Ace Magazine - Fall/winter 2008-2009

Official Publication of the ACEOA

www.aceoa.org

FALL / WINTER 2008-2009

Warren Hinson

in this issue...

PUBLISHER: Brent-Wyatt West

ARTICLES

601 Interstate Park Drive Montgomery, Alabama 36109

President’s Corner....................................................................................... 3

SALES OFFICES:

Notes From The Trenches.......................................................................... 5

EDITOR:

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

ON THE COVER Brian McSorley is the hunter sponsored by ACEOA for the BADF Life Hunt. The Wounded Warriors are servicemen and women who were wounded serving our country. Many of these brave soldiers fought for us in Iraq and Afghanistan. These heroes are a part of the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project and participated in the Life Hunt. For more information on the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project through Disabled Sports USA at www.dsusa.org.

2008 BADF Life Hunt................................................................................. 9 What the Lifehunt Meant to Me................................................................. 17 ACEOA Officer of the Year Nomination Letter.......................................... 21 Marengo Public Shooting Range............................................................... 25 A Great Experience.................................................................................. 33 Walking Night Hunter … A Dangerous Combination................................. 41 The Friction Pot Turkey Call..................................................................... 49 The Long And Short On Deer Rifles......................................................... 53 The Man Who Wears Many Hats............................................................... 57 Thank You by C.O.P.S............................................................................... 59 Note From New ACEOA Director.............................................................. 61 Appreciation Clay Shoot In District V........................................................ 63 Wilcox County Youth Dove Shoot Event.................................................... 65 Hunter Education Appreciation................................................................. 67 Macon County Cops & Kids...................................................................... 69 Talladega County Hunter Education Association....................................... 73 ACEOA At Work....................................................................................... 75 Advertisers Index.................................................................................... 271 Business Directory.................................................................................. 278

The 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. The 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 2008. All rights reserved. ACE Magazine  1

President’s Corner by Chris Jaworowski, ACEOA President and Wildlife Biologist

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rom the time I was a young boy hunting with my father, I have always used my time in the outdoors to reflect on the past and wonder what the future will bring. While sitting 25 feet high in a climbing stand yesterday, listening to acorns fall, I found myself reflecting on the changes we have seen over the past year. Rusty Morrow, our past President, celebrated his retirement after 25 years of service as WFF–CEO for Lowndes County. Rusty’s leadership and dedication to ACEOA has helped this association gain a voice for Conservation Officers across the state. Following his retirement, the ACEOA board and elected officers voted unanimously to appoint Rusty to the position of Executive Director. Congratulations on your retirement, Rusty and keep up the good work! ACEOA membership is growing along with support from communities across the state. ACEOA continued to be a proactive organization last year introducing bills to the legislature in support of pay raises for all Conservation Enforcement Officers. Through our legislative efforts we have gained many new friends and support from across the state. ACEOA sponsored conservation oriented events in every district last year including youth dove hunts, youth squirrel hunts, ladies outdoor events, disabled hunts, and youth fishing events, just to name a few. These events allow us to partner with like–minded organizations to further our conservation message while also gaining valuable friendships that will help us in the future.

Our ACEOA Convention and Banquet was held at the Southern Sportsman’s Lodge August 22–23. The convention was a lot of fun and the turn out was great despite the bad weather. The day was filled with shooting events for the whole family while the night time activities included dinner, door prizes and a live band. Fiscal Year 2009 election results were also certified at the board meeting held on August 22 and are as follows: Elected Officers President – Chris Jaworowski Vice–President – Trey Pose Secretary/Treasurer – John Davidson

District Directors DI Director – Ernie Stephens DI Associate Director – Jay Lowery DII Director – Scott Kellenberger DII Associate Director – Jerry Fincher DIII Director – Jeff Makemson DIII Associate Director – DIV Director – Mitford Fontaine DIV Associate Director – Grady Myers DVI Director – John Bozeman DVI Associate Director – Tommy Haynes

The ACEOA 2008 Officer of the Year was also selected and awarded to WFF–CEO Barry Johnson, Winston County. Barry exemplifies the type of Officer we should all strive to be. Congratulations again Barry! Look for the Barry’s nomination letter in this issue of ACE Magazine. The future of ACEOA is bright, but depends on support from each and every member. For this association to have a voice, we must increase our membership in every District. The 2009 Board members and Elected Officers will be working diligently in every District to recruit new members. If you need assistance or have any questions regarding ACEOA membership, please contact your District Director, Executive Director–Rusty Morrow, or President– Chris Jaworowski (Cell: 334–239–6707, 154 Battlefield Rd., Lowndesboro, AL 36752) l (L-R) Chris Jaworowski, Rhonda, Rusty Morrow, and Brian McSorley ACE Magazine  3

Notes From The Trenches by Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director

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he Fall/Winter issue of the ACE Magazine is probably my favorite. We always feature the BADF (Buckmasters American Deer Foundation) Life Hunt. This year’s ACEOA sponsored hunter was Brian McSorley of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He harvested his very first buck. Read more in his article and my editorial concerning this very special hunt. This issue also features some of the events ACEOA sponsored and co-sponsored this year. We are very proud of our involvement in all of these programs. Please read about our Officer of the Year winner. What a very special officer from District I. Our state officers and directors have been busy this past summer. The Buckmaster’s Expo was back in Montgomery after being in Greensboro, North Carolina for a few years while our convention center in Montgomery was being renovated. We featured our association in a booth for the three day event. We wanted the hunting public and all other 35,000 people that came through the Expo in the three days to be aware of our association and what we do. Our officers and directors planned and held our second ACEOA State Convention. The inclement weather didn’t threaten the attendance or the fun that the group had. We also crowned our first Top Gun. Look for articles and pictures in our next issue of ACE Magazine. Our new officers and directors are now on board. Chris Jaworowski, our new state president has some great ideas for ACEOA and he looks forward to working with everyone. He was our previous Vice-President and assumed the position of President when I retired in May. Chris knows the association well and will do an outstanding job. Our directors are eager and ready to serve. The demands of this association have grown so that these directors take on a great deal of responsibility. We are proud of our newly restructured website. Please check it out at www.aceoa.org. We believe the restructuring will make the website more informative of our mission, goals, and various events we are involved in. We hope to provide email access to all of the District Directors through our website. In the very near future, you should be able to view this issue of ACE Magazine on our website. A special word of thanks goes out to our new webmaster, Adam Thompson. As always, we are very receptive to any ideas you may have for improving our website or magazine. My contact

