Ace Magazine - Summer 2009

Official Publication of the ACEOA

www.aceoa.org

EDITOR: Warren Hinson

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Gayle Morrow

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

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

SPRING 2009

in this issue... ARTICLES President’s Corner....................................................................................... 3 Notes From The Trenches.......................................................................... 5 Veteran Officer Helps End Rampage........................................................... 9 A Hero Among Us.................................................................................... 15 Alabama’s Little River Canyon: “Grand Canyon of the East”..................... 19 ACEOA Supports Landowner Tour in Greene County............................... 25 Press Release, Outdoor Alabama.............................................................. 33 2008 ACEOA Annual Convention............................................................. 34 Wes Bryan Receives Top Gun Honors for 2008......................................... 43 Talladega County Hunter Education Association Event............................. 47 A Mule By Any Other Name..................................................................... 53

ON THE COVER The view from Little River Falls Overlook can be stunning, although there are numerous breathtaking views along the scenic drive.

BAIT Report Casts Banner Year For Alabama Bass Fishing...................... 59 “The Catch” Early Years Part II................................................................. 67 Ashville Middle School Archery Team Wins National Championship......... 73 Cullman Takes Aim With Archery Park..................................................... 79 Outdoor Women Unlimited Southern Classic............................................ 82 2009 Natural Resources Youth Camp....................................................... 91 Pike County Youth Fishing Day................................................................. 95 Greenville Youth Fishing Day.................................................................... 99 As Close As It Gets................................................................................ 104 Alabama: Home of the Big Catch........................................................... 109 ACEOA Supports 4-H Shooting Sports....................................................115 Editorial...................................................................................................119 Advertisers Index.................................................................................... 183 Business Directory.................................................................................. 190

The ACE Magazine is the official publication of the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers 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 2009. All rights reserved. ACE Magazine  1

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

A

s the sun sets on another warm summer day, I find myself wondering what the future will bring. The economy is in shambles, friends are losing their jobs, and the price of gas is creeping higher and higher. Though the future is uncertain for many, I am proud to report that ACEOA is stronger than ever. Membership numbers are on the rise in every district and financial support from Alabama businesses has not wavered. On a daily basis, Alabama businessmen and women take time out of their busy schedules to purchase advertising in ACE Magazine and support ACEOA. In fact, the growing support of ACEOA and increasing advertising sales enabled us to add another issue of ACE Magazine this year. In our current economic climate, this unwavering support from Alabama businesses is something that all Conservation Officers can be proud of. I would personally like to thank all of our financial supporters for enabling us the ability to spread our message and educate the youth of Alabama about natural resource conservation through our outdoor events. ACE Magazine has given the Conservation Enforcement Officers of Alabama the ability to educate the public about the dangers we face on a daily basis and the important role we play in the protection of Alabama’s Natural Resources. In an effort to reduce travel expenses to members and increase membership, the ACEOA Elected Officers and Board of Directors voted to change the format for the ACEOA Annual Convention this year. In the past, we have planned and hosted an annual convention in the

central part of the state. This year we voted to hold multiple District Conventions across the state. District I and II hosted the first of the Conventions at Paint Rock Valley Lodge. Scott Kellenberger and Ernie Stephens are to be commended on their efforts for planning and hosting this event. Scott and Ernie planned a day filled with shooting sports and even some tactical training for members. Though I didn’t win big in the door prize drawings, I had a great time visiting with the members of DI and DII. Member officers also competed for the chance to represent their District in the Annual Top-Gun competition to be held in August at the Southern Sportsman’s Lodge. Overall, this event was a huge success thanks to the efforts of Scott and Ernie. District V and VI also recently hosted a District convention and Top-Gun qualifier. Though I was unable to attend this event, I have heard it was also a well organized fun- filled event. District III and IV conventions are currently in the planning stages. Please let your District Directors know if you like this new convention format. In closing, I would like to remind all members that we always need articles and pictures for use in ACE Magazine. If you have an interesting case you have worked or pictures from ACEOA outdoor events, please forward them to your District Director. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions regarding membership, ACE Magazine, or upcoming ACEOA outdoor events at [email protected] or check out our website at www.aceoa.org. l

ACE Magazine  3

Notes From The Trenches by Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director has been wide-open with our summer events. A few events are featured in this issue of ACE Magazine. We had a great time at the Forestry Camp in Greenville, Alabama on June 3, 2009. I think our shooting sports trailer was a real hit. We finally have it stocked and ready to travel. We are still looking to corporate sponsors to make the finishing touches. We would love to have an ammunition sponsor and a sponsor for the 22 caliber pistols. We still need the fishing equipment. I hope you enjoyed our spring issue of ACE. We are working hard to provide our readers with interesting and informative articles. We are looking for as much diversity as possible so that we offer something for everyone. Our district conferences are going on statewide. Gayle and I attended the District 1 and 2 Conference held at Paint Rock Valley Lodge (near Scottsboro) on May 6th. We had a great time and all of the officers seemed to really enjoy themselves. District 1 and 2 crowned their Top Gun. Ernie Stephens will represent District 1 and Jim Kirkland will represent District 2. We were very pleased to have a special guest at the conference. Tiger McKee was featured in our spring issue of ACE Magazine. He is a tactical shooting expert and runs a tactical school near Scottsboro, Alabama. Tiger conducted a great seminar for our officers. Be sure to look for featured articles by Tiger in our future issues. Tiger has a wealth of knowledge that can benefit even the novice shooter. I traveled to Andalusia for District 5 and 6 conference and Top Gun qualifying on June 8th. There was a great crowd and lots of fun. Officer Mike Cox (WFFLE) will represent District 6 and Daniel Faught of Marine Resources will represent District 5 in the Top Gun finals. I was very impressed with the overall shooting from these two districts. Our conferences will end with the Top Gun Champ­ionships held on August 22nd at the Southern Sportsman Lodge in Lowndes County. We will crown our Top Gun at this event. Look for these stories and more in our next issue of ACE Magazine. Chris Jaworowski (ACEOA State President) and I had the honor of presenting a valor award to Joel Hendron

at the Conservation Advisory Board meeting in May. There were many heroes in Geneva County on March 10, 2009 when so many lives were lost. Joel is one of ours and we are proud of his actions on that bloody day. We know he prevented additional bloodshed. Please read the articles in this issue concerning the events of March 10th and the actions that Joel took that made him a hero. Again, I appreciate your support for ACEOA. Without your contributions, it would not be possible for us to accomplish so much. I will close by sharing my afternoon. I was doing some writing and, of course, monitoring the Outdoor Channel just before the NASCAR races. Buckmaster Classic was on TV and featured the Life Hunt from 2007. Audra Mickle was the young lady we had sponsored in this hunt. She is the daughter of Keith Mickle, my first partner in Lowndes County. We were hired on the same day in August of 1983. Audra is a beautiful young lady. In each of the pictures with Jackie Bushman, Audra and her dad, the ACEOA banner is in the background. I thought about all of the good that we have been able to accomplish because of our sponsors. The Life Hunt, where we have continued to sponsor hunters in 2008 and 2009 is among the many outreach projects that we support. We know we can send another hunter to the classic in 2010 because of your support. I’ll end by saying “Thank You.” l Photo by Gayle Morrow

