-zens. Its membership also includes officers from marine resources, marine police, state lands and state parks.

Hill, a native of Thomasville, didn’t immediately start down the path to conservation law enforcement. Straight out of Auburn with a forestry degree in 1994, Hill worked 11 years with a private forestry consultant firm, then with the state forestry commission.

It was during the latter experience that Hill saw his future come into focus.

“It just hit me while riding around the woods when I was with the forestry commission that this is what I want to do,” he said.

He headed back to Auburn in 2005 and in three semesters added a criminal-justice degree to his résumé. While back at school, Hill worked two internships with

the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division Enforcement Section and gave credit to Lt. Mike McNeil for helping mentor his develop-ment as an officer during that time.

With his academic and practical experience in hand, Hill had no trouble getting hired by the conservation department in 2006. For the past six years, he’s been protecting Alabama’s natural resources in Mobile County.

It’s a perfect fit.“When they called me and

told me I got Mobile County, I thought, ‘Man, I’m gonna be

a concrete game warden,’” Hill said. “It was a pleasant awakening when I got down here. With everything we have on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, other waterways, the hunting and fishing, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be in Alabama.”

While Hill gets to enjoy those resources, he gets his greatest enjoyment from protecting them. He admitted the favorite part of his job is hunting the people who threaten those resources.

“I’m no adrenaline junky, but you can’t help but be excited by the anticipation of working a case,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen. That sets us apart to a degree from other law enforcement because we have the mentality that we know they have a gun.”

continued on 13

Mobile County conservation enforcement officer Kevin Hill has been named the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer Association’s officer of the year. Above, Hill releases a juvenile alligator that was rescued last week from a

swimming pool in west Mobile County.

2012 OFFICER OF THE YEAR • Kevin Hill Earns Honors From Trade Group – continued


Though Hill has caught as many as 32 poachers at night in one year, he said the largest number of calls he gets deal with nuisance animals such as raccoons and alligators.

Like many conservation enforcement officers, Hill said his upbringing as a hunter and fisherman instilled a deep respect for animals and fish.

Through his work, he’s protecting a heritage to be passed on to future generations.

“Kids today get into so many other things whether it be video games or drugs. Hunting and fishing are way better ways to occupy their time,” he said. “That’s why I’m always lenient on juveniles. Working with the kids and their parents, I try to tell them the right way to do it and help them understand how important our natural

resources are and how quickly it can all go away.”Hill said public relations efforts like that are among

the most important, yet most difficult, parts of his job.“We’re the face of the department in our counties. It

helps me do my job when people know that I try to give everybody the benefit of the doubt,” Hill said. “Sometimes it’s hard to do.”

Cpt. Kenneth Blalock, the chief of the District V Enforcement Section, said Hill has earned a reputa-tion for being willing to go anywhere and anytime to make a case.

“Kevin is very enthusiastic. He doesn’t care if it’s wet, cold, whatever, he doesn’t mind going and jumping into it,” Blalock said. “Whatever it takes to get the job done, that’s what he wants to do.” n

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Stacia Champion

ACEOA awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Stacia Champion, daughter of CEO and Mrs. Chris Champion of Morgan County. Stacia is enrolled at Athens State Uni-versity. She is majoring in Accounting and Business. Congratulations, Stacia, and best wishes to you!

Tabitha Fulks

ACEOA awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Tabitha, wife of CEO Wendell Fulks of Limestone County. Tabitha must take three classes in order to get her elemen-tary education teaching certificate re-instated, so she is currently enrolled at University of North Alabama taking the first of the three entitled “Computer Based Instructional Technology.” She also substitute teaches at West Lime-stone High School on a daily basis. Tabitha plans to be eligible for an el-ementary teaching position by the fall of 2013. Congratulations, Tabitha, and best wishes to you!

Ann McNeil

ACEOA awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Anna Christian McNeil, daughter of Lt. Mike and wife Kay McNeil of Butler County. Anna is enrolled at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Green-ville, Alabama. She later plans to enroll at the MacArthur Campus in Opp, Ala-bama where she will pursue a degree in Sonography. Congratulations, Anna, and best wishes to you!

Annual ScholarshipAlabama Conservation Enforcement Officer Association

Scholarship rules can be found on the ACEOA website at www.aceoa.org


Beyond The BasicsBy Gayle Morrow, Editor

T he Alabama Conservation Officer is a government employee assigned to management of freshwater fish, wildlife, marine resources, waterway safety,

state lands, and state parks. Conservation officers are certified at the state level as peace officers. To ensure that wildlife is being protected, conservation officers have a number of basic duties that they must fulfill. These include, but are not limited to, Law Enforcement, licens-ing, patrolling, investigating and education.

Most people do not realize that our officers often go beyond the basics in their everyday duties. Because of their training in law enforcement, their broad knowledge of Alabama land and waterways and their experience in search and rescue, they are called upon when disaster

strikes. They were there in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. They were there during and after Hurricane Katrina. When the Gulf Oil Spill devastated the Gulf Coast, your Alabama Conservation Officers were there. They are your unsung heroes. They have stories to tell that you won’t read in the newspaper or see on the nightly news. They just quietly do their jobs and walk away.

We usually focus on our Alabama officers for this sec-tion but we want to share a special article written by Dr. James Swan. We appreciate the permission from Dr. Swan and Matt Korovesis, Managing Editor Outdoor Hub to re-print the article. The story just emphasizes the value of the conservation enforcement officer. l

Game Wardens:The Key to Finding Christopher Dorner

By James Swan, Photos by James Swan

T he ex-LAPD officer who shot his way into the national headlines after killing

four people and wounding sev-eral others on a dramatic crime spree, Christopher Dorner, was tracked into the Big Bear Lake area of southern California last week. Upwards of 200 law enforcement officers were engaged in the manhunt, which began on February 6th and spread throughout California and Mexico. By Sunday, the search began to focus elsewhere. The California Fish and Wildlife war-dens volunteered to join in the hunt and ultimately it was game wardens who appear to have found the elusive murder suspect.

According to California Fish and Wildlife Public Information Officers Pat Foy and Mark Michilizzini, at

about 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, February 12, two game wardens came to a stopped school bus on Highway 38 near the resort community of Big Bear Lake 80 miles east of Los Angeles. When the school bus started up and passed the wardens, they noticed a purple Nissan sedan was following the school bus very closely. Then they saw that the Nissan was being driven by a person who fit the description of Christopher Dorner. Dorner allegedly got the car days before when he broke into a home, tied up a couple and held them hostage.

The wardens turned around and began pursuit. The driver quickly turned down Glass Road. After a short pursuit at high speed, the man authorities believe to be Dorner failed to negotiate a curve and crashed the Nissan into the woods.

Almost immediately, the suspect stopped a truck

James Swan

continued on 19

BEYOND THE BASICS • The Key to Finding Christopher Dorner – continued


driven by Rick Heltebrake, a ranger at a nearby Boy Scout camp, and ordered him out of the pickup with his dog. Heltebrake and dog were unharmed. The man then took off in the white pickup. He then passed another game warden truck with one warden. That warden radioed of the position of the truck and its direction.

A third game warden truck then came on the scene with two wardens. On seeing that truck approaching him, the suspect rolled down the window of his vehicle and opened fire on the approaching truck with a pistol. Five bullets hit the truck, two entering the cab. Luckily no one was hit.

The man then took off on another road, as one of the game wardens, a former Marine, got out of his shot-up truck and began firing with his rifle, hitting the targeted truck several times.

The driver then crashed that truck, got out, and ran for a cabin, as the wardens were joined by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies who swarmed after him on foot.

Two deputies were wounded in the chase, and one subsequently died. Their target then fled to a cabin, where he holed up. At one point he tried to flee, but was driven back inside. A fierce gun battle then ensued.

Finally, deputies were able to approach the cabin in an armored vehicle and began battering it down. Ultimately the cabin was set on fire, a single shot was heard, and a body was later found inside which is presumably Christopher Dorner (editor’s note 2/15/2013: the body has now been positively identified as Dorner’s), ending a tragic story that we will no doubt hear about for some time.

Six California Fish and Wildlife wardens were involved in the manhunt for Christopher Dorner, and five of the six were directly involved in locating the alleged fugitive and engaging him, which led to him holing up in the cabin. The crucial role of the wardens in this dangerous chase may surprise you, as you may have considered game wardens as the men and women who spend their time checking limits of fish and making sure you have tagged your deer.

Yeah, they do that, but they do a lot more.Game wardens see their fair share of action. In this

image of one of a California game warden’s signature green truck, you can see a bullet hole behind the cab. This is not an image from the Dorner shootout.

In California, as in most other states, state game war-

dens are full law enforcement officers. Each type of law enforcement officer has their own beat. City police focus on matters inside that city’s boundaries. Sheriff’s deputies focus primarily on areas outside of major cities within a certain county. State police tend to focus on major highways and state and federal office buildings.

Game wardens, like U.S. Marshals, can and do go anywhere from wilderness to inner cities, and they are the most woods-wise of all state law enforcement, often patrolling remote areas where no other state officers normally are found. California game wardens are also deputy U.S. Marshals.

In a typical California Fish and Wildlife warden green truck, you will find the standard 12 gauge pump shotgun and a semi-automatic rifle in a heavier caliber like a .308, which is what the warden used to cause Dorner to crash the truck. The wardens use a .308 as they typically have to deal with shooting through heavy brush and sometimes long distances. Wardens also carry two pistols, as well

California Fish and Wildlife wardens Lt. John Nores and Kyle Kroll.

continued on 21



as pepper spray, handcuffs, and such on a belt that may weigh 25 pounds. They are better armed than almost all police.

Normally, game wardens work alone and without immediate back-up in remote areas. Fortunately, in the Dorner case, they were able to double up and apply their woods skills to advantage. Warden PIO Pat Foy reported on-site that the wardens were “a little rattled” but they were trained for this kind of work and were fine. Tuesday’s incident marked the second time in seven weeks that game wardens have been fired on in the line of duty. During summer duty, when wardens encounter drug cartel marijuana gardens on wildlands, there are exchanges of gunfire every summer.

The Real Secret ServiceThere are over 830,000 sworn local law enforcement

officers in the U.S., 72,000 police in Manhattan alone. Nationwide, there are around 7,000 game wardens; about as many as the NYPD Blue assigns to cover the New Year’s Eve celebration.