information is available on the website. I’d love to hear from you. Our corporate sponsors are the most valuable members of our association. I have told you before and I’ll tell you again – We couldn’t do what we do without YOU! The economy is horrible and I know it will affect our sponsors. I expect that money will be tight for everyone. I wish I could promise you a great return of customers for your ads. Unfortunately, I can not. I was dealing with a client several months ago who was referred to me by one of our sales staff. He asked how much of his product I thought would be sold by his placing an ad in ACE Magazine. I told him probably not that much but the money he donated for the ad would be used for far greater purposes. I explained that we sponsored events all over Alabama. In 2009 the budget is even larger and requests for grants increases yearly. I encourage our corporate sponsors to stay on board with us. Our association will work hard for your support. Please, if I can answer any questions about our association or how you can be a sponsor, my contact information is on our website. Our association represents all five enforcement divisions in the conservation department. ACEOA is involved with many programs benefiting many people. We work with youth, women, and challenged hunters. We seek out programs and events that reach as many people as possible. This association is also proud of the fact that we are a pro-active association. We work hard for the enforcement officers in the field. We spent a great deal of time in the legislature this year. We were seeking parity with the State Troopers. Our bill had its highs and lows. Midway through the session, State Personnel got involved and agreed to make wage adjustments for our enforcement personnel. This is not exactly what we wanted but it generated raises for a few officers. I appreciate Commissioner Barnett Lawley and State Personnel Director, Mrs. Graham for going to bat for us. We are presently planning our legislative agenda for the next session. I would like to mention some key people who went above and beyond to help us in the Legislature. If these are your Senators or Representatives, please thank them personally. Representative Spencer Collier sponsored our bill in the House. Senator Del Marsh sponsored our continued on 7 The ACE Magazine  5

Saving a Life Pregnancy Center Notes From The Trenches –

continued

bill in the Senate. Senator Roger Bedford was a key sponsor in the Senate committee. I have a great deal of respect for our legislatures and I have learned first hand what a very difficult job they have. You will see several ads in this magazine placed by legislatures. They appreciate what we do and support our endeavors. Most of them know their local officers by name. I mention our pro-active involvement because I call upon our corporate sponsors to be aware of our involvement in the Legislature. Being a 501-C3 means that we are not allowed to2011 lobbyMiller nor can our funds be used to Street lobby. Without these capabilities, it is very hard to comMontgomery, AL have 36107 pete in Montgomery. We can only success through a grassroots effort. Please support our efforts when called

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of ACE Magazine and on our website. Please enjoy ACE Magazine. When finished with your issue, pass it on to a friend. We want to hear from you. If you have comments or suggestions, please let me know. I’m always available to hear your comments. I’ll leave you with a quote from Dale Carnegie:

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The ACE Magazine  7

2008 BADF Life Hunt by Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director

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ounded in 1998, (Buckmasters American Deer Found­ ation) BADF’s Life Hunts grant hunting wishes for criti­ cally ill and disabled youths ages 21 and under. Mainstream wish-granting organizations like Make-A-Wish began refus­ ing such requests, leaving a void for the kids who wanted to fulfill a dream hunt. It is incomprehensible that a child can have a tremendous passion for hunting, have a lifethreatening condition, and be told that even though all the other children like them can have any wish granted, that theirs was unreachable. What does a parent tell a child in that situation? It became BADF Life Hunt’s mission to provide the resources to meet these very special requests. BADF will always accept applications from qualified children for Life Hunts. Because of the anti-hunting senti­ ment within many medical organizations, it is difficult for them to spread the word through these channels. Please help them get the word out to children’s hospitals, cancer centers and counselors! Provide anyone interested with their website address www.badf.org (click on Life Hunts), or contact them for printed information to distribute. ACEOA was very blessed to sponsor a very coura­ geous young man for the BADF 2008 Life Hunt. He is Brian McSorley from Tuscaloosa. Brian was very eager to participate in the hunt and what made it even better is that he had never harvested a deer. Jeff Makemson (ACEOA Director D-3) met up with

Brian on several afternoons before the hunt to target practice. Jeff even allowed Brian to use his rifle. The hunt was set and Brian and his mom, Rhonda, arrived at Sedgefields Plantation in Dallas County. The weather was threatening but hopes were high among the hunters and the rut was on. Credits are many at the Life Hunt but Life Hunt hosts Jimmy Hinton and Jimmy Hinton, Jr. are two incredible people! They offer their beautiful plantation each year for this great event. They have a platoon of volunteers who work tirelessly to provide every opportunity for these special hunters to harvest the buck of a lifetime. Buckmaster’s staffers and videographers Big John, Elliott, Mark, Chris, Allen, Jimmy and more are on hand every day to catch every moment on video. David Sullivan (BADF Disabled Services Director) is also on hand to make the event move smoothly. County music singer, Mark Chesnutt, was the celebrity hunter this year. I always enjoyed Mark when he came to the earlier Buckmaster’s Classics in Lowndes County during the 80’s and 90’s. He was able to harvest a nice deer and there were some great times around the camp­ fire with his music being a hit. Brian McSorley was excited to harvest his very nice first buck on the final morning of the hunt in the very continued on 13

Brian McSorley with Wounded Warriors. The ACE Magazine  9

2008 BADF Life Hunt –

continued

worst of weather conditions. Even as a quiet young man, he did a fine job with his interview with Jackie Bushman for the TV show. Rhonda even spoke of the hunt; but she is never short of words (just kidding, Rhonda!) She is really a great lady. We enjoyed having them as our guests for this hunt. After the hunt, we spoke several times by phone. Brian was exposed to double chemo to battle his cancer. He is a big, strong young man and they felt he could handle it. He is always in our prayers. Brian and his family belong to the ACEOA family now. They were our guests at our 2008 ACEOA State Convention in August. Brian and Rhonda met up with 2007 Life Hunt participant Audra Mickle and her parents, Judy and Keith. The two families spent quality time shar­ ing stories and viewing the collection of Life Hunt photos from our large display. This year’s classic also featured some very special military hunters. The hunters chosen for the Life Hunt were wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan. They are known as the Wounded Warriors. I was really honored to be in their presence. They are true heroes. I witnessed these very special and brave hunters at the Life Hunt and I wondered

what goes through their minds while they are there. I also wondered if I could be so brave if put in their position. I am honestly humbled by their resilience and strength. Brian wrote an editorial for this issue of ACE Magazine. Brian answered most of my questions as he shared his experience in writing. What does the Life Hunt mean to people like Brian? It’s about peace. It’s about spending a couple of days of great fun and fellowship without think­ ing about physical limitations. True heroes are the people like Brian McSorley who keep moving forward and keep looking up. “The hero is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.” -- Felix Adler Editor’s Note: Some of the background information used in this article was provided through the BADF website at www.badf.org.  l