AC E OA

ACE Magazine  5

Veteran Officer Helps End Rampage by David Rainer, Outdoor Writer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

J

oel Hendron, a 14-year veteran with the Alabama time to get into a tactical position. There were some cars Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ parked to the side of the building, so I got behind them. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, was enjoying Then the chief deputy pulled into the parking lot to my a day off from his Conservation Enforcement Officer left. The guy just started shooting the chief deputy’s duties in Geneva County earlier this spring when a (Tony Helms) truck up with that AR15. He put 20 rounds chance visit to his work truck changed everything. in Tony’s truck. Then he switched to an AK-47. That’s Little did he know that Michael McLendon, 28, had when I opened up.” gone berserk and was in the middle of Alabama’s worst However, it quickly became obvious that Hendron’s mass shooting rampage in history. return of fire was not coming from a handgun. He, too, “I just happened to go out to my truck,” Hendron said. had an AR15, the semi-automatic civilian version of the “We had range the next day and I’m one of the firearms Army’s M16. instructors. I heard the county call for help. (McLendon) “I had to get out in the middle of the parking lot,” had just shot at a trooper on (Highway) 52. So I jumped Hendron said. “That’s when I returned fire. Tony had in my truck and headed that way. I came across him on returned fire with his pistol. I couldn’t see (McLendon) 52 going into Geneva. I fell in behind him with the trooper because he was hunkered down behind his car. I was just and a couple of officers.” shooting into his car, trying to hit him. With me shooting at As McLendon drove into Geneva, Geneva officers Lt. him and Tony shooting at him, I guess he just decided that Ricky Morgan and Chief Frank Lindsey executed a PIT was enough. He dropped his rifles and the AR-15 was still maneuver to try to make the suspect’s vehicle spin out. loaded. He had over 800 rounds of ammunition on him and The maneuver did spin the car, but McLendon came out in his car. He went inside the building and shot himself.” firing. He poured numerous rounds into the two Geneva Geneva Mayor Wynnton Melton believes Hendron’s continued on 11 Police vehicles, jumped back into his car and sped off. Lindsey suffered shrapnel wounds. Lindsey was lucky. Six people, several of them McLendon’s relatives, had been gunned down on their front porch, a fact Hendron wasn’t aware of until after the ordeal had ended. Still several cars back in the chase, Hendron followed McLendon to Reliable Metals in Geneva, a place the killer had worked until 2003. “He made a sudden turn in there,” Hendron said. “He went in the middle gate. I had to go around everybody and went to the north gate. I could see him driving through the parking lot headed for the north end. The chief deputy was close behind me. He went to the back of building. There’s one door on the back of the Conservation Enforcement Officer Joel Hendron, right, receives a certificate honoring his conspicuous valor during the Geneva incident by Hobbie Sealy, building and he pulled right Assistant Commissioner of Conservation. up to the door. I didn’t have The ACE Magazine  9

by John Bozeman, ACEOA District VI Director

A

kneeling just inside the open car door, and opened fire on Investigator Helms as he drove up. Joel exited his truck and began firing his AK47 into the suspect’s vehicle, suppressing the gunfire from the suspect. As Joel reloaded his rifle, the suspect retreated into the building and took his own life in front of several employees of the business. There is no doubt that Joel and the other officers who were involved, saved many lives by stopping the suspect’s rampage. The investigation showed that the suspect had several guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in his car and had been on a murderous rampage killing ten innocent people, including members of his family, a Deputy’s wife and infant child who were in their front yard, and a woman who was pumping gas into her car. The suspect also fired upon many other people as he drove toward Geneva from Samson. Although these victims survived, their lives have been irrecoverably altered. The day’s events wiped away the sense of security and safety that many citizens of these cities and counties have always felt and left them with the feeling that life in a small town or rural county may never be the same. Although things may never again be “normal” in these areas, as long as there are officers like Joel Hendron and the other officers who attempted to stop the assault, we can all rest easier knowing that these officers are there, ever vigilant and ready to “Serve and Protect” us, even at the risk of their own lives. They truly are the heroes among us. l

s police officers, we hope that a time will come where we will be able to make a difference and possibly even save a life. On March 10, 2009, that hope became a reality for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Officer Joel Hendron of District Six. Joel, an officer with the Department of Conservation since July 1995, was off duty when around 4 p.m., he heard a call over the radio for assistance from all available officers. The radio dispatch indicated that shots had been fired at a state trooper in Geneva County. Joel, who is also a firearm instructor, grabbed his duty gear, his personal AK47, and headed toward Samson where the suspect had last been spotted traveling towards Geneva. Joel arrived on the scene and found other county and city officers stationed outside Geneva waiting for the suspect. The suspect entered the area, being pursued by a Samson officer and a trooper, prompting Joel and the other officers to join in the pursuit. As the suspect attempted to make a left turn, Lt. Morgan with the Geneva Police Department, pitted the suspect vehicle causing the vehicle to spin out. The suspect then began shooting at the vehicle of Chief Lindsey with the Geneva Police Department, striking Chief Lindsey in the shoulder. At this point, the suspect began driving again on Highway 52 toward Hartford until he got to Highway 27, where he turned north toward Enterprise. When the suspect reached Reliable, a metal manufacturing company, he turned into the first entrance. As the Samson officer and trooper followed the suspect in, Joel and Chief Investigator Helms with Geneva County, turned into the second entrance and followed parallel to the suspect through the parking lot. The suspect, traveling along the south side of the building, and Joel and Investigator Helms, traveling along the north side of the building intersected at the east side of the building. The suspect pulled up ACEOA President Chris Jaworowski and ACEOA Executive Director Rusty Morrow honored Conservation Enforcement Officer Joel Hendron at the to the rear door of the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board meeting. company, got out of his car