State game wardens are known by various names such as Conservation Officers, Conservation Police, Wildlife Enforcement Agents, Fish Wardens, and Fish and Game Wardens, just to name a few. Many are also deputy feder-al marshals. There are also U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agents, BLM Special Agents, and National Marine Fisheries Special Agents–federal game wardens–which are about as common as whooping cranes.

No matter what you call them, the jobs of game war-dens are basically the same: to protect our fish, wildlife, and natural resources by enforcing wildlife laws–and a lot more. Game wardens are community-based peace officers who cover the largest jurisdiction of any state or local law enforcement officer.

In California, a game warden must have at least two years of post-secondary education. Then they take an entrance exam. If they pass, it takes a warden 16 months to be trained. Training is extensive and includes (but certainly is not limited to) wildlife law, firearms law, arrest and defense tactics, search and rescue, drug and narcot-ics enforcement, first aid/CPR, weaponless defense, and much more.

Working from a home office, they are on duty 24/7, patrol remote areas often alone and without backup, in pick-ups, snowmobiles, planes, boats, ATV, underwater with SCUBA gear, horseback, trail bikes, and on foot. They also do all their own CSI. Canine companions are becoming increasingly popular.

Almost all people contacted by wardens are armed with guns or knives, or both. Planes and trucks have been and are hit by gunfire. Wardens routinely contact and arrest armed convicted felons. Over 90% of public contacts on the job are nonviolent, but federal statistics show that game wardens and DEA agents have the high-est risk of death on the job. There have been at least 229 wildlife officers that have been killed or have died while on duty.

All wardens are also Hunter Education Instructors. They teach people to use firearms, which is a dramatic departure from other law enforcement officers who dis-courage firearms use and often try to reduce firearms numbers. The only other place a law enforcement person would meet so many armed people is a battlefield.

Game wardens, the “thin green line,” are not abundant A California Department of Fish and Game (now Department of Fish and Wildlife) warden’s badge. continued on 23



anyplace, and as a result they become obscure when people, including policymakers, think about law enforcement strength, and homeland security. Modern game wardens in reality are like the town sheriff of the old west, and the beat they patrol is covered by few others wearing a badge–forest and park rang-ers, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, and so on. The more scarce that game wardens are, the less safe are the woods, water, and natural resources, as well as the people who use them.

Note: With 38 million people, California has the distinction of having the fewest game wardens per capita in North America (Nunavut Territory has a better wardens per capita ratio) and also the most famous ones, thanks to the Wild Justice TV series on the National Geographic Channel. If you are a fan of Wild Justice you will know that California wardens deal with orga-nized crime and drug cartels as well as enforcing wildlife law.

For more information about California’s game war-dens visit the website of the California Fish and Wildlife

Wardens Association or watch the 2009 66-minute documentary, Endangered Species: California Fish and Game Wardens, that first put them in the spotlight http://www.jamesswan.com/snowgoose/wardendoc.html .

This article by James Swan originally appeared on OutdoorHub.com — the outdoors. Online. l

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Life Hunt Classic 2013By Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director

T his hunt is the highlight of the ACEOA year. This year is even more special because of the support of our corporate sponsors, we have been able to

enter into a corporate sponsorship with BADF. You have made it possible to contribute more funds into this very special event. How do we thank you for your continued support? The best way is to feature the smiles, joy and even the frequent tears at the Life Hunt Classic 2013.

There is no place that I know of that has the heaviest concentration of strength than at the Life Hunt. I would put it up against any strong man contest. The boys, girls, men and women come with one thing in mind, to put aside their sickness, afflictions and pain for three days to do what they love — Hunt whitetail deer.

Buckmasters American Deer Foundation, the Hinton family and many more sponsors make this dream a reality. They provide the beautiful Sedgefields Plantation in Dallas County to the hunters. It has some of the finest whitetail deer habitat in Alabama.

There are a multitude of vol-unteers, from Buckmasters staff, Cooks and Dedicated Guides that show up weeks before the hunt to prepare for the event. They work without pay and expect no recog-nition. They do it because of the joy and happiness they witness in those three days. They will be the first to tell you it is worth all the work they put into it.

This year ACEOA sponsored a real hero in our eyes. Corporal David Brown was injured in a motorcycle accident while working with Montgomery Police Department. He was working a funeral procession and was

struck by a vehicle pulling out of the procession. While traveling to the hospital by ambulance he was involved in another accident when the ambulance turned over at the interstate junction of I-65 and Hwy 80.

His injuries where certainly aggregated by this event. He lost an arm and a leg and endured days of pain. Everyone that knew David followed his progress while hospitalized. He had a very difficult road to say the least.

ACEOA knew that when he was healthy enough, he would be our choice for the Life hunt. Finally, the day arrived. David was excited about going. His hunting had been very limited because of his injuries. At the hunt it was truly an inspiration to be around David. One would

continued on 26

Pictured above is Rusty Morrow, (left) and Chris Jaworowski (right) with Corporal David Brown (center).

LIFE HUNT CLASSIC 2013 – continued

26 • ACEOA Magazine

ask how he has such a great attitude with all he has been through. He is just that kind person.

David did not harvest a deer at the hunt, but was invited back by the Hinton family. The next weekend he did harvest a nice 8-point. We were excited for him.

During the three days of the hunt, we get to spent time with the families that accompany the hunters. There are friendships made that will last forever. We get to share the special time with them. Believe me there are high fives and tears for all. The time around the camp fire waiting for the word by phone that there is a deer on the ground is just as exciting as the hunt itself. They are heroes in a true sense. Their joy is for their son or daughter. I truly love this part of the hunt. They are so dedicated.

Several years ago, Jackie Bushman began invit-ing wounded warriors to this hunt. This year we were blessed to be in the presence on two real live heroes, Lance Gieselmann and Abe Panjic. Both men harvested very nice deer. We thank you for your service and your dedication to your country.

This hunt had a celebrity cast like no other. Two years in a row the SWAMP PEOPLE made an appearance. Now these guys are fun. They keep everybody laughing. “CHOOT-UM” is heard over and over. They are so good with the kids.

“Big” Bill Buspice, from Wildgame Innovations, has gotten on board as a major sponsor and he, too, is lots of fun. Thank you Big Bill for your support. David Robertson relief pitcher from the New York Yankees and

Craig Kimbrel, relief pitcher of the Atlanta Braves were on hand to sign autographs and provide the hunters with all kinds of goodies from their teams. These guys take time out of their busy schedules to be a part of this hunt and we thank you.

I could go on and on about this event. It is so humbling continued on 27

Wounded Warriors (l-r) Lance Gieselmann, Abe Panjic, Alan Goetzinger, Mark McDuffy with ACEOA’s Rusty Morrow

and Chris Jaworowski.

Kelby Oakley is 13 from Rockboro, N. Carolina.

Walter Williams.



just to be a small part of it. ACEOA thanks all that are responsible for making it happen and there are many. Thanks to all our corporate sponsorship again. Without your support, our part of the Life Hunt would not be pos-

sible. Just know you are doing great things. Now, enjoy the pictures and articles and, hopefully, you can feel the joy I feel by being a part of it. l

Kyle Rogers, 17, has a big 9-point from Elton, La. The guide is Mac, Grandpa Gribbs, Mom, dad, and Jimmy Little.Halee Boyd of Pensacola, FL.

Kerry Simmons, Jackie Bushman and Craig Kimbrel, Pitcher Atlanta Braves.

Kerry Simmons, Texas.


Kelby’s StoryM aking dreams come true and putting smiles

on faces is true of the Sedgefield Plantation in Safford, Alabama. My son, Kelby, was diagnosed

with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) when he was 2-years-old. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a fatal disease that affects one in every 3,500 boys. It affects and weakens the mus-cles of the arms and legs and eventu-ally the heart and lungs are affected as well. It robs children of their indepen-dence and makes them totally reliant on others for daily living. Kelby has been in a wheelchair for five years and over the last year has lost function of his arms. He has always wanted to do what other boys his age do and that is to be able to hunt and be able to shoot a gun and bag his own buck. For him, it all seemed impossible.

This dream became a reality when a family friend, Chad Vaughn, filled out an application to Buckmasters. Within just a few days he was con-

tacted by David Sullivan, the director of disabled hunter services for the Buckmasters American Deer Foundation. They provided adaptive equipment that mounted to Kelby’s Powerchair. He was able to hunt and fire the gun by blowing through a straw.

We were sponsored by Buckmasters to travel to Alabama and hunt for three days at The Sedgefield Plantation owned by Jimmy Hinton and his family. We met a lot of wonderful families on those three days and made lots of new friends. We met Jackie Bushman, CEO of Buckmasters. We also met Bill Buspice of Wild Game Innovations.

We were also able to meet Troy, Jacob and Chase Landry from “The Swamp People” and also Craig Kimbrel, pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and David Robertson, pitcher for the New York Yankees. Kelby was so excited and went home with all of their autographs.

This hunt has meant so much to Kelby and to our family. Dealing with a disability is hard for everyone involved. I am thankful for everyone that made this possible for Kelby. He was able to live a dream and he has a smile on his face that won’t quit. l


Disabled Police Officer Enjoys Buckmasters

Life HuntBy David Rainer, photos by David Rainer

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

E ven though David Brown wasn’t among the 11 hunters who bagged a deer during the annual Buckmasters Life Hunt at Sedgefields Plantation

near Safford, AL, the reward was just being there.Brown doesn’t remember what happened on September

11, 2010, but it was horrific. A corporal in the Montgomery Police Department, Brown was on duty as a motorcycle police-man for a funeral procession. It was Brown’s duty to close side streets in advance of the proces-sion, which required him to pass the procession en route to the next intersection. As Brown was moving to the next intersection, a member of the procession unex-pectedly pulled out and didn’t see Brown coming. The collision left Brown with life-threatening inju-ries. To exacerbate Brown’s tenu-ous position, the ambulance that was transporting him to the hospi-tal could not negotiate an on-ramp and tipped over on its side.

Brown ended up with head trauma and lost his left arm and right leg because of the injuries. Before his accident, Brown was a hunter and angler, but the thing he missed most was that fresh air of the outdoors.