Jackie Bushman and Brian McSorley. The ACE Magazine  13

What the Lifehunt Meant to Me By Brian McSorley

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hat the Lifehunt meant to me? Quite frankly as I remember back, it simply meant a little slice of peace. Peace in many versions: Peace of mind from worry, anxiety and anticipation of what is next in this cancer/sickness world I am in. We stayed so busy hunting, eating good food and enjoying the company of new friends that I didn’t even think about my cancer. For just a little while I didn’t have to think about what if… Peace for body, peace from shots, MRIs, scans and endless tests. I got to walk in the woods, listen to the sounds of nature and taste great ribs, steak and fried catfish. Peace of vision, being outdoors and in nature not in the hospital or in bed because I feel so bad. But observing nature and the wonders of God’s creation and knowing that God has plans for me because he takes care of even the hawks I saw fighting in the air. He takes care of the birds that forget to save food for the winter. I know he will take care of me and bring me through this illness. Peace in listening, listening to the

sounds of nature, listening to Mark singing and the best of all listening to laughter of others and laughing with them. Peace of rest, the Lifehunt gave me a complete distraction from all the things that cause me not sleep. I slept soundly, partly because we were up before the sun everyday but mainly because I simply didn’t have to think about “What’s wrong” for just a little while. I am so grateful to my sponsors at ACEOA who took me target shooting before the hunt. They even allowed me to borrow a firearm and they were so supportive and provided me with anything and everything I needed. All the people involved helped me get away from my cancer for a little while and they even kept me distracted by laughing. I am so grateful to all of the guys at Buckmasters who gave me and my Mom great gifts of clothes, flashlights, hats, boots, jackets, lodging, great food and of course, the most awesome experience of harvesting my very first deer. It was all so exciting and I will never ever forget this great experience. l

Capt. Mark Rouleau with Brian McSorley. The ACE Magazine  17

ACEOA Officer of the Year Nomination Letter by Captain Johnny Johnson and Lt. W. Mike Nichols

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e nominate Officer Barry Johnson of District I for the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer Association (ACEOA) Officer of the Year Award. Barry has been a Conservation Enforcement Officer with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, Law Enforce­ ment Section since 1990 and during this time he has proven himself to be a valuable asset to the Department of Conservation, the State of Alabama, and the people of Alabama. Officer Johnson retired as a Chief Gunners Mate in the United States Navy with 21 years of service. He served as Boat Captain with the Navy’s famous Riverine Patrol Boat Unit for four and one-half years in Vietnam where he was highly decorated for his skills, leadership and bravery. Barry received three Purple Heart Awards during this period. He also earned a degree in Criminal Justice. The skills, professionalism and commitment to duty devel­ oped in the U. S. Navy have carried over into Officer Johnson’s career as a Conservation Enforcement Officer. A strong work ethic is becoming a rare commodity but not with CEO Barry Johnson. He schedules his work time to ensure it is most effective. He is available when needed and answers calls in a timely manner. Barry aspires to pass on his knowledge and experiences to others and is doing so as a field training officer and mentor for District

I. In the woods and on the water, Barry has made signifi­ cant contributions to the training of old and new officers. He is the model of a Conservation Enforcement Officer. Winston County, Barry’s primary area of patrol, con­ tains two of the largest and most rugged areas in Alabama; Bankhead National Forest and Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area. In today’s fast paced hunting society, most officers utilize 4 x 4 vehicles or ATVs to patrol for violations. Barry patrols by foot and makes quality arrests through hard work and dedication. His intimate knowledge of these areas has proven to be an indispensable asset not only to the Department of Conservation but to the U.S. Forestry Service and the public. Barry has made a significant difference in our wildlife enforcement program in Winston County. His efforts to minimize violations, rescue lost hunters and hikers and protect the treasures of our natural resources have made visiting these areas both safer and more enjoyable to the hunter and nature enthusiast. CEO Johnson’s dedication to duty and love of his work sets an example for all officers who know him. He dis­ plays a standard of excellence and devotion to the people he serves. Barry is a professional and has a sincere desire help. This desire is exemplified by his ready cooperation to assist other officers, other sections within the Department of Conservation and other agen­ cies in Winston County and statewide. He has an excellent rapport with the courts, local law enforcement agencies and the public. Barry’s “take action” attitude is illus­ trated by the “Renew Our Rivers” program on Smith Lake which began in 2006. Supervised by Officer Johnson, this pro­ gram organizes volunteers and organizations to clean up Smith Lake and has removed over 300 tons of discarded Styrofoam and debris from this beautiful area. The ACEOA award for Conservation Officer of the Year is presented by the most recognized organization among field enforce­ ment officers. It is esteemed because it is awarded by our peers. Veteran Officer Barry Johnson epitomizes what all of us strive to be: professional, skilled and respected. Please reward Officer Barry Johnson by presenting him with the ACEOA Officer of the Year Award. l Chris Jaworowski, Barry Johnson, and Capt. Johnny Johnson The ACE Magazine  21

Marengo Public Shooting Range by David Rainer, Writer for Outdoor Alabama, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Printed with permission from David Rainer

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ive in the Marengo County area and need a place to sight in your deer rifle or get in a little practice shoot­ ing clays? If so, you’re in luck. The Marengo Public Shooting Range, located just off County Road 44 north of Linden, has opened last week — the culmination of a partnership formed between the Marengo County Commission and the Alabama Department of Conserva­ tion and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFFD). The opening of the Marengo range marks the 11th such facility operated solely or jointly by the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Wildlife Section. “Most of the shoot­ ing ranges we have are on our Wildlife Management Areas, where we have people who can maintain the ranges,” explained Gary Moody, Wildlife Section Chief. “When we move into an area where we don’t have those facilities nearby, it takes partners to make things happen. Somebody has to mow the grass; somebody has to open and close the gate; somebody has to watch things to make sure the range is running like it’s supposed to. Partnerships, like this one, are what make that happen. “Another thing, the Wildlife Section operates partly through the Wildlife Restoration Fund. This is money paid by hunters and shooters. When you buy a gun or a box of shells, you pay an excise tax. That money comes back to the state to run our Wildlife Management Areas, to do our wildlife research and to build shooting ranges. If you’re a sport shooter, if you’re a hunter, you helped