ACE Magazine  15

Photo by Gayle Morrow

A Hero Among Us

“Grand Canyon of the East” –

continued

from Crow Point is Eberhart Point, which has a three-quarter mile hiking trail with access to the canyon floor. For those who want a little easier access to the canyon floor, continue the drive past the 500-foot sheer bluffs all the way to the river’s Lookout Mountain exit at Canyon Mouth Park, which offers hiking trails and picnic areas with easy access to the river. For the adventurous sort, ample rain provides adrenalin-pumping whitewater rafting and kayaking, while the canyon offers challenges for rock-climbing and rappelling enthusiasts. Local outfitters are available for assistance and equipment. A recently completed addition to the canyon experience is the Little River Canyon Center, a 25,000-square-foot Brant Craig, DeKalb County Commissioner, soaks in the view from Crow Point Overlook. facility located on Highway 35 just north of Little River Falls. The building will be shared by Jacksonville State University’s Little River the Dauphin Island Sea Lab except it’ll be in the mounCanyon Field School and the National Park Service Little tains. River Canyon Natural Preserve. “We hope that when we have visitors, they’ll be able to “The center is owned by JSU and only one of two watch deer and turkeys roaming the site. And, if it’s the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) right time of year, you might get to see an eagle or two facilities in Alabama,” Craig said of the designation given soaring overhead.” environmentally friendly construction projects. “The The center also has a library, an auditorium and meetinsulation is ground up newspaper treated with fire retar- ing rooms that can be rented by the day or half-day. For dant. The building is heated and cooled by geothermal more information about the center, call 256-845-3548. energy. We’ve got 36 wells 300 feet deep. The ground For those who really want to experience Little River under the surface is 57 degrees. When it’s a 30-degree Canyon, an overnight stay is a must. DeSoto State Park, with its stunning DeSoto Falls, has a motel, cabins and day, it will help heat the building. If it’s a 90-degree day, chalets, not to mention two completely renovated it’s going to help cool it. It will cut the heating and cooling improved camping areas. costs in half. It cost $120,000, but it will pay for itself in “If the park is full, there are plenty of rental cabins in seven years.” Craig said the center’s countertops are all recycled the area,” Craig said. “You can go on the Web to find glass from beverage bottles, while water conservation those.” Craig said the area’s busiest seasons are the blooming measures include waterless urinals, low-flow showers and of the rhododendrons in the late spring and fall colors faucet sensors. Rainwater will also be used for irrigation “Gatlinburg has nothing on us except taller mountains on the 60-acre site. and more people,” Craig said. “The fall colors are going On the center’s site will be a 1.3-mile walking trail with numerous interpretive learning stations. “Jacksonville to depend on the weather during the summer. If it’s dry, the colors are not going to be quite as vibrant and they State has teamed up with the Alabama Treasure Forest Association at some of these learning stations,” Craig won’t last as long. If we have a wetter summer, the leaves said. “It might be ‘Classroom in the Forest’ for the are going to be more brilliant and it’s going to last longer. It usually lasts from the second week of October to the younger students. We’ll have wildlife food plots and stations on the longleaf pine. You’ll be able to learn about first week of November.” For more information on the Little River Canyon the soil and the sandstone and limestone – everything National Preserve, visit http://www.nps.gov/liri/ or call that is influential in the canyon. You’ll learn about the 256-845-9605. l history and geography of the canyon. It’ll be kind of like ACE Magazine  21

ACEOA Supports Landowner Tour in Greene County by Jeff L. Makemson, ACEOA District III Director

T

he Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and cookies prepared for all Association (ACEOA), along with the Tuscaloosa to enjoy. During lunch Jim Junkin with the Alabama Natural Resource Planning Committee, sponsored a Forestry Commission presented Hunter Ford with the public landowner tour in Greene County. On May 9, Youth Treasure Forest Award for his hard work enhancing 2009, resource professionals with the Alabama Wildlife the family property in North Tuscaloosa County. Hunter and Freshwater Fisheries Division, the Alabama Forestry and others were also recognized by ACEOA District III Commission, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension Director Jeff Makemson, and presented an ACEOA cap, System, along with more than thirty landowners and land T-shirt, Frisbee, and hugger. managers from surrounding counties, attended the field continued on 29 day on Robert and Kathy Lopers’ Farm. The farm is a 522 acre Certified Treasure Forest, better known as Greenebriar, located in Lewiston, Alabama. Low agricultural prices in the mid 1980s made farming this property unprofitable and the land was left fallow. The Lopers purchased the property in 1989 with the objective of enhancing the property for wildlife and for timber production. Twenty years later the Lopers are reaping their rewards. Whitetail deer, turkey, rabbit and even a few coveys Chris Cook, AL Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, discussing managing wildlife food plots. of quail, can be found throughout the property. They recently hosted an Audubon group and many members were amazed at the diversity of avian species found on the property. Individuals attending the field day were taken around on trailers of hay to five stops. Resource professionals discussed utilizing power lines for wildlife food plots, wildlife food plot management, basic use of GPS, hardwood management and prescribed burning. After the tour Chief Frank Hamiter, of the Tuscaloosa Natural Resource Planning Robert Loper, owner of Greenebriar Treasure Forest, discussing use of GPS. Committee, had a lunch of ACE Magazine  25

ACEOA Supports Landowner Tour in Greene County – Approximately ninety-four percent of the forestland in Alabama is owned by private individuals like the Lopers. The state or federal government establishes a framework of guidelines, regulations, or laws to help ensure the perpetuity of our natural resources. However, the true managers are those that make a conscience decision to manage the forestland and the wildlife habitat and to partake in the consumptive use of the surplus resources produced as a result of sound management principles. We are blessed with an abundance of natural resources in Alabama due largely to landowners and land managers, managing with various objectives in mind, but collectively creating great habitat and wildlife diversity throughout the landscape. l

continued

Jeff Makemson, ACEOA District III Director, recognizing Hunter Ford, who received a Youth Treasure Forest Award and ACEOA goodies.

Field day participants take a moment to hoist the ACEOA Banner.

Jim Jeter, AL Forestry Commission, discussing hardwood management. ACE Magazine  29

Earn a Free Night at one of Five Alabama State Parks Considering an Alabama staycation? With Alabama State Parks’ new Fab 5 promotion, staying at any one of the five participating State Parks has just become an even better deal. Beginning July 1 guests who stay for three nights at a participating State Park will earn a free night during their next stay. The Fab 5 participating parks include Cheaha, DeSoto, Joe Wheeler, Lake Guntersville and Lakepoint State Park. From championship style golf courses to beautiful hillside chalet views, the parks of the Fab 5 offer something for everyone including: excellent dining, hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, boat rental, and numerous other activities. “These five parks combine resort-style luxury with the best of Alabama’s natural beauty,” said Randy Jinks, head of State Park Promotions. “This is just a sample of what our park system has to offer.” Contact Randy Jinks @334-353-4125. The Fab 5 Promotion will run through February 28, 2010, and guests have one year to take advantage of their free night. Qualifying accommodations include resort-style hotel and lodge rooms, cabins, chalets and cottages. Visit www.alapark.com for a complete list of Fab 5 details. 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.