“Being outside is the main thing, and being able to hang out with the people who enjoy the same things that you do,” Brown said as he guided his motorized wheel-

chair around the ever-present campfire, a tribute to the legacy of Jimmy Hinton, the late patriarch of the family who donates the use of Sedgefields for the Buckmasters event. “Getting a chance to come to Buckmasters has been a real pleasure.

“They feed you good and they assist you to do the thing you were able to do before you got hurt. They transport you around to the different hunting stands. They help you in any way you need help.”

continued on 35

“The Swamp People”, Jacob, Troy and Chase Landry join Buckmasters founder Jackie Bushman in celebrating the 9-point buck, Troy took during the Life Hunt.


DISABLED POLICE OFFICER ENJOYS BUCKMASTERS LIFE HUNT – continued

Tommy Brown, David’s father, admits the rehabilitation has been a long, difficult process, but both are optimistic.

“We’re progressing fairly well on the learning how to walk part,” said the elder Brown. “We’re having a little problem getting the prosthesis properly fitted for him so it doesn’t bother him when he walks. He’s progress-

ing pretty well, in my opinion. We do rehab three times a week for two hours at a time. My main part is taking him back and forth to rehab.”

David spent almost three months in intensive care at Baptist South in Montgomery and then was transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

“The Shepherd Center is a wonderful place for a spinal cord injury, brain injury or real serious physical inju-ry,” said the elder Brown. “It’s a wonderful rehabilita-tion place.”

Being able to participate in the Buckmasters Life Hunt is a rehabilitation that can’t be found in hospitals, said Brown’s father.

“My son loves hunting,” he said. “This is an outlet for him to get him out of the doldrums of not being able to

do anything. He wants to be independent. Being outside like this gives him comfort.”

The Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association (ACEOA) sponsors a hunter for the Buckmasters event, and Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director, said the organization has been waiting for

Brown’s recovery to reach a point to where he was able to partici-pate.

“When Cpl. Brown got hurt, we felt like he was one of our own,” Morrow said. “It’s the same with the police departments around the state, the State Troopers, Marine Police and Enforcement Officers with Marine Resources; we’re all a big family.

“We followed Cpl. Brown closely after the accident, like thousands of other people around Montgomery. We felt like once he was able, we wanted to be the ones to get him back in the outdoors first. We’ve been blessed with the number of people who support our Conservation Enforcement Officers. We’re able to do this because of them.”

Brown said he was humbled by being picked by the ACEOA.

“I thought it was really generous, and I really appreci-ate getting to go,” Brown said. “The stuff you get to do, being outside and hanging out with people like this has been really nice. I saw a 6-point that wasn’t quite big enough. I enjoyed watching him, but we decided to let him live another day.”

Alabama State Trooper Bryan Hamrick, an experienced hunter who was formerly with Montgomery PD, helped Brown during the Buckmasters hunt.

“I don’t have to do much,” Hamrick said. “He does most of it himself. I’m just here in case he needs a little extra hand. I set the gun up for him, and that’s all I have to do. He’ll tell me what he wants to shoot and what he doesn’t.”

For Buckmasters founder and CEO Jackie Bushman, continued on 37

David Brown, former Montgomery motorcycle policeman, enjoys being outdoors during the Buckmasters Life Hunt with Rusty Morrow (left) of the ACEOA, and friend and hunting

partner, Bryan Hamrick (right).


DISABLED POLICE OFFICER ENJOYS BUCKMASTERS LIFE HUNT – continued

the Life Hunt is a celebration of overcoming disabilities to continue a beloved outdoors lifestyle.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years that we’ve been doing the Buckmasters Life Hunt,” Bushman said. “To see the smiles on all these hunters’ faces is something I always look forward to. We always hope to get them a deer, and we’ve been blessed to get everybody an opportunity. The teamwork with the Hinton family and all the guides, Big Bill (Busbice) with Wildgame Innovations helping sponsor the event, and the Swamp People being here, it’s three days that are special to everybody.

“Through the stories and TV shows, the people with disabilities who didn’t think they could get back out there, we’ve shown them a way that they can get back in the outdoors. I think that’s the most successful aspect of this event. To date, we’ve taken more than 7,000 disabled and terminally ill people into the field. If this touches you,

please get in touch with us at buckmasters.com and we’ll let you know how you can help.”

Other than Troy, Jacob and Chase Landry of the Swamp People, stars from the world of Major League Baseball also joined in making the hunt special. Tuscaloosa native David Robertson, a relief pitcher for the New York Yankees, presented the participants with an official Yankees jersey, while Huntsville native Craig Kimbrel, also a relief pitcher, passed out official Atlanta Braves game caps.

“It’s an honor to be invited here,” said Kimbrel, who enjoys bowhunting with fellow Braves reliever Jonny Venters. “It’s a great cause. It’s awesome to see these people get to hunt and all the smiles on their faces.”

“It really makes you think about the things you com-plain about on a day-to-day basis. We really have no reason to complain. It’s great to get to see everyone get a chance to hunt and have fun and be happy.” l

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: WFF Law EnforcementFebruary 22, 2012 334-242-3467

Alabamian named NWTF Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Conservation Enforcement Officer Darin Clifton has been named 2013 National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). Clifton received the award during the organization’s national convention in Nashville on February 16. This is the second year in a row that a Conservation Enforcement Officer from Alabama has won the award. Bryan Fisher received the award in 2012.

Clifton began his career with WFF in 1995. During the 2012 spring turkey season, Clifton made several arrests for turkey hunting violations including two suspects arrested for numerous violations on Alabama’s Special Youth Turkey Hunt, and several other suspects for hunting violations on the Sam Murphy Wildlife Management Area in Lamar County where he is assigned.

WFF District I Law Enforcement Captain Johnny Johnson nominat-ed Clifton for the award citing his character, professionalism and work ethic. “Darin has one of the best attitudes towards the profes-sion of any officer I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” Johnson said. “He consistently goes above and beyond what is required of him. For example, Darin volunteered countless hours in the recovery efforts following the tornados that devastated Alabama in 2011.”

Kevin Dodd, WFF Law Enforcement Chief, echoes Johnson’s praise of Clifton. “Officer Clifton is well established in the community as is evident in the effectiveness of his work,” Dodd said. “We are exceptionally proud of him receiving this award especially considering the multitude of excellent candidates from other states.”

Clifton is a certified hunter education instructor with an FBI Firearms Instructor Certification, and promotes hunting and fishing to youth at local schools and at speaking engagements to various groups including local Boy Scout troops.

In addition to his WFF duties, Clifton frequently serves in outreach programs such as the NWTF’s Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship (JAKES) and Women in the Outdoors as well as the National Archery in the Schools Program. He also participates in various youth hunts and fishing events, and assists in events for people with disabilities.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoy-ment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com .

###


EnviroScape Watershed Model

T he Fisheries Section of the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) would like to thank the Alabama Conservation Enforcement

Officers Association (ACEOA) for purchasing another EnviroScape Watershed Model and carrying case for the Aquatic Education Program. The EnviroScape is a hands-on educational tool that models how pollution can move through the environment.

The interactive model shows a stream’s watershed and the factors that could possibly pol-lute and affect the ecology of that system. Students sprinkle cocoa powder, which represents soil, and green Kool-Aid, which represents fertilizer, on portions of land-scape. Another student sprays water onto the model, which represents falling rain. The cocoa and green Kool-Aid travel down into the low blue areas of the EnviroScape just as soil and fertilizer are washed into our streams. The WFF Aquatic Education staff then leads a discussion of how run-off affects the aquatic environment and encourages the students to find solutions. The students brainstorm and suggest ways to reduce the effects of runoff pollution from farms, tree harvesting areas, con-struction sites, roads and homes.

For more than five years, the WFF Aquatic Education Program has taught thousands of youth about Alabama’s vast natural resources and the importance of conservation due in part to the support and partner-ship of the ACEOA. In 2007, the WFF Aquatic Education Program implemented a program called Creek Kids at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. This program teaches children about stream ecology and watersheds by using a hands-on approach. Creek Kids has received national recognition and was highlighted in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service book celebrating the 75th anniver-

sary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.The success of Creek Kids is enhanced by the

EnviroScape Watershed Model that ACEOA purchased for the program several years ago. Each year approximately 3,000 students have the chance to learn from the model during the program. The watershed model is also used for other WFF events and programs including in schools, daycares, and large events to teach good stewardship of Alabama’s natural resources. Due to the popularity of the

EnviroScape in various WFF aquatic education programs, ACEOA was asked to provide a second model and they graciously granted the request.

Partnerships like these allow WFF to provide qual-ity programs such as Creek Kids to Alabamians. With ACEOA as a partner, WFF will continue to promote natu-ral resource conservation through the education of the people of Alabama. l

ACEOA’s Executive Director Rusty Morrow, Aquatic Education Supervisor Doug Darr, ACEOA President Chris Jaworowski and Biologist Aide Brenda Morrison at

the presentation of the new Enviroscape Model.


Youngsters Swarm to Barbour WMA Youth Hunt

By David Rainer, photos by David Rainer Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

T he eye contact with the frantic gray squirrel seemed frozen in time. The squirrel had been knocked from his perch in a scaly bark hickory by one of the

youths participating in the 16th Annual Barbour County WMA Youth Hunt last weekend. The bushy-tailed critter

was looking for cover when he latched onto the side of a lay-down, a tree that had succumbed to some wind storm in the not-too-distant past.

Armed with only a camera and dressed in a camou-flage shirt, I stood on the opposite side of the log, well within leaping distance. That moment of eye contact led to a flood of possibilities in my brain as Ray Stevens cranked up “Mississippi Squirrel Revival” in the back-ground. Option 1: The squirrel is going to mistake my

camouflage for an escape route in a scene reminiscent of “A Christmas Vacation.” Had it leaped in my direc-tion, I’m sure I would have done my best Clark Griswold impression, the one where he knocks his mother onto the couch as he flees up the stairs.

Alas, I caught a break and the squir-rel took Option 2 and scurried under the log and into a hole that was at the base of the uprooted tree.

Mike Smith, whose Feist dog “Freeway” led the hunt, figured the hunt was over, but this group of about 20 youths and accompanying parents and hosts were persistent on a day when squirrels were scarce. One per-son volunteered to don a glove and reach into the hole to find the squirrel, but his search came up empty-handed. A second tried to no avail.