pay for this facility. It’s yours and we want you to use it and help us take care of it.” Moody credited Marengo County Commissioner Fred Armstead as a driving force behind completion of the range. Armstead, in turn, said the range would not have built without the efforts of Jim Stanford of Robertson Banking. “This is going to be a great asset for Marengo County,” Armstead said. “It’s going to be a great asset for the adjoin­ ing counties, as well. Law enforcement personnel will use this, as well as the general public. And let me say, we could not have done it without the help of Jim Stanford.” Moody said it took about a year to get the range from idea to fruition, and the timing couldn’t have been better. This is a busy time of year, and we wanted the hunters to have a place to get their rifles sighted in,” Moody said. “When you come out here, you might find law enforce­ ment using the range. It’s for them to enjoy, not only off-duty, but they will also be doing some on-duty train­ ing out here, also. This facility will be for multifunction use, which will make it more valuable for the county.” The only requirement for the public to use the range is either a valid hunting license or Wildlife Heritage License; Alabama residents 65 years and older are exempt from the requirement. The shooting benches — five on the 25-yard section and five on the100-yard section — were made by stu­ continued on 29

Marengo County Commissioner Fred Armstead left, and Hobbie Sealy, Assistant Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, unveil the sign at the new Marengo Public Shooting Range, just north of Linden off of County Road 44. The ACE Magazine  25

Marengo Public Shooting Range –

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dents of Clifton McKnight at Demopolis High School and Rudy Parker at Linden High School. The Marengo County Sheriff’s Department (Sheriff Jessie Langley) will be in charge of opening and closing the gate. Moody said oth­ ers who contributed to the construction were Warden Leon Bolen of the State Cattle Ranch and Rod Laduron of Alabama Tractor Company. Ray Metzler, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Hunter Education Coordinator, said finding suitable property is the largest hurdle to public shooting ranges. “It took about a year to find this piece of property,” Metzler said of the Marengo range. “Jim Stanford and I had been looking for property. I told Jim if he could find a piece of property we would build it. We looked and looked and looked. “We had to get the plat books and make sure a site met the requirements, like fallout zone. We finally found this piece of property and it belonged to the county. They were agreeable to letting us build the range as long as it didn’t interfere with the old landfill part. This was an area where they had removed the topsoil to use on the landfill area.” Metzler said the shooting range construction follows National Rifle Association guidelines. “This property meets those criteria,” he said. “There are wooded areas and pasture behind the range. The berm is 28 feet tall with targets at 25, 50 and 100 yards.” Metzler also said the public shooting ranges have “phenomenal” use, and he expects the Marengo range will be heavily utilized. “People are looking for a place to shoot, and it’s becoming harder and harder to find a place,” he said. “We’ve had calls from all around the state from people wanting us to partner with a range, and I do try to work it out any time I can. We’re looking at Choctaw County right now. “We’d like to find places in urban areas, like Jefferson County or around Montgomery. But that’s a little tougher because of the fallout zone and noise.”

Etowah Public Range Owl’s Hollow Road, Gadsden Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol Telephone: 256-435-5422 Freedom Hills WMA Range 8 miles south of Cherokee Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Bow Murphy WMA Firing Range Cannon Creek Road, Guinn Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol South Sandy Shooting Range USFS Road 706, Duncanville Type: Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun Telephone: 205-339-5716 205-926-9765 Skyline WMA Firing Range Highway 146, Skyline Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Bow Telephone: 256-587-3114 Swan Creek WMA Range Harris Station Road, Tanner Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol Telephone: 256-353-2634 Upper Delta WMA St. Lukes Church Road, Stockton Type: Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun Telephone: 251-626-5474

Other State WMA Shooting Ranges: Barbour Co. WMA Range County Road 49, Midway Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol Telephone: 334-529-3222 Cahaba WMA Range County Road 91, Helena Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol Telephone: 205-339-5716 Coosa County WMA Range County Highway 29, Rockford Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol Telephone: 334-242-3469

State Representative Artis “A. J.” McCampbell gets ready to fire a .270 rifle during opening ceremonies at the new Marengo Public Range. The ACE Magazine  29

A Great Experience By Griffin Pritchard, The Wetumpka Herald/Sports Editor

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or some people, a trip into the woods on a cold blistery morning is a daily occurrence during deer Season, but for one Elmore County High School student, it will go down as the “greatest experience ever.” Meet Josh Worthington. Josh is 18-years-old and is set to enter his senior year at Elmore County High School. He also has spina bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down. Spina Bifida, according to www.sbaa.org, is defined as ‘split spine,’ and is a condition that occurs in the embryo within the first month of pregnancy; it results from an incomplete closure of the spinal column. Spina Bifida is the most frequently occurring permanently disabling birth defect. Every day in the US, an average of eight babies are affected by Spina Bifida or a similar birth defect of the brain and spine. “The kids at the school don’t treat him any different than any other child,” said Jerold Alexander, Josh’s grandmother. “When he got his class ring last year, they all stood and clapped when his name was called.”

Josh Worthington signals victory as he and his crew prepare for his great adventure.

Worthington also has a fascination with nature. “I just love being outdoors,” said Worthington, who is confined to a motorized wheelchair. “Anything to do with being outdoors or deer hunting, or turkey hunting.” Worthington’s fascination was merely as an outsider. Up until the first part of 2008, Worthington had never been on a hunting trip. In January, however, that changed. As a junior at Elmore County High School, Worthington’s course load included a life science course taught by Rebecca Wood. “Me and Ms. Wood would talk about hunting after class all the time,” said Worthington. Outside the confines of the classroom, Wood serves as the executive director of Outdoor Women Unlimited. “In my eyes it was probably, for he and I together, one of the most memorable hunting experiences for both of us,” said Wood. “This shows that OWU hunting experiences really have no limits.” Wood had been contacted earlier by Rusty Morrow, president of the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers’ Association, about co-sponsoring a challenged hunt. ACEOA partners with Challenged Sportsmen’s Outfitters in Ozark, under the direction of Keith Jordan. Jordan, a former police sergeant, is paralyzed from the waist down after a tornado ripped through his home and slammed him into a chair with his wife on top of him. The lodge’s mission statement reads: “Challenged Sportsmen’s Outfitters of Alabama (CSO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a place where persons with special needs and disabilities, along with a friend or family member, can come and enjoy a complete outdoor experience. Activities may include hunting, fishing, ATV riding or outdoor photography. Whatever the activity, CSO will strive to meet the wishes of each individual and allow them to enjoy a wonderful time in outdoor Alabama.” “Josh’s hunt was one of the best hunts that we have ever done,” said Jordan. “It was nice to see his enthusiasm and excitement. It would have been nice to do a twoday hunt, but we were just able to work it out for one day. I wish that we could have gotten him on a deer he could have shot.” Failing to harvest the big one didn’t darken Worthington’s day. “That was the greatest continued on 37 The ACE Magazine  33