ACE Magazine  33

2008 ACEOA Annual Convention by Chris Jaworowski, ACEOA President, Photos by Gayle Morrow

T

he 2008 ACEOA Annual Convention was held at the Southern Sportsman’s Lodge on August 22-24, 2008. Though the weather did not cooperate, the event was a huge success. Despite torrential rain and nasty conditions, ACEOA members braved the weather and made the convention memorable. The event began with our board meeting on Friday night which included several hours of preparation for Saturday’s events. Saturday arrived and so did the rain unfortunately; however, we have all worked in the rain so we didn’t let the weather ruin our fun. The day was filled with numerous shooting sports to include a high-powered rifle bull’s-eye shoot off, shotgun skeet, a rimfire bull’seye shoot off, and even a 3-D Archery course.

an CN R Pi lot, with Ray Stro ud, AD d de ar d aw an n so al tio ACEOA s de di ca ice aw ard fo r hi outs ta nd ing se rv ac ro ss th e state. rs ce ffi O n ns er vatio e go od wo rk! as sis ta nce to Co th y an d ke ep up Ra ns tio la tu ra Co ng

Real Men Shoot PINK!

34  ACE Magazine

Our First Top-gun competition brought out some fierce competition in the rain and Wes Bryan was awarded the first ever Top-Gun award which included a new Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber handgun. Congratulations Wes and good shooting! As always the staff in the kitchen of the Southern Sportsman’s Lodge kept everyone full of delicious Southern cooking. Special thanks go out to Jim Mason and Dave Lyon, owners of the lodge, for their hospitality. The banquet Saturday night included hundreds of door prizes and a very special guest speaker. Special Thanks also go out to our Executive Director and First Lady, Rusty and Gayle Morrow, for coordinating the event. Be sure to check out the picture gallery of the Convention and be sure not to miss the next one. l

Barr y Joh nso n was cho sen as our 200 8 ACEOA Offi cer of the Yea r. We are pro ud of Barr y and the fine job he has don e.

e Police Direc tor John Thomas Jenkins of the Marin uet banq the for Divis ion was our keyn ote spea ker ins Jenk tor Direc ks, Than and did an exce llent job. A. ACEO for do you all for

2008 ACEOA Annual Convention –

continued

Ru st y talking sh op.

om e! - Th ey w ill C If We B ui ld It

Ru st y M or ro w, Ray Stro ud , an d Chris Ja w orow ski.

20 08 . er of th e Ye ar ic ff O A EO C n–A B ar ry Jo hn so

Life H unte rs A ud ra M ic kl e an d B ria n M cS orley.

at te nd ee s t co nventio n . O ur yo ung es Li d A d d i ttle — Cay ne an

ACE Magazine  35

2008 ACEOA Annual Convention –

continued

Rain or Shin e - To p G un M UST G o O n! th e A w ard s! A nd no w fo r

se Little. d Win ne r, Cha A noth er Prou A b by ch ec ks he r ta rg et.

Sh ooting Th re es om e.

38  ACE Magazine

Pi ns on. Win ne r Steve Rifle D ra w ing

Wes Bryan Receives Top Gun Honors for 2008 O

ur first Top Gun Competition was held during our ACEOA 2008 State Convention. Weather conditions could not have been worse for this event! This was the ultimate test since our officers must be ready regardless of weather conditions. We had great participation for the Top Gun Competition. The competition was grueling and tight, proving once

again that our officers are prepared and eager to perform their law enforcement duties. Wes Bryan, District I (WFFLE), was the victor when all scores were tallied. Congratulations, Wes, for a great shooting! Wes received a Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber handgun as his award.  l

Wes Bryan(Top Gun 2008), Rusty Morrow, Chris Jaworowski

ACE Magazine  43

Talladega County Hunter Education Association Event by Jerry L. Fincher, District II Associate Director

O

n June 20, 2009, the Talladega County Hunter Education Association held an appreciation dinner and shoot for its volunteer instructors. This social was totally sponsored by the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer’s Association (ACEOA) and Piggly Wiggly of Childersburg. Due to poor planning on my part, one hundred degree weather and Father’s Day weekend, the crowd stayed small at any one time but changed as the day progressed. We had a fifty to sixty individuals participate in a day of fun which included trap and skeet competition, door prizes, horse-shoe pitching, and all the food and ice cream one could eat. The State of Alabama requires that anyone born on or after August 1, 1977 successfully complete a ten-hour course of instruction which includes: wildlife identification and management, hunter responsibility, wildlife laws, firearms safety, muzzleloading, survival basics, archery, and first aid; prior to obtaining a hunting license allowing

the individual to hunt without supervision. The goal of this program is to create more knowledgeable, safe, and ethical hunters. The Wildlife Heritage Act of 2007 provided a mentor provision which allows those individuals who would normally have to complete the course a way to safely experience the thrill of hunting while bypassing the course. For further information on this and all laws regulating hunting and fishing in Alabama consult the Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest call your local Conservation Enforcement officer, or visit www. outdooralabama.com on the Internet. The hunter education program is taught by Department of Conservation personnel and volunteer instructors. These volunteer instructors allow local enforcement officers the opportunity to focus more of their time on detecting and deterring violations. They also make the classes much more interesting by adding different areas of expercontinued on 49

ACE Magazine  47

Talladega County Hunter Education Association Event – tise, teaching styles, and personal experience to the instruction. While all conservation officers appreciate this unselfish dedication to the youth and future of hunting, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources can not legally use state funds to purchase items for these loyal volunteers. Thankfully, ACEOA has stepped up to the plate, when and where possible, to show their appreciation to these dedicated men and women. The Talladega County social was such an event. The Talladega County Hunter Education Association has only been around a few years. It all began by simply asking individuals who had a passion for hunting, fishing, firearms, trapping, survival, and other outdoor pursuits, if they would like the opportunity to share their knowledge with children and participate in socials with other outdoor enthusiasts. The result was forty participants in our first training session. Since then, we have had several more training sessions and recently welcomed our first female member, Mrs. Evonne Greene, an avid bow hunter, to our group. She is looking forward to creating an all female bow hunting association and teaching hunting from a female’s perspective. In addition, one of our own, Mr. Barry Hagan has been named President of the Alabama Hunter Education Association and is the recipient of the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s coveted Governor’s Award for 2009. I know what most of you are thinking; why bother,

continued

most of them will quit before the end of the first year, and that is probably true. However, you will keep some, the dedicated ones and, eventually, that core group will grow. Talladega County Hunter Education Association has turned into a group of men, and now women, who truly enjoy each other’s company and care about each other. We are a family, and like all families, we have disagreements and growing pains. But, we all work together for our common goal. Whether you are an officer or a current instructor, you can make your job easier and the hunter education classes in your area more fun and informative for the participants by simply asking people to share their knowledge and experience. Seek out those individuals with expertise in areas that will make the class more interesting, and remember that deer and turkey are not the only game animals in Alabama. Utilize the retired individuals and sportsman’s clubs in your community. I urge you to join and support both hunter education and ACEOA. I also urge you to be a mentor to those who would not otherwise get to experience the excitement of hunting and fishing, and, if you would like to become an instructor, contact the Alabama Hunter Education Association or your local conservation officer. He will be happy for you to assist, and you will get to invest in the future of Alabama’s youth while reliving the memories of hunting seasons past. l