That’s when Cody Lee, a long and lanky teenager, reached his gloved hand into the hole. Seconds later, he screamed, “There he is,” and in the same breath slung glove, squirrel and a handful of leaves out into the middle of the group that crowded around the root ball.

“The squirrel was hanging on the ceiling of the hole,” Lee said. “When I touched him, he grabbed my arm, so I had to come outta there with him.”

The youngsters swarmed the squirrel in a flash. By the time I got to the middle of the crowd, the squirrel had apparently given up the ghost after realizing escape was impossible.

The youngsters celebrated success as the adults in the continued on 45

Hunter Education’s Jinks Altiere gives a youngster tips on how to break a clay target during the hunt, which attracted about 250 young people from around the state.


YOUNGSTERS SWARM TO BARBOUR WMA YOUTH HUNT – continued

crowd shook their heads laughingly at such a spectacle in the middle of one of Alabama’s most popular Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).

Freeway managed to tree one more squirrel that was reduced to bag before the afternoon hunt ended and it was time to meet back at the WMA headquarters for another round of hot dogs and chips, which preceded the final event of the day of outdoors activities — a coon hunt.

The Eufaula Lions Club, Barbour County Coon Hunters Association, the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer Association and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division are the major sponsors of the youth hunt, which attracts youngsters and parents from mainly east Alabama, although some participants hail from other parts of the state.

The youth hunt idea was hatched when Mike Heath and Richard Reed, game wardens at the time, starting trying to find a way to get the younger generation involved in the outdoors. They recruited Roger and Pat Kott from Eufaula and the event quickly went from a handful of kids to a huge production that requires a concerted effort from the community in terms of volunteers and donations.

“We started with 17 kids,” Pat Kott said. “We try to go deeper into different events and different venues each

year, and it’s just blossomed from there. We wanted to get the kids outdoors to teach them gun safety and teach them what’s in the woods and how to con-serve our woods. The word just spread. We have fliers and sponsors, but it basically spread by word of mouth. We’ll normally have between 250-300 kids now.”

The activities for the kids include BB-gun competition, slingshot shoot, archery, turkey calling and turkey shoot, compass reading, wilderness survival, skeet shooting with gun safety, .22-caliber rifle shooting for the older youngsters, squirrel hunting, rabbit hunting and coon hunting.

“The kids love it and can hardly wait to get here,” Pat said. “It’s great to see their eyes when they’re doing

the different things, and when they’re squirrel hunting, if they get one, they’ll take the squirrel around with them the rest of the day and take it to momma that night. It’s just wonderful.”

Reed said the youth hunt team has had to adjust the activities through the years, especially after an incident during the coon hunt the second year.

“We had the coon hunt and we had kids jumping into the creek with the coon and dogs,” Reed laughed. “So we had to alter that a little bit. We stage it a little bit for safety purposes.”

Reed said before he retired in 2007, he could see a decrease in the number of hunting licenses sold, which caused him great concern.

“When we saw those numbers slipping, we decided we needed to do something to get the kids involved again,” he said. “We’ll have 250-300 kids unless the weather is really bad. And the community is really behind it. All the merchants donate and help every way they can.”

Grady Hartzog, a Eufaula businessman and member of the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board, joined Deputy Conservation Commissioner Curtis Jones and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Director Chuck Sykes to witness the celebration of the outdoors lifestyle.

continued on 47

Conservation Enforcement Officer Mike Heath helps a youngster at the slingshot range during the event, which is held the first Saturday in February each year.


YOUNGSTERS SWARM TO BARBOUR WMA YOUTH HUNT – continued

“I always believe that if we don’t have the kids com-ing to support conservation, we’re not doing our jobs,” Hartzog said. “The more we can do for the kids, the better off we are. We want this to be a good, fun outing for the family and kids so they’ll want to come back out again.”

Sykes, who became WFF direc-tor just two months ago, is encour-aged by what he saw at the Barbour County WMA.

“You’ve got parents and kids out here having fun and picnicking, shooting BB guns, going on a rabbit hunt, a squir-rel hunt and a coon hunt,” Sykes said. “If you don’t get the kids engaged, get them out from in front of a TV or video game and into the woods, we’re going to lose our connection to the outdoors. Kids aren’t growing up like I did with a BB gun and pocket full of BBs; you walked all day and explored the woods.

“This is great. I applaud everybody

here for getting involved, and I applaud the parents for getting out on a beautiful Saturday and exposing their kids to the great outdoors.”

Jones said he was impressed by how well the commu-nity supports the event each year with the encouragement of the Eufaula Lions Club and the Kott family.

“There is a ton of volunteers, and I’m proud that we’ve got several, several Conservation Enforcement Officers who are volunteering to take these kids through the vari-ous courses with BB guns, archery, and skeet,” Jones said. “I’m just really grateful that this many people get involved to get the youth into the outdoors.”

Heath said there are enough volunteers that parents aren’t required to stay for the event.

“The parents can drop their kids off and we’ll take care of them until 9 o’clock that night until we’re completely done,” Heath said. “Then they can come back and pick them up. We encourage all parents to come and go with the kids if at all possible. But if they can’t, we have num-bers of volunteers who will serve as mentors.

“We have a great time. I can’t tell you how many thou-sands of kids this has touched. We’ve had some kids come back every year, and it’s great to see these kids grow up in the outdoors.”

Visit www.outdooralabama.com for more coverage of the youth hunt. l

A group of young squirrel hunters managed to add this gray squirrel to the bag during the 16th annual youth hunt at Barbour County Wildlife Management Area,

managed by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Biologist Adam Pritchett.

Participants in the youth hunt got to try a host of different outdoors experiences, including archery.


Sykes Becomes WFF Director on Birthday


C huck Sykes celebrated his 42nd birthday in a most unusual way: The Choctaw County native spent the day plunging into his new role as the Alabama

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director.

Sykes’ career change will bring a new perspective for him on the outdoors he loves and has spent his life advancing.

“That was the first day I had ever sat behind a desk,” said Sykes. “I’ve been a private, on-the-ground, hands-

dirty, Carhartt, snake-boots kind of guy. So right now, I’m learning.”

Sykes graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Wildlife Sciences in 1992 and used what he learned to form a natural resources consulting firm, C&S Wildlife Services, which managed thousands of acres for land-owners throughout the United States. In 2001, he cre-ated and produced “The Management Advantage” televi-sion program, which aired for 11 years on the Outdoor Channel. Just prior to joining ADCNR, Sykes served as

Senior Scientist and Biological Services Manager for Environmental 360, Inc., an environmental and resource management company based in Tennessee.

Sykes is looking forward to the chal-lenge of being the WFF Director and has great support as he adapts to a new envi-ronment.

“I’m doing a lot of listening,” he said. “I know, from the short time I’ve been here, that there are really good people above me and really good people on the staff who I’m going to rely on and ask a ton of questions.

“The thing is, I want to be able to bring that common-sense approach for that everyday guy who’s out there trying to see what works. I want to bring some new ideas that help him and other Alabama residents reach their goals.”

Conservation Commissioner N. Gunter Guy Jr. said he is especially appreciative of Sykes’ hands-on background.

“We’re excited that Chuck brings 20 years of practical experience to this posi-

continued on 51

New Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director Chuck Sykes, right, celebrates a huge Choctaw County buck he took with his father, Willie, and Australian

shepherd, Bes, as hunting companions.


SYKES BECOMES WFF DIRECTOR ON BIRTHDAY – continued

tion,” Guy said. “His extensive work in wildlife and wild-life habitat management is a perfect fit for the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division’s mission to ensure our outdoor heritage for future generations.”

Sykes replaces M.N. “Corky” Pugh, who retired Dec. 1, 2011. Fred Harders served as acting director for the past year.

Sykes started guiding at Bent Creek Lodge in Choctaw County while he was in high school and worked at several hunting lodges through the years before he took over as manager at a 5,000-acre quail plantation in east central Alabama in 1995.

“To learn my way around, I just started bush-hogging roads,” Sykes said of Circle N Lodge. “There were about 150 miles of roads on the place. I started picking up some pretty decent (antler) sheds. The owner wanted every deer off the place because they were eating up his quail food.”

Sykes suggested that the owner consider a commercial deer hunting operation with a lodge already in place. A limited number of turkey hunts were also made avail-able in those first few years before the turkey popula-tion soared.

“The year I got there, there were four gobbling turkeys on the place,” Sykes said. “The year I left, we killed 14 longbeards and I knew where 17 more were. It went from nothing to unbelievable. It was because of intensive man-agement — timber management, prescribed burns, food plots, predator control, you name it. But I lived there. I worked that place every day.

“As far as deer management, we were growing 140- to 150-inch deer regularly. The best deer grossed 186, and the one on the wall in my office scored 173. It was a unique place in terms of deer. We had a Georgia influ-ence where the Georgia deer were rutting the first week or 10 days of December. Then they had another rut the first week of January. Then somewhere around the 15th of January, the Alabama deer were rutting. You could hunt three distinct ruts. Once I figured that out, I started target-ing the Alabama deer for management. I put a 17-inch limit on the Alabama deer, either inside spread or main beam. That was mostly three-year-old bucks when we started. By the time I left, some of the two-year-olds had stepped up into that category. But on the doe harvest, I put a limit of 100 pounds on the does; no does shot over

100 pounds. That is totally backward from the way most people manage. But what that was, was either a year-and-a-half-old Georgia doe or a mature Alabama doe.”

Sykes’ success at Circle N drew attention through arti-cles published in “Outdoor Life” and “Progressive Farmer.” The publicity led to the advent of a consulting business (with his wife, Sue) that helped landowners improve their wildlife and habitat management.

C&S Wildlife Services eventually became The Management Advantage, which developed the TV show.

“I wanted to draw attention to the consulting aspect of our business, but the TV show soon took on a life of its own,” Sykes said. “It aired for 11 years. The television show kept me so busy I didn’t get to consult like I wanted to. The show was almost all education about wildlife and habitat management, but we still had to show hunting, because that’s what the people were doing. We developed a food plot, planted it and harvested an animal on it.”

Starting in August of 2012, at the request of the view-ers, Chuck made the transition from TV to the Internet with The Management Advantage.