A Great Experience –

continued

experience of my life,” said Worthington. “I wasn’t nervous. I knew that this had been in the works and I was just ready to get down there.” While ACEOA had the partnership with Challenged Sportsmen to provide the facility, it was up to Wood and OWU to figure out how to get him from point A to point B. Getting Worthington from Eclectic to Ozark took a group effort. Teachers and staff gathered at the high school to see the soon-to-be senior off on his adventure. With his arms raised in a V of triumph, Worthington rose from the ground via a chair lift and backed into the bright yellow school bus and began his descent into the state’s Wiregrass region. The group stopped at McDonald’s in Troy to add Worthington’s mother – Angie Worthington – to the group. “As we were on our way to Ozark, we missed our turn off to the hunting club, so we went down the road to the next store – a country store – to ask for directions,” Worthington wrote in a letter telling of his experience. Once at the club which is located in Louisville, Alabama, the excited young hunter started the morning with an educational experience. “He learned a lot about what to look for and about the terrain,” said Wood. “I learned how to call a deer using a deer caller,” said Worthington. A specialized trailer that was constructed by Jordan and the staff at Challenged Sportsmen’s Outfitters allowed Worthington and Wood to venture into the forest. Worthington was also able to take advantage of the facility’s design and roll into a shooting house. “I saw a six-point buck,” said Worthington. “Didn’t get to

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shoot it though,” said Worthington, just like an experienced hunter lamenting the one that got away. The group spent a majority of the January day in the woods and returned to the lodge that night without a harvested animal. “This wasn’t about harvesting the deer, it was just about giving him the opportunity to be the hunter – the celebrity of the day,” said Wood. “It was just exciting being in the shooting house with him, seeing the gleam in his eye and watching him get excited every time a twig snapped.” Once the day ended, the group returned to Eclectic, victorious. “He didn’t stop talking about that trip for a solid month,” said Alexander. “I’m so glad he got to go on this trip.” With a smile, Worthington chuckled and simply stated, “This was the greatest experience of my life.” According to Wood, this is the second year that the ACEOA has partnered with Challenged Sportsmen’s Outfitters to offer a hunt to challenged outdoorsmen. “OWU would like to extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who made this opportunity for Josh possible,” said Wood. Challenged Sportsmen’s Outfitters is a relatively new non-profit organization, started in 2005 and gained nonprofit status in 2006; that is designed to give disabled hunters the opportunity to go hunting. “I have some guys that work with me and I train them on what to look for and how to handle any problems that may arise,” said Jordan. “But we let the disabled hunter do as they are comfortable with. My guys are there to help if needed.” For more information about the facility or the programs offered, visit their website: www.csoutfitters.org. l

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256-355-3828

The ACE Magazine  37

Walking Night Hunter . . . A Dangerous Combination by Jeff L. Makemson, ACEOA District III Director

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arly in my career with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as a Wildlife Biologist and Conservation Officer, a well respected Senior Conservation Enforcement Officer was kind enough to give a rookie some advice. He explained to me some of the many potential dangerous situations an officer may encounter while enforcing game and fish laws and regulations in Alabama. I can still hear him telling me that one of the most dangerous situations was a poacher at night on foot. The following events are dedicated to my friend, whose life ended too soon, Captain Jack Kennedy: Last year I was scheduled to assist with a gun deer hunt on Mulberry Fork Wildlife Management Area (WMA), in Walker County. I called my friend and Conservation Officer Brian Fisher, who had recently transferred to Walker County. Brian and I worked closely when he was an officer in Hale County, and I was looking forward to working a detail with him again. I called him on the radio and told him I would be working on the WMA in his county and if he needed any help with a night deer hunting detail, I would help him after the WMA hunt. Brian was as excited as I was and told me about a recent complaint about night deer hunting from a landowner North of Jasper. Someone recently shot a nice buck at night on his property from a public road. Brian secured written permission from the landowner for us to use the deer decoy on his property. On the night of the detail, we met in Jasper at my mother’s house and ate dinner with her. After dinner, I loaded my equipment in Brian’s truck and we arrived at the detail location at approximately 8:00 p.m. We placed the decoy about 100 yards off the road, in a draw alongside a pond. The area was an old reclaimed strip mine with gentle rolling hills with a patchwork of scattered loblolly pines and openings. I hid in a pine thicket across the road from the decoy. It was a cold, clear night and the sky was full of stars. I made a nice warm bed in the thicket with my army sleeping bag and wool blanket. Brian took the truck to the top of the hill and parked behind a gate about a quarter of a mile from me. Approximately two hours later, several vehicles had passed with nothing out of the ordinary happening. Around 10:00 p.m., I noticed that a white van kept

coming by very slowly. I was talking to Brian on the radio about the vehicle and he told me that it had just stopped on the side of the road near him. He told me he was not sure what they were up to but it looked like they were getting out of the vehicle. The van pulled back onto the highway and through the radio Brian whispered “someone was dropped out and they were walking in the woods toward him shinning a spot light.” I knew Brian could handle the situation, but I felt helpless not being with him. I advised Brian that I was running toward him as fast as I could. After diving in the ditch along the side of the road a couple of times to avoid being seen by vehicles traveling on the road, I reached the top of the hill. Brian called me on the radio and said they were coming toward me. I crossed the ditch and scanned the valley and hillside and saw the spotlight on the far side of the valley. I radioed Brian and told him to bring his shotgun and walk out to the road toward me and we would go in after them together. While I was waiting on Brian I took my coat off to cool down and wiped the fog off my glasses. The spotlight was turned on and quickly scanned the area, and then turned off. I could hear the subjects talking, even though they were a considerable distance from me and we knew there were at least two of them. When Brian reached me we discussed our game plan and decided to stalk them using the pines and shadows as cover. The suspects were slowly making their way toward the pond, stopping only to quickly shine the area in front and to the side of them, before moving on. We got to within 35 yards of them and we were at the end of the pine trees and shadows. If we were going to take them down, now was the best time while we still had some cover. We spread out about ten yards and were getting ready to turn our lights on, when they started shinning again. They were scanning the side of the pond in the direction of the deer decoy. We could clearly see the outline of one suspect holding the light while the other one raised the rifle and fired one shot at the decoy. We both immediately turned our lights on and yelled for them to get on the ground. With the tone of our voices and the use of some choice words, they knew we meant business. They quickly followed our commands continued on 45 The ACE Magazine  41