10ad21

ACE Magazine  49

A Mule By Any Other Name by Michael Bloxom

D

uring the early 1990s, in the Rockhouse area of Limestone County, complaints of shots being heard at night began to surface during early fall. Deer season was in, but there was not yet a legal season for does in Limestone County. Officer Steve Pepper, along with other conservationenforcement officers and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge enforcement officers began working the area around the refuge on a nightly basis. As this was a large area of several square miles, isolating the exact location of the shots was very important as well as difficult. From information gathered, Officer Pepper began nailing down a pattern for the suspected night hunters. They typically hunted from about 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. until about midnight, and their activities covered a very large area on the refuge as well as on private property nearby or adjoining the refuge. After working several nights without success, Officer Pepper received information from a homeowner living adjacent to Wheeler Refuge who had witnessed two red lights glowing in a field behind his house. The homeowner also had heard a shot in the area of the lights. The next day, armed with the information supplied by the informant, Pepper investigated and found horse tracks in the area. He also found fresh blood and drag marks in a nearby green field. The tracks showed that the horses were dragging something which Pepper surmised was a deer. After following the tracks to a house, Pepper felt he had found what was probably the base of operations. The clues led him to believe he was dealing with night hunters hunting from horseback. Officers placed the house under surveillance the next night. A Wheeler Refuge officer took the first night detail and called Pepper around 8:00 p.m. He had spotted an old Ford pickup truck with very high and tarp-covered sideboards pulling in behind the house. By the time Pepper arrived, the Wheeler officer had observed two saddle mules being unloaded from the back of the truck. Two individuals had mounted the mules and rode into the darkness. After which, the officers made a plan to split up. The Wheeler Refuge Officer would watch the truck while Pepper would go on foot into the fields behind the house using a night-vision scope to observe the probable night hunting in progress. After a short walk, Pepper observed two red lights turn on a short distance from his position. Immediately, a shot rang out. Pepper dove for cover, not knowing which way the shot was fired.

After the shot was fired, all became quiet again and a small white light replaced the two red lights. The white light disappeared after a minute or so, and as Pepper worked his way closer, he saw shadows of something moving down the wood line toward him. As the riders approached a green food plot, the moonlight allowed Pepper to see two people riding mules. The second mule was dragging a large sack. The mules stopped near the green field. The red lights were turned on and another shot rang out. They were so close Pepper could see fire from the end of the barrel. “It was something else. They had it down to a fine art. The mules would stop, and that’s when they would turn their lights on,” Pepper said, likening the mules to welltrained bird dogs after trailing and observing the operation for several hours. “The mules, whenever they would sense a deer, would stop and look toward them. Then they’d turn the lights on and look for the deer’s eyes. I don’t know if the mules could see the deer, smell them or just sense them. It sounds funny, but the second mule would stop and look too, just like it was backing the first one on point.” The riders made a quick search while mounted, and then slowly proceeded toward Pepper. Less than 50 yards from the officer, as the riders approached a barbed-wire fence, they dismounted. One of the riders unrolled what later proved to be a piece of canvas. He placed the canvas over the top strand of wire. Both mules jumped the fence on command. The riders remounted and headed back toward the base house. Throughout the evening, Pepper had not confronted the riders because of previous experiences with mounted poachers. He knew the night hunters would outrun him on their mounts. “We knew where they were going,” he said. “I knew those mules would point me, just like they pointed those deer, and they would run.” Pepper radioed his partner to tell him he was behind the night hunters and relayed what he had seen. The two officers planned to jump the night hunters after everything was loaded into the pickup. Pepper thought he would be in position to help, as he was following the riders who were heading to the truck. The night hunters were very cautious as they approached their truck, stopping numerous times. Then they moved on to the vehicle. “I think the mules probably realized there was somebody out there amongst them that wasn’t a deer or rabbit or something,” Pepper said. “I think the mules were sensing me. That’s why I stayed as far away as I could while still being able to watch them.” continued on 55 ACE Magazine  53

A Mule By Any Other Name –

continued

When the night hunters arrived back at their vehicle at about midnight, they dismounted, placed the rifle in the vehicle and then commanded the mules to jump into the back of the truck. “Those mules were the most amazing mules I’ve ever seen,” Pepper said. “You could just slap the tailgate, tell them to get up, and they’d jump right in, just like a good bird dog hopping into a kennel.” Both individuals then loaded the large bag into the back of the truck. The Wheeler Refuge Officer chose to jump them at this time, and, as an old timer would say, “They lit a shuck!” After an exhaustive foot chase and search, which produced nothing, Pepper returned to the truck and found the bag in the back of the truck contained a mature doe. The rifle in the cab was a lever-action 30-30. The red-lens lights were the type of head lights commonly used by raccoon hunters but with red lenses. Pepper called a wrecker to get the truck and mules. And the officers spent the rest of the night riding the roads looking for the suspects, who they thought would be on foot and headed back across the Tennessee River into Morgan County, where the truck’s tags were registered. The night hunters were never found. The mules were stored at a small barn and pasture belonging to the owner of the wrecker service. The owner of the wrecker service agreed to feed and care for the mules until Pepper could figure out the next move. Officers questioned several suspects in the next few days, including the owner of the truck, the owner of the house and others Pepper suspected were involved. It was determined the owner of the truck also owned several

mules, but he had an alibi and witnesses to back his story. The truck owner said he had loaned his truck and mules to someone, but he could not remember their name. After a short period of time, when no one had come forward to claim the property, Pepper requested that the Limestone County District Attorney start condemnation procedures on all the equipment including the mules, as they were the “vehicle used in commission of hunting deer at night.” All of the equipment, including the truck, rifle, lights, mules and saddles, were condemned by the Limestone County Circuit Court. All were later sold at public auction in the pasture the mules had called home for the last few months. Some of the proceeds from the auction were used to pay the feed bill for “a vehicle used in the commission of night deer hunting.” “I believe, with all the information I had, that one of the individuals probably bought his stuff back at the auction,” Pepper said. “We got our money, but kind of in a round-about way. “We didn’t ever know exactly who they were. I figured he would come forward for all his stuff. It would have been a lesser cost to pay the fine.” Pepper said the sale of the equipment raised about $4,000. Some of the possible charges that could have been leveled were hunting at night, hunting without a permit, taking a deer at night and taking an illegal deer (there was no doe season). At that time, the fine for all those charges would have only totaled about $1,000. As it turned out, a “vehicle used in commission of hunting deer at night” is just a long and fancy name for a rare—and apparently valuable—bird-dog mule. l

ACE Magazine  55

BAIT Report Casts Banner Year For Alabama Bass Fishing by David Rainer, Outdoor Writer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