“My heart is on the ground, getting my hands dirty, helping people make the most of what they have,” Sykes said. “If I go out and kill a nice deer or turkey, that’s OK. If somebody calls me or emails me and tells me they followed my advice and their child was able to kill their first deer, that’s where I get my ego stroked.”

Last year, Sykes joined Environmental 360, Inc., where he worked with commercial clients, mainly in the paper products industry, to develop a natural resources com-ponent to their business that included feral hog removal projects and habitat improvement.

The two main issues that Sykes confronted in recent years in his private consulting business were cogongrass and feral hogs. Cogongrass is an invasive species that has proven hard to control. It survives prescribed burns and requires multiple herbicide applications for effective con-trol. The feral hog problem continues to grow to the point that the Alabama Feral Hog Control Council was formed this year through the combined efforts of Commissioner Guy, Agriculture & Industries Commissioner John McMillan and the Alabama Wildlife Federation.

“I’m sure these will be two of the top issues, as wild-life managers, we’re going to have to face over the next

continued on 53


SYKES BECOMES WFF DIRECTOR ON BIRTHDAY – continued

decade,” Sykes said. “One is trying to figure out manage-ment activities that will keep feral hogs at a manageable level. I don’t think eradication is a possibility. We’ve also got to try to stop the encroachment of cogongrass. It’s already all the way up to Sumter County. The major-ity of the cogongrass is in the southern counties, but it’s spreading fast.”

Sykes said one aspect of his new position will be a con-tinuation of what he’s done his entire career — educate.

“You can have the best ideas, have all the scientific data to prove it, but if you can’t explain it in a way that people understand and buy into, it does no good,” he

said. “The Lord has blessed me with the ability in my private career to take scientific information and present it in a common-sense approach that works. I’m hoping we can do the same thing on a statewide basis. Alabama has such great natural resources, and I’m finding people in the department who are passionate about wanting to make it better. They’re constantly collecting data, constantly doing research to try to make things better.

“From the outside looking in, I think some of the translation is lost in getting it to people on the ground. That’s where I hope I can help.” l

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Kid’s KornerBy Lawrence Dismukes

Joey Curtis was wearing his “lucky” ACEOA cap when he harvested this monster of a deer while hunting with

his mentor, Roy Gillespie, in Lowndes County. The deer scored a whopping 172 points.

Six year old Kasen Dismukes of Lowndesboro, Alabama got his first deer on the afternoon of January 20, 2013 while

sitting with his dad. The 3-year-old, 11-point buck stepped out at 4:40 pm. After about ten minutes the buck offered an eighty-two yard broadside shot. He jumped up on his back

legs and was pawing at the air like a bear. The buck fell over backwards and was down for the count. Then the celebration began. What an amazing feeling to be with your son when he

takes his first deer, it made me fill like a kid again.


Coosa County Forestry Tour 2012

By Joel Glover

S ixty-one people braved the threat of rain to attend the Coosa County Fall Treasure Forest

Landowner tour in Kellyton. Mr. Bill Dark graciously offered his property and served as host while the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association sponsored the event.

Kellyton Volunteer Fire Department was on hand to showcase some of their new equipment and explain the formation of a rescue unit for Coosa County. Kellyton Fire Chief, Jerry Sewell, who will serve as the Commander of the new unit, told landowners the team would be avail-able for any type of rescue mission.

Those in attendance were awed by Dr. Robert Parker who presented his philosophy on the life of a landowner while at the same time making a wooden bowl before

their eyes. Dr. Parker shared from the heart concerning how projects conducted on the farm produced tangible beneficial results while time spent watching television was

usually time wasted. He explained the process of picking pieces of wood from which to create a bowl and dem-onstrated the tools used in the pro-cess. He also displayed and discussed how to turn a bowl on a wood lathe.

Next, Forester Jason Wales of Clearwater Foresters explained the when and why of thinning pine timber. Jason explained thinning is a management tool. While many plantations may be treated the same way, it is always a good idea to seek out the advice of a timber profes-sional before undertaking any harvest activity. Wildlife Biologist Joel Glover

continued on 59

ACEOA banner at tour.

Bill Dark addresses group.


COOSA COUNTY FORESTRY TOUR 2012 – continued

added that thinning followed by a prescribed fire was an excellent technique for producing good habitat for many species of wildlife.

At the next stop, Meagan Kelley displayed many of her nature photographs and explained how she had gotten into outdoor photography. Many of the shots were of scenic landscapes in Coosa County. Others were of bald eagles, does and fawns and wild flowers. There were

many favorable comments on the quality and beauty of the photographs.

As the day was concluding with lunch, the much needed rain began to fall. It was a good day of learning how to care for the forest and viewing some of the products that come from it. The Coosa County Forestry Planning

Committee appreciates the ACEOA sponsoring this worthwhile program. l

Meagan Kelley discusses photos. Jason Wales talks timber thinning.

Dr. Parker shows tools.


Limestone County Youth Dove Hunt

By CEO Wendell Fulks

P articipation in the 2012 Youth Dove Hunt held in Limestone County did not disappoint. There were approximately

103 hunters that eagerly came out to support this annual event. The weather was nice, the food was good, and the door prizes were in ample supply. Once again, this year’s land for the hunt was generously provided by Mr. Brent Shaw. Thanks again, Mr. Shaw, for your continued support of this worthwhile event.

After registration was completed by Mrs. Kym Champion, we all ate our sack lunch of hot dogs, chips, and soft drinks provided by our dedicated sponsors. We’d like to especially thank the ACEOA for their generous contri-bution, which provided all youth hunters in attendance with a notable door prize. A big thank you goes out to all of the volunteers who helped to make this year’s hunt a memorable experience for lots

of first-time youth dove hunters. The kids will remember this hunt for many years to come.

Almost every hunter had the opportunity to at least shoot at a dove this year, even though the birds weren’t flying as well as we’d hoped they would on this particular day. I hope all of our youth had a great experience, regardless, and enjoyed the food and the door prizes, too.

In conclusion, I’d like to thank all of the par-ents who took time out of their busy schedules to bring their children hunting. Please know that your children will not soon forget this enjoyable occasion. I would also like to thank all of our Conservation Enforcement Officers and Mrs. Kym Champion who worked dili-gently to make this annual event possible. Your dedication and enthusiasm for introducing youth to hunting is a valuable asset to our department. l

continued on 63

Mrs. Kym Champion registers youth for the hunt.

Capt. Johnny Johnson giving safety speech to hunters.


LIMESTONE COUNTY YOUTH DOVE HUNT – continued

Barclay Butler harvesting his dove.

Every youth in attendance received a door prize.

Palmer Fulks in the corn field waiting on a dove.

(L-R) Capt. Johnny Johnson, Mrs. Kym Champion, CEO Steve Pepper, Sgt. Travis Gray, landowner Mr. Brent Shaw, CEO Jay

Lowery, Mr. Tim Baker, and CEO Wendell Fulks.

Youth hunter receives safety harness as door prize.


LIMESTONE COUNTY YOUTH DOVE HUNT – continued


Alabama Hunter Education Banquet

By Jerry Fincher Talladega County Conservation Enforcement Officer

O n Saturday, September 22, 2012, ACEOA sponsored the Alabama Hunter Education Association’s annual banquette and awards

ceremony. The event was held at Haybrook Farms, a little slice of Heaven between Lay Lake and the Fayetteville community. Haybrook is the pride of Mr. William Terry of Birmingham and is managed by Mr. Brian Yates of Fayetteville.

Due to a lack of birds at the previously planned location, the event was almost cancelled, but thanks to the hard work and generosity of Mr. Yates and Mr. Terry, the day was saved. Both men are true conservationists in every sense of the word and have never refused a request for assistance with our enforcement efforts or hunter education events. I would also like to thank Mr. Wesson, the man-ager of the Childersburg Piggly Wiggly for his continued support of all ACEOA and AHEA events in the area.

In addition to the awards and meal, participants were treated to a horseshoe competition, an optics class taught by Nikon, a 3-D archery range, and an egg-shoot, an

event where the participants must break an egg with a sightless pellet rifle. While all this was going on, the kids in attendance used BB guns and slingshots to shoot balloons strung through the woods. When the events ended, everyone retired to Mr. Terry’s dove field where the birds made a late but much appreciated appearance.

The shooting wasn’t fast and furious, but it was enough to keep most people happy.

AHEA is a volunteer organization which pro-vides a valuable service to everyone in the state. Their selfless giving allows conservation enforce-ment officers more time to focus on violations, and by helping to develop a safer and more ethical hunter, they circumvent countless accidents and help make Alabama a safer place for all of us to live, work, and recreate. ACEOA recognizes the contribution made by these volunteers and does what it can to show its support and appreciation, usually through financial donations and events. While recent economic uncertainties have made

continued on 69


ALABAMA HUNTER EDUCATION BANQUET – continued

everyone tighten their purse strings, ACEOA hopes to continue its support of this deserving group of dedicated men and women.

If you know a volunteer instructor, take the time to shake their hand and tell them you appreciate all they do. If you think you might have what it takes to join their ranks, call the hunter education office in Montgomery at or contact your local conservation enforcement officer for more information. The pay is terrible, but the feeling of giving back to the sport you love and helping shape its future is priceless.

In summary, I would once again like to thank the board and membership of ACEOA for supporting this much deserving group of men and women. l


Bluebill’s Long Journey Leads to Alabama

By David Rainer Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

C linton Walston was sitting in one of his favorite waterfowl hunting areas on Lake Guntersville this past season when a duck came whistling past.

What was thought to be just one of the 20 or so species that visit the Tennessee River chain in Alabama each year turned out to be a very special duck, at least in Walston’s hunt-ing history.

“A few of my buddies and I were hunting this island I’ve hunted for a few years, but the action was a little slow,” said Walston, who said he tries to hunt every week he possibly can during the season. “There weren’t enough people hunting to keep the ducks moving. So we decided to move and went to a place called Grider’s Slough to look for some diver ducks, but they hadn’t moved in, yet. We talked about what to do and we decided to go to Jones’ Cove to see what was up there.

“I’ve got a mud motor so I went up the back way where people running outboard can’t get. I came up through the back of the slough, looking for a spot. There were a couple of groups of hunters about 300 yards apart, so I shut the motor off and pulled up on the bank. After we pulled up on the bank, a bird came flying by. I had my gun in my hands, so I just threw up and shot and knocked it down.”