Walking Night Hunter...A Dangerous Combination – and spread out on the ground. We placed them in cuffs, secured the weapon, and thoroughly searched them both, removing hunting knives and other belongings. The suspects were escorted to the edge of the right-ofway and sat down on the ground behind a larger earthen embankment. We were out of view of vehicles traveling on the road. A Walker County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to us for transporting the suspects. While Brian was covering the suspects, I removed the decoy and gathered my things from my hiding area and placed them together. While walking up the highway to get my coat, I had to hide in the ditch to avoid being seen by an oncoming vehicle. I could tell the vehicle was going slow, but I did not look at it until it had passed by me. When the vehicle passed by me I watched as the driver shinned the area with a light. I called Brian on the radio and told him about it. He said the driver had also shinned the field close to them. I returned to the staging area, and we

continued

continued to wait on the deputy to arrive. A vehicle went by us and one of the suspects said that was his wife. She was coming back to pick them up. As the vehicle came back by I turned on my light and the vehicle stopped. After identifying myself, I explained to the woman that her husband and his friend were going to be transported to jail, and that she had better get out of the area before she was also taken to jail. She left without any questions. The deputy arrived and the suspects were transported to the jail for processing. Brian and I discussed the events of the evening over and over that night and we gave each other several high fives. It was almost 3:00 a.m. when I finally went to bed. Regardless of our ages or our length of service, the love, passion, and dedication to the landowners, natural resources, and environment keeps us all young at heart. I know Captain Jack was watching over us and saying, “Good job boys, good job.” l

The ACE Magazine  45

The Friction Pot Turkey Call by Tim Cosby

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ot too many years ago, if you used a friction pot turkey call, it used slate as the sounding surface and a two-piece hickory peg for the striker. The pot was almost always either walnut or high density plastic. If you practiced with determination, you could imitate the low yelp, purr, and cluck of a hen turkey – that is if you lucked out and got a call capable of making decent hen turkey music. Too often, the call just didn’t work. Times have surely changed. There are now custom call makers and call companies making friction pot calls out of a variety of domestic and imported woods. Call surfaces are now made out of glass, aluminum, stainless steel, copper and exotic man-made materials. Slate is also used extensively. Call design has improved considerably since the early days of the slate call. Pegs are now custom turned from a single piece of wood and calls and pegs are matched. Many of these calls are excellent and produce all of the calls of a hen turkey. Cackles, cuts, tree yelps, lost yelps, excited yelps, an old hen’s assembly call, and excellent clucks can be made on some of the better calls. Once you have a call that will make these sounds, it is absolutely necessary to develop the proper technique if you are going to be proficient with a friction pot call. For years, I struggled to get the sounds I wanted out of the pot calls I carried to the turkey woods. It was only after I had a short lesson from a really good competition caller that I was able to use a pot friction call. I prefer a double glass friction pot call because of the range of frequency and volume that can be produced by a properly made call and matched peg. It will be difficult to describe every nuance of using a call simply by writing about it. It will be helpful to the reader if he/she will refer to the pictures as they read this article. I will list the main points in using a double glass friction call below:  (Reverse the instructions if you are left-handed)

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

1. The surface of the glass call is best prepared with stone. I really like the conditioning stone on a primos slick stick. You can get a slick stick from most any sporting goods store for under $10. When the surface is sanded with the stone, use a back and forth motion. Do not make swirls or circles. 2. The tip of the peg is best cleaned with 220 grit sand paper using very light strokes. (Do not change the shape of the end of the peg.) 3. The call is held in left hand with only the thumb and middle finger. Do not hold the call with a death continued on 51 The ACE Magazine  49

The Friction Pot Turkey – continued grip as this will dampen the sound and frequency of the call. The peg is held in the right hand as shown in the accompanying picture. It is not held like a pencil in spite of all of the instructions that come with most calls.

Step 4

4. I always hinge my hand holding the peg to the call by letting the back part of my palm rest on the call. 5. The yelp is made by sliding the peg across the glass surface of the call using a wrist motion instead of moving the peg with a motion of the fingers. The peg is never removed from the surface of the glass. When you slide the peg back to begin a new yelp it will not make any noise. However if you lift the peg on the return stroke, you will break your rhythm and lose your place on the call surface.

Step 5

6. The cluck is made by pulling the peg toward the palm with the index finger. 7. The duration and volume of a particular hen yelp or cluck is a product of pressure and the length of the movement of the peg on the call surface. Usually, you should call about one-third of the way in from the edge of the call surface. One thing that will help you to use a friction pot call is to consider it a musical instrument. After all, that is what a good call is designed to re-create – the music made by a hen turkey. One pitfall of most hunters starting to use a friction pot turkey call is to put too much pressure on the peg and put too much angle on the peg as it slides on the surface of the call. I have found that light pressure and holding the peg so the top of the peg is only slightly away from you and only slanted about five degrees to the right work best. Remember to let the call do the work. A good call will call for you. It does not have to be forced to make the sounds of a hen turkey. The other and most important factor is practice, practice, practice, and more practice. Experiment and play with the call until you are comfortable enough to call without finding it necessary to look at your hands while using the call. It is extremely difficult to put into words everything there is to know about using a friction pot call. I am, however, willing to show you in person if you will just stop by sometime. Good luck and safe hunting!

Step 6

Step 7

About the Author Tim Cosby is retired from Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries as Chief of the Enforcement Division. Tim is an avid squirrel hunter and raises treeing fiest squirrel dogs. He also builds a really good friction pot turkey call. l The ACE Magazine  51

The Long and Short on Deer Rifles by David Rainer, Writer for Outdoor Alabama Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Printed with permission from David Rainer

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ith a hint of fall in the air, Alabama deer hunters usually move into a frenetic pace as they prepare for the upcoming season. For those who are considering a new deer rifle, Larry Teague, editor of Buckmasters GunHunter magazine, said quite a few variables go into the decision of what firearm to choose. “In some places you have short shots,” Teague said. “In some places you have long shots. In Alabama, you have both. You have thick woods. You have power lines. You have rights of way. Depending on where you’re hunting, you can get a rifle for each area, or you can get a rifle that will work for both.” “Hunting guns for Alabama is kind of a misnomer, because they would work anywhere else. The calibers of .270 Winchester, .30-06 and 7mm Magnum are all

traditional whitetail calibers. The advantages of the .3006 is, as everybody knows, you have wide range of bullets and the ammo is available everywhere. If you’re out in the middle of nowhere, you won’t have trouble finding ammunition. The availability is about the same for the .270.” The problem with those bullets and larger calibers is when you have somebody that is recoil sensitive, either a little or a lot. It doesn’t take much “flinch” to foul up a shot. “When you are shooting .30-06, the Magnums or UltraMags it will have more recoil than a small stature individual or female shooter can handle,” Teague said. “For woman or youths, I would drop down to a 7mm-08, one of my favorites. A .260 Remington is also very good. “The .243 may be a little light for Alabama deer. There continued on 55