T

he old adage “you should have been here yesterday” doesn’t apply to Alabama as far as bass fishing is concerned. Results from the 2008 Bass Anglers Information Team (BAIT) have been compiled and it’s been another banner year for bass fishing in Alabama, known worldwide for its abundant and productive bass lakes. “It was another really good year,” said Damon Abernethy, Fisheries Development Coordinator with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. “Not every lake was good, but overall we saw improvement. Last year we reported it was the best year we’d had since we’ve been keeping these records (1986) and this year was even a little better than that. And we have 45 public reservoirs in the state. It’s not hard to find a place to fish around here.” The Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV) swept through the state’s reservoirs in the late ‘90s and had a devastating effect on the larger adults in the species. The recovery, however, has been well documented through the BAIT report. The report determines five categories of angling success in bass tournaments around the state. The categories are: percent success, average bass weight, bass per angler per day, pounds per angler per day and numbers of hours it took to catch a five-pound or larger bass. “The number of hours to catch a five-pound bass is still going down and it’s almost down to the numbers we saw before the Largemouth Bass Virus hit,” Abernethy said. “The average before the virus hit was 254 hours and it was 271 this year. You’re getting down there so close that it’s not even detectable. In my opinion, we’re back to where we were before the Largemouth Bass Virus. And it’s still falling. Who knows, it may keep getting better. “Pounds of fish caught per day is up, but that’s mainly a function of the number of fish being caught. People are catching and weighing in more fish. You can see that

Tracy Beall pulls a chunky, five pound largemouth from Lake Eufaula, one of the lakes that has enhanced Alabama’s reputation for the best bass fishing in the nation.

since the virus hit, the pounds per day and number of fish have been on a pretty steady increase, although it’s taken 10 years to get back to normal. It’s not uncommon, when you lose a lot of big fish, the remaining fish seem to reproduce a lot more to compensate for that.” Of course, Abernethy quickly pointed out that fisheries science is not exact, and there are likely other factors involved in some of the numbers. “The fishermen may be getting better at catching bass,” he said. “There is equipment available to us now that we didn’t have in the past. These Navionics chips really equalizes things. People who used to spend days and days trying to find offshore structure – because it’s so productive – now have underwater topo maps integrated into their sonar/GPS units. You can find humps, ridges, creek channels, whatever. Before people couldn’t or wouldn’t put forth the kind of effort to find that structure. Maybe that’s why they’re catching more fish. continued on 61 ACE Magazine  59

BAIT Report Casts Banner Year For Alabama Bass Fishing – “But you’ve got to have fish to catch. From that perspective, everything looks good. The fish are healthy and are reproducing and growing just fine. We’ve got no problems to report.” Abernethy said the “percent success” category can skew the overall rankings, especially on lakes where there are length limits – Demopolis, Guntersville, Harris, Jackson at Florala, Lewis Smith (Smith Lake), Little Bear Creek, Pickwick, Eufaula (Walter F. George), West Point, Wilson, and some Alabama State Public Fishing Lakes and federally controlled small lakes. “The top three are real infertile lakes,” he said. “There is an abundance of smaller fish, so it’s easy to go there and catch a fish. Basically, that’s all that’s telling you. One thing to keep in mind is we do have some lengthlimit lakes. That can bias those numbers a bit, because they may catch fish that have to be released because they don’t meet the minimum length requirements. “Each of the five quality indicators are weighted equally. To anglers, they wouldn’t rate those equally. Obviously, they’re interested in catching larger fish. In most tournaments, you get to weigh in your five biggest fish, so it’s important to catch big fish, not a lot of fish. But for the purposes of this report, we’re just compiling the information they give us. It does allow us to monitor the performance of these lakes over time.” Abernethy said Pickwick Lake in the state’s northwest corner seems to be the impoundment that is really on the climb. “Since about 2006 the fishing has improved considerably,” he said. “In fact, I just took a trip up there recently. I was up there three days and we caught probably 300 bass. There was nothing huge, but it’s a great place to fish.” However, Guntersville still holds the title for stringers of whopper bass, and the results from the BASS tournament held there in May only enhanced that reputation. Aaron Martens, who resides in Leeds, won the event with a four-day total of 107 pounds and 8 ounces. “Guntersville continues to get better and better,” Abernethy said. “It’s basically been improving since ‘04. Of course, these lakes are cyclic. I’m really curious to see what Guntersville is going to do the next couple of years. What we had this spring is something we haven’t had in a long time – a lot of rain. The lake stayed dirty with high water all spring. I wouldn’t be surprised if that didn’t cause a decline in the grass coverage, which will probably affect the fishing negatively. It’s not going to affect the fishery. It’s going to affect the fishing. It wouldn’t surprise me to see those numbers fall a little over the next few years. Either way, Guntersville is an awesome bass lake. It’s full of fish. It’s full of big fish.” Abernethy said the BASS tournament produced

continued

impressive numbers other than Martens’ winning total. He also said the pro anglers couldn’t have picked a better time to be on Guntersville. “Overall for the 100 anglers, the average size per bass was over four pounds,” Abernethy said. “That’s pretty remarkable. On the first day, 63 fishermen weighed in over 20 pounds. “The chances of ever repeating a tournament like that Bassmaster Elite are probably pretty slim. They had 10 inches of rain the week before in the Tennessee River drainage, so TVA was pulling a lot of water. They hit it right in the middle of the shad spawn, had high pressure during most of the tournament and the water was a little dirty from the rain and current – all of which combined to make the fish more aggressive, predictable and approachable. It was absolutely ideal fishing conditions, about as close to perfection as you’re going to find.” Other lakes that have had excellent bass fishing include Mitchell, Jordan, Harris and Aliceville. “We’ve been seeing an increase on Mitchell the last few years,” Abernethy said. “That really doesn’t surprise us. We sampled that lake periodically and knew we had a strong ‘01 year class. Those fish are moving through the system. The fish are growing larger and larger. At some point, those fish are going to be dying off, so we’ll probably see that lake cycle down a little in the coming years. It’s not going to be bad, but it’s not going to be as good. “Jordan is fishing as good as it ever has but it fell in the rankings. Just because a lake had dropped down in the rankings doesn’t mean the quality of fishing has gone down. It may just mean other lakes have improved and jumped up above it. If you look at how Harris performed, it’s been improving for a long time. The size of fish is larger and people are catching more fish. We’re getting more reports off that lake and they’re from locals who know how to fish the lake. Aliceville was No. 1 last year and we’re getting more reports from that lake.” Unfortunately for those who fish in extreme southwest Alabama, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta is mired at the bottom of the rankings again. “The Mobile Delta continues to be on the bottom and that’s probably where it will stay,” Abernethy said. “We’ve got a project going on right now with Auburn looking at that population to determine why they don’t live very long or grow very large. We’re trying to determine if anything can be done to improve the quality of that fishery.” Abernethy said he is really encouraged by the 2008 BAIT report, but he is somewhat disappointed by the lack of support from some bass anglers in Alabama. Less than half of the tournament reports received were from Alabama clubs. continued on 63 ACE Magazine  61