The bird, which turned out to be a Lesser Scaup (aka bluebill) wasn’t completely finished and starting diving to try to evade Walston. This happened a couple of times

until he picked the right spot to stop the boat. The duck surfaced within gun range and Walston finished the job.

“I cut the motor off where the duck had gone under and waited,” he said. “He finally popped up about 35 yards away and I shot him. I went over and picked him up.

“At first I didn’t realize he had a band. I picked him up by the wing and only his right leg was showing. I dropped him in the boat and I got a feeling I had better look at that bird a little closer. I picked him up again and saw the band. I was ecstatic. It was a true federal band. There

continued on 73

Lesser Scaup, also known as bluebills, will migrate thousands of miles each year from the breeding grounds to winter habitat, although the diver duck usually doesn’t cross numerous

flyways on the way.


BLUEBILL’S LONG JOURNEY LEADS TO ALABAMA – continued

was a lot of whooping and hollering. I was flopping in the boat like a fish out of water. You’d have thought I was in there passing a gall stone.”

The variety of ducks encountered by waterfowl hunt-ers in north Alabama includes mallards, pintails, black ducks, wigeons, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, scaup, canvasbacks, buffleheads, ruddy ducks, ringnecks, gadwalls and wood ducks.

“Diver ducks are notorious for Guntersville and Scottsboro,” Walston said. “Your puddle ducks like mal-lards will mainly stick to the sloughs and backwaters. In that open water, it won’t hold a lot of big ducks. If they get pressured, they’ll get out there in the middle of the lake at night and eat hydrilla. But you don’t see them hardly ever out there during the day.”

Walston kept his prized scaup near him the rest of the trip. “I didn’t let it get out of my sight,” he said.

When Walston had a chance, he called the number printed on the band to report the harvested duck.

“When I talked to the lady about the band she said, ‘Read those numbers back to me,’” he said. “I thought that

was unusual. She said that duck came from Minto, Alaska. I thought it might have been a far-off band because it was a diver, but I’m thinking some place like Michigan or Ontario. In my wildest dreams, I never thought that duck could have come from a few hundred miles from Russia.”

The scaup was banded at the Minto Flats State Wildlife

Refuge between Minto and Nenana, Alaska. The 500,000-acre refuge is about 35 miles west of Fairbanks, where the bander resides. Dr. Mark Lindberg of the University of Alaska banded the bird on May 21, 2010. According to the U.S. Department of Interior, only 114 bands from scaup have been recovered in Alabama since the bluebill banding started in 1960. Of course, the number of bluebills banded pales in comparison to America’s most common duck, the mallard, of which more than seven

million have been banded since 1914. About one million of the mallard bands have been recovered. According to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland, 6,108 mallard bands have been recovered in Alabama since 1960.

continued on 75

Clinton Walston of Fyffe, Ala., bagged a banded bluebill in December on Lake Guntersville that

was banded near Minto, Alaska.


BLUEBILL’S LONG JOURNEY LEADS TO ALABAMA – continued

“When I told my buddies where it came from, they said, ‘There ain’t no way,’” Walston said. “My buddy Jason, the one I hunt with the most said, ‘Man, that thing must have had grease fittings on its wings to fly that far.’ It blows my mind that that duck flew across several flyways and didn’t get shot. I’m sure it got shot at by a lot better hunters than me. He just happened to give up the ghost that day.”

While it does “blow the minds” of most people, waterfowl biologists know that waterfowl can migrate unbelievable distances from the breeding grounds to their wintering grounds. Pintails and several species of geese are known for migrating 3,000 miles during a season.

One example of how far and fast a pintail can fly is illustrated by one of the species harvested by my hunting buddy Jay Gunn, who shot the pintail at Miller’s Ferry in central Alabama. The duck had been banded three days earlier in Wisconsin.

David Hayden, waterfowl specialist with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife Section, said that while Walston’s scaup is spe-cial, it doesn’t set a record.

“We’ve had a few birds in Alabama that have come from parts of Siberia,” Hayden said. “Most of the birds we get come from Canada. Some teal will migrate from Canada all the way to South America. Mallards don’t usu-

ally migrate that far. They’ll migrate from southern Canada or the northern U.S. to the South. A lot of them just migrate as far as the freeze line, and we haven’t had much cold weather in Alabama this year.”

Hayden doesn’t downplay the importance of Walston’s band recovery at all.

“That’s a pretty good prize to get a scaup coming out of Alaska,” Hayden said. “Most of the scaup that come from Alaska tend to stay west of Alabama. Most of the Mississippi Flyway scaup come from the middle of Canada.

“With a bird like that scaup, it may have gotten into some fairly strong westerly winds. I remember about 15 years ago, and it happened two years in a row, when the snows and blues (geese) were migrating there were very strong westerly winds. It actually blew them into Alabama, Georgia and Florida instead of them going into Louisiana like they normally would. That scaup may have gotten blown off course somewhere.”

As for Walston’s bluebill, one of his buddies consumed the bird.

“After I shot the duck the second time, it wasn’t suit-able for mounting,” he said. “It’s still like a dream. I had always wanted to kill a banded duck. I keep that band close. I like to rub it every once in a while.”

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February Deer Season Proposed for SW Alabama


A t the first Alabama Conservation Advisory Board meeting of 2013, Conservation Commissioner N. Gunter Guy Jr. unveiled an ambitious plan to

improve the data collection for white-tailed deer and wild turkeys as well as a proposal to shift deer season into February in south-west Alabama.

Commissioner Guy’s presentation dur-ing the meeting Saturday in Montgomery highlighted the various facets of the new “Outdoor Alabama Game Check” sys-tem that will give Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ managers and biolo-gists more definitive information on the game harvest in addition to the traditional mail survey used currently to estimate the harvest.

Hunters will have three ways to record their harvests on the proposed sys-tem — the Outdoor Alabama app that is available for download for iPhones and Android-based phones, online reporting at www.outdooralabama.com and a toll-free voice response call. In each case, hunters are required to report their harvest within 24 hours. Each report will generate a con-firmation number that must be recorded and kept on the person.

Smartphone users can find links at www.outdooralabama.com to download the respective apps, or you can go to iPhone or Android app stores and search for Outdoor Alabama. Users can open the application and navigate to the hunting tab, which will present a link to Report Your Harvest. Hunters will then fill in the harvest data for deer and turkeys. The deer information includes hunting license number, deer gen-

der, harvest location (public or private land) and county. The turkey harvest information includes hunting license number, whether the gobbler is an adult or jake and the county of harvest. Once the data has been submitted,

it cannot be changed. Links to moon phases are also located on the reporting page. Also, the smartphone app gives information on hunting at the Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).

“What we’re trying to do is make the outdoors expe-rience a little nicer with this app,” Commissioner Guy

continued on 79

Tom Boatwright of Perdido, who had won the Field & Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge twice and finished runner-up this year, was honored with certificates of recognition by State Rep. Harry Shiver of Bay Minette, right, and John McMillan, Agriculture & Industry Commissioner, during the Alabama Conservation Advisory

Board meeting in Montgomery.


FEBRUARY DEER SEASON PROPOSED FOR SW ALABAMA – continued

said. “Some of you don’t have smartphones, but the way the industry is going, you’re probably going to have one sooner or later.”

Those who wish to report the harvest online can go to outdooralabama.com and navigate to the Game Harvest Menu for four choices — Report Deer Harvest, Report Turkey, Seasonal Harvest Report and Feeding Times & Moon Phases. The same reporting requirements as the smartphone app are required. Those who use the online method can also enter an email address and have a copy of the report sent to their inbox. Under the Seasonal Harvest Report, hunters can view statistical reports by coun-ty or for the whole state.

The tol l-f ree voice response call requires a touchtone phone . Hunters should have their license number ready and know the county where the animal was harvested. The hunter’s license number will be entered. For those who are under age 16, 65 or older or have a lifetime license, a registration pro-cess similar to the Harvest Information Program (HIP) will be required to report the harvest data. The harvest information remains the same for deer and turkey.

Hunting licenses for the 2013-2014 seasons will include an area where the harvest date, number of points on each side and confirmation number must be recorded for each buck as well as the harvest date and confirmation number for each unantlered deer taken. Should hunters take more than five unantlered deer during the season, the back of the license may be used to record the date and confirmation number. Turkey harvest will include

date and confirmation number. Hunters are still required to fill in the pertinent information of the harvest record on the hunting license for deer and turkey before the animal is moved.

“This proposal is the result of a lot of hard work by the staff to improve the reporting of your deer and turkey

harvest,” Commissioner Guy said. “Right now, for instance, I live in Lowndes County and I can’t tell you how many bucks and does have been harvested. We’ve been doing a mail survey where we take the number and extrapolate to get an estimate.

“We want to add this tool to help with the data. Some people have sug-gested tags for the bucks, but they are very costly. This harvest information collection will help us man-age the deer herd better for the public. And hunters will have more informa-tion available to them. The Seasonal Harvest Report will have information gath-ered from all the hunters in the state. You can go to the report and see your harvest or harvest information from any other area of the state. You can see in real time,

basically, the number of deer that are being harvested in each county and the state.”

Commissioner Guy also presented a proposal to shift the deer season in southwest Alabama that would swap 10 days of hunting in December for 10 days of hunt-ing in February starting in 2014. The gun season would be closed December 2-11 and extended to February 10. Bowhunters in the affected area would start the season 10 days later on October 25, 2013.

continued on 81

Alabama Conservation Commissioner N. Gunter Guy Jr.officially released a map of the area in southwest Alabama where, if approved, a proposed season shift into February would take

effect during the 2013-14 season. (Courtesy ADCNR)


FEBRUARY DEER SEASON PROPOSED FOR SW ALABAMA – continued

The proposed area for the February season includes all of Baldwin, Mobile, Washington and Escambia counties, most of Monroe and Conecuh counties and portions of Choctaw, Clarke, Wilcox, Butler and Covington counties (see map).

“This wasn’t arbitrarily picked out,” Commissioner Guy said. “We’ve heard from the public, and we’ve listened to the public that they don’t think they’re getting to hunt the rut. With our Wildlife Section and everybody involved, we have data and field studies about when the rut occurs in Alabama. We have good information that we have a comfort level with, that we can extend the season and won’t hurt the resource. We spent a lot of time on this.