Deer hunters in Alabama use a range of ammunition from the (left to right) .243, .25-06, .270, .30-06 and .300 Ultra Mag. Larry Teague, editor of Buckmasters GunHunter magazine, considers the .243 too light for Alabama deer, but cautions about the recoil factor for the large calibers like the Ultra Mag. The ACE Magazine  53

The Long and Short on Deer Rifles –

continued

are arguments on both sides. The .243 will kill deer all day long in central Texas where a 130-pound buck is a big one. In Alabama, where you’re looking at a 175- to 200-pound buck, that’s completely different. In my opinion, you need a bullet with more mass and a little more energy.” Compared to a lot of hunters in Alabama, myself included, Teague’s body mass would put him in the lightweight category. The smallest I would hunt deer in Alabama with is .25 caliber, which is one of my favorites,” he said. “The .25 is an ideal bullet size for me. That’s what I carry most of the time. It’s a combination of low recoil, it has enough energy and enough mass to take any whitetail. But you’re not overdoing it, either. So you don’t get punished by heavy recoil. Now if I were going to shoot down a right of way at a 300-yard deer, I probably wouldn’t choose a .25 with the possible exception of a .257 Weatherby Magnum - the fastest .25 caliber out there. It’ll fly along at about 3,800 feet per second. It’s a tremendous caliber, and it will take a deer way out there. If you want to shoot a little farther or a little flatter, I really like the Remington Ultra Mags, the 7mm and the .300. They will hammer you, but they’re the flattest shooting things out there. But there is another aspect to consider - can you shoot a magnum caliber effectively? There are these things called muzzle blast and recoil. It takes a toll on you and you don’t even know it. The more you shoot these rifles, the more you develop an unconscious fear of these guns. When you get into the field, you’re more apt to jerk the shot and make a poor shot. I get a lot of people calling me and asking what caliber to use. The first thing I ask is can you tolerate recoil, can you take a kick? If you can’t you don’t need to be shooting these calibers. A lot of people say they can and they really can’t. That’s why I really like the .25 caliber because it has a mild kick and gets the job done. And everybody can shoot it. For Alabama deer, it may be the best caliber of all.” With the variety of calibers and bullets available, Teague said it’s very easy to become confused about the

proper selection of a rifle. Probably the best way to look at this whole deal is not to look at what caliber you should be shooting,” he said. “It really should begin with what bullet do I want to shoot, and what speed do I need that bullet to fly? You can go to any of the manufacturers’ web sites and they will have ballistics charts. You try to determine where your normal shot will be on a deer - 100, 200 or 300 yards. You look at the trajectory of each bullet. You look at the trajectory and then determine if you have enough downrange energy to kill that animal swiftly. Most modern ammunition is tuned to mushroom within a certain velocity range. Instead of saying I want a .30-06, you look at a.30caliber bullet because there are a number of calibers that shoot a .30-caliber bullet. It just takes some homework to determine what would be the best choice for the distance and terrain you’re hunting.” For those who are adept at hand-loading bullets, the possibilities are almost endless. Usually the number of people hand-loading varies from five to 10 percent, but hand-loading is making a comeback right now because of the high price of ammunition,” Teague said. “You have to reload a lot to save any money. After you load a couple of boxes, you start to realize significant savings. Plus, you get to use a bullet you like, which is a whole different story. Teague said there are basically two types of bullets – the traditional lead-core, copper-plated bullet like the Remington Core-Lokt and the Winchester Super-X and the premium and super premium ammo like the Barnes TSX, Winchester XP3, Nosler Accubond, Hornady Interbond and Remington Core-Lokt Ultra. Now what’s the difference?” he said. The old-style, copper-plated lead bullets expend a lot of energy inside the animal and you won’t get a good pass-through. With the newer ammo, you get good pass-through and a good blood trail. If you’re hunting an area where a deer can run 60 yards and get lost, you’re going to need a good blood trail. You’re going to pay more for the premium ammo, but in the grand scheme of things the cost of bullets is small compared to the other expenditures.” l

The ACE Magazine  55

The Man Who Wears Many Hats By Gayle Morrow

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ho is this man who wears many hats? He is our friend. Recently you might have seen him wearing an ACEOA hat at our 2008 State Convention. He was moving about taking numerous pictures and helping with logistics. He was memorable in 2007 at our first convention driving the tractor for the hayride. Tom Jaworowski has quite a history of wearing many hats! Back in 1966, Tom wore the uniform hat of the US Air Force. Since he is the past National President of the Train Collectors Association, you could have seen him wearing a conductor hat. He serves as a member of the Mildred

Horton Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians and he is the secretary of the Elmore County Treasure Forest Association. You’ll see Tom again this Christmas wearing the familiar Santa hat as he volunteers at the Montgomery Zoo and at Polar Express in Calera Alabama. I don’t know about you but I’m certainly proud that this man who wears so many hats wears OURS. Tom Jaworowski is married to Sue Jaworowski and proudly mentions that he is the father of our new ACEOA State President, Chris Jaworowski. l

Tom Jaworowski as ‘hayride captain’ with the Lowery family.

Tom Jaworowski on the train.

Tom Jaworowski plays Santa with the Governor.