10ad21

Houston County Farmers Exchange

Booker Trucking

230 County Road 39 BAIT Report Casts Banner Year For Alabama Bass Fishing – continued 1599 Ross Clark Circle • Dothan, AL 36301 Perdue Hill, AL 36470

334-678-8303

“We’ve got lakes that are weak as far as reporting goes,” he said. “We’d really like to get those numbers up and get more clubs involved because the accuracy of the data increases dramatically as the number of reports increases. West Alabama has some excellent bass lakes but we don’t get many reports from those lakes. Some of the Tennessee River lakes are weak on reporting. For instance, we’ve got a lot of reports from Pickwick (42) but 37 of them are from Mississippi. We only got four reports from Wilson in 2008, and they have that many tournaments up there each weekend. “It’s frustrating that we have to depend on other states for the bulk of our reports because so many of our own anglers are not participating in the program. They collect

all the information 251-575-2170 we need at the weigh-in. It just takes five minutes to fill out the card and then send it to me. It can even be sent in via e-mail. I want to thank all the clubs that realize the importance of this program and the value it adds in Alabama’s bass management program. Most anglers don’t realize that we’ve only got 12 biologists statewide to monitor and manage these 45 reservoirs. We rely heavily on these reports to fill in the gaps to help us monitor these lakes. This survey is very important to us in managing our fish populations.” Visit http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/ freshwater/where/reservoirs/quality/bait2008.pdf to view the complete BAIT report.  l

ACE Magazine  63

“The Catch” Early Years Part II by Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director (Part I available spring issue ACE Magazine on our website www.aceoa.org)

O

ur readers who missed part one of The Early Years (spring issue ACE Magazine), may need an update of what was going on in Lowndes County back in 1983 and 1984. Keith Mickle and I became Conservation Enforcement Officers in August of 1983. We were assigned to Lowndes County as partners. Keith came with police experience (Decatur PD). I attended the police academy for training. The day we were sworn in we were told of the problems across the river in Autauga County. The conservation officer in that county was abusing his powers and had pretty much chosen a different route to follow. He had gotten involved with the gill-netting of Spoonbill Catfish for the egg (roe) or “poor man’s caviar.” The market for the product must have been very appealing to “Billy Bob.” We had been told by the Montgomery office that we had to catch him on our own without the help of outside officers. We did get help from Mike Nichols and Byron Smith from nearby Perry County. In the last issue, I left you with us missing Billy Bob below the Robert F. Henry Dam. He had solicited help from commercial fishermen in Statesville to be his lookouts while he was on the water gill-netting. We had him below the dam that evening and were sure after dark that he had placed his nets on the black buoys below the dam. His look-out had caught our Lieutenant, Virgil Randolph, when he left his hiding spot late that night. Mike and Byron witnessed Billy Bob go to the fishing platform on the Autauga side of the river and receive information from his look-outs. He then went to the black buoy where, we believe, cut his nets free. We were unable to drag them up. It was at this point we knew it was going to be very difficult to catch him below the dam. We were busted. The rule was that we had to see him put the nets out or he could say that he had confiscated them or pulled them from the river as illegal nets. Keith and I worked every gill-netting complaint we received. We spent many more nights and evenings below the dam. Gill-netting below the dam was only allowed during daylight hours. Spoonbill Catfish were not protected at that time but they are now. We received a complaint from a fisherman one day in May of 1984. We chose to observe the river from Holy Ground Park (Corp of Engineers Park). There was a bluff near the overlook that gave us a good undetected view of the complaint area. We had placed Keith’s canoe on top of my Crown Victoria sedan to be used if needed. Now Keith was pretty

agile, for a 6’3” 245 pound guy and was OK with canoes. But, my un-agile 6’7” 270 pound frame just did not jive with canoes and to put both of us in one was not my idea of fun. Keith had eventually convinced me that we would need it if we were to get in to the shallow areas where the nets were supposed to be located. We were on the bluff for only a short period of time when we observed ole Billy Bob at a camp house across the river. He was with his juvenile son and another male adult. They had returned from fishing and we observed them cleaning catfish near the shore behind the camp house. The other adult male left by vehicle once the catfish detail was finished. It began getting dark but it was light enough for us to observe Billy Bob and his son beginning to load bundles of gill-nets in the john boat. Now, it is important to understand that gill-netting above the lock and dam in the reservoir was illegal because these waters were stocked with Striped Bass. It was obvious to Keith and me that he was planning on putting the nets out close-by. Just hold these thoughts a minute because I have got to go into something very important that you must know before I continue. In the 80’s we were merely Game Wardens. We did not have many fancy names like today. We were real sneaky individuals and would spend most of our time trying to get dirty. We spent even more time making our vehicles sneaky. We would install shut-off switches that cut our brake lights off so that we could run without headlights. I would leave my house working a night hunting detail without ever turning my lights on. I could follow vehicles without them ever being aware of me. It was not just us but it was common for officers to have these set-ups in their vehicles. These practices are no longer accepted by the department. I never really rated a new car for the first five or six years. My Captain, Eddie Henley would always get a new car and I would get his hand-me-down. I never complained because they were always in good shape. Unfortunately, his cars were never wired with shut-off switches so I had to do it myself. It was not that difficult but I am not a mechanic OR an electrician. I had recently wired the sedan that we were using on our detail. (The one with the canoe on top) Keith and I had observed Billy Bob across the river beginning to load bundles of gill-nets in the john boat. Billy Bob went up river. We knew we would have to continued on 69 ACE Magazine  67

Ashville Middle School Archery Team Wins National Championship by Ray Metzler

T

he Ashville Middle School Archery Team recently brought home top honors in the National Archery in the Schools (NASP) Championship held in Louisville, Kentucky. The students scored 3,350 out of a possible 3,600 points and placed first out of 65 middle school teams. Ashville qualified for the national championship when they won the middle school state title in Birmingham earlier this year. While Alabama schools have done well in past national championships, Ashville Middle School is the first team to win this prestigious event. Coach Jeremy Cox is excited and proud of their efforts. Nathan Owens and Stephanie Whisenant of Ashville Middle School each finished second in their respective division as individuals. This is also the first year that an individual from Alabama finished in first place within their respective age division. Katie Rappuhn, a fifth grader from Breitling Elementary in Grand Bay, Alabama, shot a 283 out of a possible 300 points to take first place among all female elementary participants. Her team from Breitling placed 17th out of 56 elementary school teams competing. A total of 12 schools representing Alabama competed at the championship. More than 4,500 students from 35 states and one Canadian province were represented at this year’s national tournament. Scoring for the championship is based on Olympic style, target archery in three divisions – elementary, middle and high school. Competition included team and individual levels. NASP