“This is not to say that there are not other areas in Alabama that will warrant this in the near future, but we don’t have the data needed to afford it at this time. Nobody in the Department nor you want us to make a mistake and damage our resources that are so valu-able to us. We’ll get there if it’s warranted. Just give us time. We want to respond to you to make the hunting experience better, but we’ve got to do it right. We have to balance the hunting experience against what’s best for the resource.”

Commissioner Guy also proposed a reduction in

the daily bag limit of unantlered deer in a portion of north Alabama. The daily harvest during gun season of unantlered deer would be reduced from two per day to one per day. The number of days for doe harvest will also be reduced — December 14, 2013, through January 4, 2014.

“Just like the extended season in southwest Alabama, there’s also been an issue expressed to us about the deer herd in north Alabama, that numbers are not as great as they have been in the past,” he said. “Our biologists have been working with people in that area to gather the information. This will be a restricted doe harvest in this area. For the rest of the state, there will be no reduction in doe harvest.

“This is all about managing our resources. Natural resources are dynamic, everybody knows that. Every year is different. If you have some mortality event, we need to know about it and react to it quickly or we may overharvest. Turkeys are the same way. Other states have had a problem where they didn’t know about it until it was too late. That’s why we want this reporting system so we can keep up with the numbers in real time. If we see a decline, we can adjust the seasons and bag limits accordingly.” l

New restricted doe harvest regulations for a large swath of north Alabama were revealed in draft regulations made public at Saturday’s Conservation Advisory Board meeting in Montgomery.

(Courtesy ADCNR)


Youth Hunt at The OaksBy Wayne Harrell

I ’ve been reporting on the Youth Hunts at The Oaks Hunting Club for several years now

and this year was another of those days when a person decides that doing something for someone less fortunate is what needs to be done. The eighth annual Youth Hunt at our club was exactly what we all needed. This day proved once again that the adults get more out of a day like this than the kids do! Eleven young hunters from John Croyle’s Big Oak Ranch arrived at 8:00 a.m. for a full day of outdoor activities. (There should have been 13, but a couple of boys had a little problem with their school work)

After a brief welcome and a safety class, we moved to the shooting range for lessons in firearms practice with .22 rifles, shooting clays with 20 gauge shotguns, and

a look into the world of fur trapping. It turns out that several of the kids had some exceptional skills with the guns and all of them stood around open mouthed during

the trapping demonstration.Following the activities at the

shooting range, we had a lunch of hot dogs, chips, cupcakes, and soft drinks. After lunch, new backpacks were handed out to all of them, and inside were various articles that could be used at school, in the field, or around their homes, including flashlights, book lights, socks, chap-sticks, pens and pen-cils, and candy.

We then drew for stands and they all left for the real purpose of the visit; HUNTING! We are fortu-nate at The Oaks to have several other local landowners that have asked to participate in the hunt

continued on 84

Ranch Kids with ACEOA banner.

Enforcement officers, Steve Naish and Dwight Thrasher instruct the use of .22 rifles.


YOUTH HUNT AT THE OAKS – continued

and this gives us the opportunity to spread the kids out more to give them a better chance at getting a deer.

In all, five deer were killed. One of the guides, Chris Greer, had an experience he wanted to share with every-one. He has been guiding the youngsters for six of the eight hunts, including this year, but on this hunt, he had the “Best day of his life.” I’m telling his story as he told it to me, in his words.

By Chris Greer:For the first five years I’ve guided on the Youth Hunt

at The oaks, two of my kids have killed a deer. They are all polite, very disciplined, respectful, and this is what makes it such a blessing to work with them.

My hunter this year was Isaiah, a 10 year old who probably weighs all of 58 pounds soaking wet. When we unloaded my ATV, I asked him if he’d like to drive, and of course he replied with a resounding “YES.” He then informed me that he had never driven one, but he is a fast learner, telling me that “this is the best day of my life.” We made it to the stand, and had our first encounter with nature. There was a spider on the ladder we had to climb up, but after getting rid of it, he settled down and was ready to hunt. He had his Ranch furnished Youth Model .243, which was still way too big for him. I had to fold up several shirts to allow him to sit up higher in the shooting house and he still had to stand up to sight his rifle.

About then, I developed a cough that was the result

of a cold I had been suffering with for a few days. The only thing I could think of was to pray that God would take the cough away for the duration of the hunt, so Isaiah could get him a deer. It wasn’t long before two does came into the field, and his face lit up like I’ve never seen before in a young child.

I asked him if he wanted to shoot one, and he got even more excited. I have six kids and ten grandchildren and I’ve never seen more excitement than Isaiah showed at that moment. I got his rifle up and when he was ready, I took the safety off. Neither of them gave us a good broadside shot opportunity. My heart was pounding so hard, I know I spooked them off the field. To my amaze-ment, Isaiah said; “God must have scared

them off for a reason!” This brought a tear to my eye, and at 64 years old, these kids cause me to turn to mush.

continued on 85

Opening backpacks with the goodies.

Brittney and her deer.


YOUTH HUNT AT THE OAKS – continued

Isaiah continued to tell me that this was the “Best Day of My Life,” but little did he know it was the best day of my life too! Just before dark, another deer entered the field about 100 yards away and Isaiah got it in his scope. He asked “should I shoot the buck?” and of course I said yes. He made the shot and I could see the deer collapse immediately. We gave each other high fives and shared a big hug, gathered our stuff and went to look at the deer. Wow, he was huge, and Isaiah kept telling me that this was the best day of his life! The look of amazement on his face as he got to touch his deer would have melted the heart of any old guy in the world. I know it did mine!

It turned out to weigh almost 200 pounds, was at least 4.5-years-old, and the most beau-tiful ugly rack I’ve ever seen. While a ragged five point, it was a deer that neither I, nor Isaiah will ever forget. His deer won two prizes! The first prize was for the heaviest deer and another for the biggest buck. Here’s the pic of Isaiah and his deer.

After leaving The Oaks at about 8:00 p.m., I had about a two hour drive back to my home in Graysville, Alabama. While driving through Tuscaloosa, I had to

cough. That was the first time since about 3:00 p.m. that I had coughed, after I had asked to God to take away my cough so Isaiah could get him a deer. God surely furnished me the “Best Day of my Life!”

Thanks to all the members at The Oaks, John Croyle’s Big Oak Ranch, and to God for making all this possible. — Chris Greer

I want to thank our sponsors for this year’s hunt, because without them, none of this would have been possible. They are listed below in alphabetical order.

Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association

Ann Payne

Bud’s Best Cookies

Charles Swanson, the Ice Cream Man

Edgars

Friends from Eutaw

Greene County Farmer’s Federation

Greene County Independent

Member’s of The Oaks

RJ Mechanical

Simmon’s Sporting Goods, Bessemer, Alabama

Mike Sievering, District Wildlife Biologists Supervisor, introducing the kids to the world of trapping.

Nina and her deer.Isaiah and his deer.


Camden Youth Hunt


CAMDEN YOUTH HUNT – continued


On Gulf Coast RestorationBy David Rainer, photo by David Rainer

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

I t’s a “Hurry Up and Wait” situation for the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, which held its first official meeting in December 2012 in Mobile. The

Council is charged with developing a comprehensive plan to restore the Gulf Coast states’ environmental and economic damage caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

The problem is that the Council doesn’t have any money. When the RESTORE Act was passed by the U.S. Congress, it designated that 80 percent of the civil penalties connected with the Clean Water Act violations would go to the Gulf Coast states. However, a settlement of those penalties has not occurred, and Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank said there is no “crystal ball” to check to determine when funds actually will become available.

Despite the lack of funding, the RESTORE Act required the Council, which supplants the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, to have a proposed restoration plan developed within six months of the passage of the bill.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley welcomed the Council, Secretary Blank and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to Alabama and thanked the Task Force for its work. Gov. Bentley pointed out that Alabama’s coastline accounts for 23 percent of the tax revenue that comes to Montgomery to fund education and essential services. He also rec

ognized the contribution of Alabama’s Congressional Delegation of Sen. Richard Shelby and Sen. Jeff Sessions and Congressman Jo Bonner for their work to get the RESTORE Act passed in Congress.

“The oil rig explosion on April 20, 2010, triggered an unprecedented crisis and response,” Gov. Bentley said. “By the time the well was capped, some 4.9 million barrels of oil had been released into the Gulf of Mexico. This resulted in significant impacts on our ecosystems and economic activity. The nation was impacted by the spill, and each coastal state had different catastrophic damages. The oil spill underscored the crucial linkage between the environment and the economic health of the Gulf of Mexico. People along the Alabama Gulf Coast, like many other areas, depend on the natural beauty and seafood bounties for their livelihoods.

“There are many Alabamians who are still struggling with the effects of the oil spill. In fact, recently, I was

eating breakfast at Cracker Barrel. While I was eating, a lady came up to me and said, ‘Governor, I’m so glad to see you here.’ I was in Foley. Then she began to tell me her story about her husband, who had lost his job because he worked on a shrimp boat. She began to cry. All I could do was just stand there and hold her.

continued on 97

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley expresses to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council that the effect of the oil spill and subsequent effort for restoration should remain focused

on the people of the Gulf Coast.


ON GULF COAST RESTORATION – continued

“Beaches can be repaired, but lives of people are what we always need to remember.”

Gov. Bentley said that although significant progress has been made since the oil spill, there is much work still to be done.

“We have to make this right for those who suffered greatly, and make sure they have better days ahead,” he said. “We have made progress to get livelihoods restored, businesses back opened and the environmental impact lessened. Today we take another major step forward in making the Gulf Coast stronger and more resilient. The Gulf Coast is truly a national treasure. I am confident we will take the steps necessary to make this region whole again.”

Secretary Blank said that the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most diverse environments in the world, including more than 15,000 species of sea life. She noted that 22 million Americans live in Gulf Coast counties, which are home to 10 of America’s largest sea ports. Those ports accounted for almost halfatrillion dollars in twoway trade in the first nine months of 2012.

“Today our collective focus is how to restore the longterm health, prosperity and resilience of the vital Gulf region,” Secretary Blank said. “I’m confident we can do that in a way that restores our environment, invigorates local communities and creates jobs. We’re not letting the fact the settlement hasn’t occurred stop us from moving forward with the work of this council, working closely with the states as they develop plans.”