The many hats of Tom Jaworowski. The ACE Magazine  57

Thank You by C.O.P.S. Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) National COPS was organized in May 1984 by a unanimous vote of 110 police survivors. Concerns of Police Survivors’ membership now totals well over 17,000 families. There is no membership fee – the price paid is already too high. Alabama Chapter was chartered in May 1995 during Police Week in Washington DC. Our Mission statement: COPS provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line-of-duty as determined by Federal criteria. Furthermore, COPS provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and educates the public of the need to support the law enforcement profession and its survivors. During Police Week in May, National COPS provides the first exposure to other survivors from all across the nation who understand how the line-of-duty death affects their lives. Alabama offers our Alabama survivors peer support, letting them know they have support from families who have experienced a similar loss. Members are surviving spouses, children, parents, siblings and extended family members, affected co-workers and friends who have experienced trauma involving a line of duty death. At the current time Alabama COPS reaches out to over 400 survivors throughout the State. We offer the agency of a fallen officer support in filing for the PSOB benefits and State benefit. We offer any assistance they need for filing insurance benefits and just raw support during this time. We also offer trial and parole support. We have a Candlelight Service during May honoring the fallen officers from the prior year, and remembering all fallen officers. We have a picnic during the summer where we release helium balloons with letters from the families to their loved one. During December we have a Christmas party, with Santa for the “little” children and “big” children. COPS programs for survivors that are offered include: Spouses’ Getaway Parents Retreat “C.O.P.S. Kids” Summer Camp for children ages 6-14 years. Outward Bound Wilderness Experience for children ages 15-20 years. Adult Children’s Retreat Siblings’ Retreat In-Laws Retreat Finance and Significant Others Retreat

The ACE Magazine  59

Gulf coast

Note From New ACEOA Director

Air & Hydraulics

by Bo Willis, Marine Resources Enforcement and ACEOA District V Director

I

would like to take a few minutes to introduce myself, I am Bo Willis (Marine Resources Enforcement) and I am the new Director for District V. I can be reached by email at [email protected]. I have been serving you in this district for nearly a year now as the Associate Director. The “old” Director for this district, Trey Pose (Marine Resources Enforcement), has been elected to serve as Vice President of the association and I will move up to take his position. I look forward to working both for and with each of you this coming year. The Association has done great things both for the conservation officers of Alabama and the people of this state. I look forward to all of the great events that are scheduled for the upcoming year and for the opportunity to serve and meet all of you.

As we come to the end of this year and look back at the many, many great things the Association has done and the hurdles we have cleared, I ask that you help your association to continue serving both the officers and the people of this state by rejoining. Membership renewals and new member dues were due January 1st. Please join and please spread the news! Tell those officers around you and others that you know of the many great accomplishments of the Association and all that we are trying to do for the Officers (and the state). As the old saying goes, there is strength in numbers! That means we need each of you that are members to rejoin and spread the word to increase the numbers. Help us grow the membership so that we can better serve you.  l

P.O. Box 161134 Mobile, AL 36616

251-666-6683

The ACE Magazine  61

Appreciation Clay Shoot In District V By Trey Pose, ACEOA Vice President

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n July 19, 2008 the ACEOA sponsored a Sporting Clay Shoot in appreciation for all the hard work that the Baldwin County Hunter Education Instructors have put in over the last year. This is the second annual event and was held at Bushy Creek Sporting Clays range in Perdido. The event was organized by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Officer Thad Holmes. The food and prizes were provided by ACEOA. In attendance were Hunter Education Instructors Mike Guillotte, Randall Gautney, Andy Jones, Wesley Moore,

2008 Hunter’s Eductaion Appreciation Shoot.

Ribs on the Grill!

Ribs on the Grill!

and C.C. Myers. Also attending were WFF Officers Thad Holmes, Clem Powell, Joe Thornton, James Altiere as well as Marine Resources Officers Cole Gates and Mark Phillips. Representing ACEOA were Executive Director Rusty Morrow and District V Director Trey Pose. The shoot was a great way to show appreciation to the volunteers that help Alabama youth through the Hunter Education Program. Everyone in attendance had a great time and a wonderful lunch. The Top Shooter was given a $25.00 Gift Certificate from ACEOA. l

  

Jim at the ready.

‘Top Gun’ for the event. The ACE Magazine  63

Wilcox County Youth Dove Shoot Event

Another Lifetime Hunting License Winner with Officer Dan Quincy.

Dan Quincy registered 75 youth and 45 adults for the Youth Dove Hunt in Wilcox County.

Hunter Goul winner of Lifetime Hunter License pictured with ACEOA Executive Director Rusty Morrow.

Lots of Sponsors – Lots of Door Prizes!

Officer Dan Quincy with Hunter Goul.

Proud winner of a nice shotgun. The ACE Magazine  65

Hunter Education Appreciation By Jerry L. Fincher, CEO Talladega County

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n April 5, 2008, approximately 60 hunter education instructors and their family members participated in a dinner social and shooting sports event sponsored by ACEOA. The event served as a reward for a job well-done and provided an opportunity to plan next year’s hunter education agenda. The event began at the Childersburg Church of God, where everyone ate their fill of catfish and hush puppies while participating in family-oriented activities.

After the meal, everyone moved to the local FOP range to compete in shooting sports. Awards were given to the top gun in three divisions: male, female, and youth. As one can tell from the photos, the day was cold and wet, but, thanks to the generosity of ACEOA, everyone had a great time. I would like to thank ACEOA for its support of Alabama’s volunteer hunter-education instructors and its commitment to education of Alabama’s youth. l

The ACE Magazine  67

Macon County Cops & Kids by Keith Mann

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he event was held the first Saturday of August 2008. Approximately 500 people came by the booth. We gave away nearly 30 rods and reels, whistles, coloring books, iron-ons, and wrist bands. Two Marine Police Officers Walter Lacey and Lee Maddox were present and helping with the event. Conservation Officers

Nate Foster and Keith Mann also helped with the event. The event is held annually and is intended to help the kids in the county to see that law enforcement of all types benefits them. l continued on 71

The ACE Magazine  69

Macon County Cops & Kids –

continued

The ACE Magazine  71

Talladega County Hunter Education Association by Jerry Fincher

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n September 13, 2008, the Talladega County Hunter Education Association and ACEOA members assisted the Department of Conservation in holding the first shooting sports day for the youth of Talladega County. Seventy-five participants enjoyed events which included a 22 rifle station, a shotgun and trap station, a muzzle loader station, and an archery range. ACEOA members manned several of these stations and provided support and instruction for participants. The archery range, which was the most visited station, included nine 3-D targets and Mathews Genesis bows.

The archery targets, food, and much of the equipment used was purchased with funds donated by ACEOA. The Talladega County Hunter Education Association and the people of Talladega County would like to thank ACEOA and the Alabama Department of Conservation for helping make this day a success. The generous donation by ACEOA provided an opportunity to expose children to the outdoors and the shooting sport in a controlled, supervised, and positive manner. This investment in today’s youth will pay dividends for conservation for generations to come. l

The ACE Magazine  73

ACEOA At Work Renew Our Rivers

Fishing Derby

The ACE Magazine  75

ACEOA At Work –

continued

Youth Fishing Event In Dale County

The ACE Magazine  77

ACEOA At Work –

continued

Youth Fishing Event In Barbour County

The ACE Magazine  79