Secretary Blank said once settlement money is deposited into the trust fund, it will be used in five different ways. The five states will share 35 percent of the trust funds, while 30 percent will go to the Council to implement the comprehensive restoration. Another 30 percent will go to the Gulf Coast states for projects that deal with the impact of the oil spill. The remaining five percent will be split between two programs for research, technology and monitoring related to the restoration.

N. Gunter Guy Jr., Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said he was glad to see the Council start to work as soon as possible.

“It’s good the Council is being proactive and working on planning so that when money becomes available we will be ready to start addressing the projects to help

restore the Gulf, and that’s the mindset of our state council as well,” said Commissioner Guy, who served on the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. “Still,” Guy continued, “as the Governor points out, we don’t know when the money will come to the states because the Clean Water Act is not a state claim; it is a federal claim only. That’s not to say we haven’t been involved in discussions with them. We hope to have as much input as possible, but the federal government can settle that claim at any time with or without notice to us.

“After the election, there was the criminal penalty settlement (BP agreed to pay $4 billion over five years), which kind of came unexpectedly. It’s the same scenario here. In my opinion, they gave up some of our leverage when they settled the criminal claim without settling the Clean Water Act civil claim as well.”

Commissioner Guy said each Gulf Coast state was impacted by the oil spill in some way, but there should be no priority given to one type of injury over another. He said despite the differences, all states are similarly affected by what happens in the Gulf.

Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said no matter how well the Alabama Gulf Coast has rebounded, there is lingering damage from the oil spill.

“We still have issues related to backwater areas and the future and reputation of the Gulf with all the dispersants that are out there,” Mayor Craft said. “There are questions among our visitors that have expressed ongoing concerns. We have a lot of businesses that have not have been properly compensated for their losses. Some of them went out of business, and some of these family businesses are impossible to replace.

“The whole thing is that if we don’t protect and sustain our environment then we have no economy. Our entire economy is based on a clean, safe and usable environment.” l


Preservation or Conservation?

By Bruce W. Todd, Certified Wildlife Biologist Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

T he words “preservation” and “conservation” are often used interchangeably. This may be because the term “preserve” is often associated with food,

as in preserving food through canning or freezing. Sometimes landowners assign the name preserve to the family land that they hunt, fish and use for recre-ation. Let’s look a little closer at the true meaning of the word preservation.

In land management, preserve means to leave the land untouched with no management. However, even that will bring about change. The choice to leave some-thing alone and let nature take its course brings about change. A cleared field, through natural succession, will grow a shrub layer pretty quickly and, left alone, will become a forest in just a few years. An old growth for-est will begin to die a little at a time. As trees mature, they become susceptible to wind, pests or disease, and will eventually die and fall to the ground. Seed from the forest plants, now exposed to sunlight and with more abundant water and mineral resources, will sprout and the natural cycle will begin all over again. So, you see, there is no such thing as “preservation” in the strictest sense of the word. Often, those who manage a piece of land to sustain certain aspects of it may not be making use of the resources, but they are still conserving the merits of the land that they judge important.

“Conservation,” by definition, is the wise use of our natural resources. Our world is in a constant state of

change. Man is always making some modification to the environment. An increasing number of people are mov-ing out of the cities to suburban and urban areas. As a result, more natural habitat is being converted from forest, fields and wetlands to home sites, shopping malls and office complexes. Without conservation efforts, many of our natural resources would be lost. Both forests and wildlife resources can be conserved with proper planning and practices.

Those interested in wildlife may utilize a conservation plan to make wise use of that resource. Utilizing the art and science of wildlife management is necessary to help keep wildlife populations balanced within the habitat. One example of an animal in need of management is the white-tailed deer. Without the benefit of hunting, the pro-lific deer would soon deplete the natural browse and food sources. Deer looking for alternate food sources would destroy crops, ornamentals and gardens. Not only that, but deer health would decline and disease and vehicle collisions would increase. Without intervention, there eventually could be a large die-off of deer and a reduction in the population

Non-game animals like songbirds also need to be con-served. They require protection and habitat management for their populations to be sustained at healthy levels. Many land management practices that benefit game ani-mals also benefit other populations of less prolific non-

continued on 101


PRESERVATION OR CONSERVATION? – continued

game animals. Practices like prescribed burning, timber thinning and small clearcuts that are maintained as forest openings may conserve and enhance habitats for deer, quail and turkey populations, but also populations of gopher tortoises, woodpeckers and songbirds.

Before undertaking conservation practices on your land, seek out the wisdom of other landowners, resource professionals and wildlife managers to develop a plan that will best help achieve your conservation goals. Remember, preservation is virtually impossible because change is inevitable. With proper planning, you can guide change

in a way that benefits both yourself and the resource. For more information on conservation, contact Bruce Todd, Certified Wildlife Biologist, Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, 30571 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort, AL 36527; phone 251-626-5474.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com. l

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Alabama’s Largest and Most Affordable Hunting Club

By Stewart Abrams, Area Wildlife Biologist Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

I n today’s economy, most of us are looking at ways to save and cut back on expenses. At the same time, it is getting more difficult to find affordable land to hunt. If

you are fortunate enough to have friends or family with land that you can hunt on, count your blessings. Most hunting clubs have a substantial annual membership fee, and the cost to lease lands is still significant. With those high prices many people are searching for alternatives.

Did you know that there is an approximately 760,000-acre “hunting club” that you can join for less than $45 per year? This is no joke. In fact, depending on what game animal you want to hunt, the annual dues for this club may be less than $45.

The “hunting club” I am speaking of is Alabama’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). There are currently 36 WMAs throughout the state of Alabama with a combined acreage of more than 760,000 acres. Chances are that one or more of these areas are within a short drive of where you live.

Alabama’s wildlife management areas provide many different hunting opportunities for the public. If you enjoy bird hunting, there are several WMAs that offer excel-lent dove, waterfowl and turkey hunting. Some areas are known more for exceptional deer hunting than others. Small game, such as squirrel, rabbit, and raccoon, can be found on all areas. Within the past several years, numer-ous management areas have been invaded by feral hogs. Although feral hogs are very destructive to the habitat, many hunters enjoy the challenge of pursuing them. There is an abundance and variety of game animals on Alabama WMAs for the hunters’ enjoyment.

The type of license needed for hunting on a WMA depends on what species of game animal is hunted. If you are strictly a small game hunter, a wildlife heritage

license might appeal to you. A wildlife heritage license, which costs just over $10, allows Alabama residents to hunt small game, except waterfowl, on any WMA. This license also allows the purchaser to use any Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) shooting range, any WFF-operated public fishing lake (day-use permit required), and fish in public freshwater from the bank with a hook and line statewide. If you would rather hunt big game,

such as turkey and deer, an Alabama resident can purchase an all-game hunting license and

a wildlife management area license for a com-bined total of just under $41. And don’t for-get to purchase your state and federal duck stamps when hunting waterfowl. The all-game and WMA licenses also include the

privileges of the wildlife heritage license. In addition to the appropriate license, a current

map permit for the particular area you are hunting is required. These free map permits are available at any WFF district office, local hunting license vendors, and online at www.outdooralabama.com.

Alabama’s WMAs also offer a variety of other outdoor recreational opportunities. You can camp, hike, canoe, fish, or even ride horses on most management areas. Rules and regulations vary between WMAs, so be aware of them before beginning your outdoor excursion. All of the rules are on the back of the map permit.

So what are you waiting for? Get out and enjoy the largest and most affordable hunting club in Alabama! You and your wallet will be glad you did.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com. l


Henry County 2012 Youth Dove Hunt

By Larry Doster

T he Henry County Youth Dove Hunt was held on opening day for the south zone, September

22, 2012. This was earlier than previous years and it was pretty hot; but the hot weather didn’t bother the enthusiasm of the youth that attended. Again, we had a full field of hunters comprised of sixty youth and their adult sponsors.

Mr. Jay Sadler, owner of Sadler Welding Products, volunteered again this year to bring his elevator tower, clays and skeet machine for the kids to get in practice before going on the dove field.

Mr. Elbert Bristow also volunteered to set up various activities such as rod and reel casting, sack races, and .22 rifle shooting. Mr. Harnidge Elliott prepared the field for the dove hunt/ Mr. Hannon Hall, along with other members of the

Haleburg Baptist Church, cooked deer sausage, hotdogs and hamburgers for lunch. As always, we really appreciate the assistance and support of our volunteers and the Haleburg community.

Captain Chris Lewis, Bill Gray, and my wife Janan Doster, registered the hunters. I gave a safety talk prior to the hunt. Each youth hunter drew for a door prize. Door prizes were purchased with funds provided by the ACEOA and WalMart®.

Again, let me say a big “thank you” to the landowner, Mrs. Charlotte Doster. Thank you for being supportive of our youth events and our department. We look forward to next year’s event. l

continued on 107

CEO Larry Doster and Captain Chris Lewis registering Keith Phillips and his son, Gavin Phillips.

Volunteer, Elbert Bristow, gives instructions at the sack race event.


HENRY COUNTY 2012 YOUTH DOVE HUNT – continued

Youth hunter, Daniel Corbitt, gets in some practice at the skeet shooting tower provided by Sadler Welding Products.

Stanley Snell and Ashland Watford at their location on the dove field.

Janan Doster (CEO Larry Doster’s wife) and Captain Chris Lewis registering hunters.

Keith Johnson and his daughter, Sara Beth, go onto the dove field for an afternoon of shooting.


Join Today!We are a non-profit organization founded by

Alabama conservation officers and supported by concerned citizens. This association is not connected with the State of Alabama or the

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or any other state agency.

Membership dues are $25 annually. Each member receives a vehicle decal and three

issues of ACE Magazine with his/her membership. Take time to complete a

membership form. Send it to the address below and begin enjoying your contribution to

education and conservation in Alabama.

Name: Date of Birth / /

Street Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: ( ) - email:

Membership ApplicationThank you for your contribution!

Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association

$25 / Year $250 / Lifetime

Conservation Officer Associate

Mail Application to:ACEOA

P.O. Box 74, Lowndesboro, AL 36752

Officers Only

Division:

State Parks___ State Lands___ Marine Police___ Marine Resources___ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries___

District: __________________________ County: __________________________

Ace Magazine - Winter 2013

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Transcript of Ace Magazine - Winter 2013