National Champion Katie Rappuhn of Breitling Elementary School in Grand Bay, Alabama.

archery is a co-gender sport with every team required to contain boys and girls. The NASP was founded in Kentucky in 2002 and has since spread around the country. The program was introduced in Alabama in 2003, and approximately 153 Alabama schools participate in the NASP program. In Alabama, the NASP is a joint venture between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and the Alabama Department of Education. The program promotes participation in the lifelong sport of archery as part of a school’s physical education course and after-school programs. The NASP proAshville Middle School’s National Championship Archery Team.

continued on 75 ACE Magazine  73

Ashville Middle School Archery Team Wins National Championship – gram can also be included as a unit or activity in the Lifelong Individualized Fitness Education (LIFE) course as part of the Alabama Course of Study. The program meets the criteria of one credit for physical education required for high school graduation. State Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton praised the students for their success. “I congratulate these dedicated students for bringing home Alabama’s first National Archery in the Schools Championship and for their commitment and hard work,” he said. “Archery in the Schools offers students a sport and competition away from the traditional sports arena. Students also benefit from learning a sport that can be carried into adulthood for a lifetime physical activity. The Alabama Department of Education is proud to be a partner in this program that gives students

continued

an experience that makes them feel better about themselves, about physical education, and about school.” “Congratulations to the winners of the archery competition,” said Dr. Jack Hataway, Chronic Disease director with the Alabama Department of Public Health. “For those who participate in it, archery contributes positively to mental and physical health. Archery requires the use of many muscles as well as mental concentration to focus on targets. It represents a good way to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.” 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

ACE Magazine  75

Cullman Takes Aim With Archery Park A

rrows popped into or whizzed by targets Wed­ nesday as students, Cullman city officials and state fish and wildlife officials ceremoniously opened the state’s second com­ munity archery park. Cullman Community Archery Park, which is on Alabama 490 three miles northeast of Interstate 65’s Exit 299, includes 36 targets. A youth range for bows with a draw weight of 30 pounds or less has eight tar­ gets set up five to 20 yards away from the firing line. An adult range for bows and crossbows with a draw weight Chase Kennedy, 14, aims during the Cullman Community Archery Park’s Grand Opening on Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Kennedy is a student of Hanceville Middle School and a of more than 30 pounds member of the Hanceville Archery Team. includes targets set up 15 to 50 yards from the firing line. Atop a 12-foot-tall platform, archers can simulate bow tion coordinator for wildlife and freshwater fisheries. hunting from a tree stand, or below the stand pretend Other parks in Huntsville, Prattville, Heflin and Orange they’re hunting from a blind, said Stuart Goldsby, a Beach are being discussed, he said. regional hunter education coordinator for the Alabama Metzler said the purpose of the parks is to give state Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. residents places to shoot. “Whether they become hunt­ The 17-acre park also includes a wooded area where ers or not, we just want to give them a chance to shoot,” archers can simulate a hunt with targets placed at vari­ he said. ous distances off the main trail. During archery tourna­ State wildlife and fisheries programs also get excise ments, replica prey such as deer and hogs would be taxes generated through archery equipment sales, state placed off the wooded trail. officials said. The park is free and open daily to the general public. Cullman’s park also is the second in the nation to be But those using the park must have a state hunting built as part of the Archery Trade Association’s efforts to license or an outdoor wildlife heritage license, unless they promote archery in schools and the community, said Jay are younger than 16 or are 65 or older. McAninch, president and CEO of the association. Other The $285,000 park was built through collaboration community archery parks, including indoor facilities, are among the city of Cullman, the Alabama Division of being built in other states, he said. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, and the Archery Trade Association. Plans also call for construction this summer of a pavil­ ion with restrooms and lights for after-dark activities, Everyone can shoot, McAninch said. “This is a sport projects being completed with the help of $50,000 from where the captain of the basketball team can get beat by the Easton Sports Development Foundation, an associa­ a kid who has never played sports,” he said. tion official announced Wednesday. Even Cullman Mayor Max Townson, who said he hadn’t The state’s first community archery park opened last picked up a bow in 43 years, found out he’s got a good aim. “Bull’s-eye,” Townson yelled after he and seven other year in Athens. dignitaries shot ceremonial golden arrows toward targets Construction also is under way on archery parks in to open the park. “I just can’t believe it.” l Dothan and Demopolis, said Ray Metzler, hunter educa­

A Sport For All

ACE Magazine  79

PHOTO BY Michelle Williams/Birmingham News

by Kent Faulk, Birmingham News, [email protected]

Outdoor Women Unlimited Southern Classic by Rebecca Wood, Executive Director, Outdoor Women Unlimited

O

utdoor Women Unlimited opened 2009 with a BANG! We hosted our annual OWU Southern Classic on February 27–March 1, 2009 at the Southern Sportsman Lodge in Benton, Alabama. Over 100 members, instructors and volunteers attended sharing high spirits of another OWU outdoor adventure. The Classic provided women the opportunity to learn basic outdoor skills with challenges for advancement. Our professional team of instructors shared their knowledge in Archery, Pistols, Shotgun, ATV, Wood Carving and Craft, Dutch Oven, Outdoor Art, Self Defense, Compass Orienteering, Dog Obedience/Retrieve, Fishing, Outdoor Photography, Trailer Backing, Wood Duck Preservation/ Conservation (building Habitat), Turkey Calling/Total Hunt, Horsemanship I & II (AQHA), and MORE! Special events included Will Thames’ presentation of his Labrador Retriever, Cass, with an Obedience/ Retrieving Exhibition; Bill and Linda Mengel’s, Dutch oven instructors, presented an amazing Mount and Shoot demonstration through a balloon course, which reminded us of the legacy of the Old West. The Alabama Quarter Horse Association’s spotlight speaker provided horsemanship classes, riding and hands-on instruction on the anatomy of horses of various species. Mary and Mervin Craig, Brent Morgan and Dr. Charles Crowe shared their expertise in the field of equine education and OWU opportunities for outreach/volunteer ism with Story Book Farms, “a non-profit organization that ministers to children and families challenged by life threatening illnesses, chronic diseases, disabilities and grief through equestrian activities.”

82  ACE Magazine

The OWU Event Committee surprised members with new and exciting opportunities to “Accept No Limits.” Sponsors, in support of the OWU fund-raiser program, donated hunting and fishing packages. These included the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association who donated a White Tail Deer Hunt. Johnnie Wood, an avid turkey/deer hunter donated a (World Slam 2008) Wild Turkey Hunt and White Tail Deer Hunt. Elk Creek Outfitting, Heron, Montana, donated a Spring Bear/Turkey Hunt. A Mississippi Delta Waterfowl Hunt was donated by Leighton Nelson. Other fund-raising efforts included a Silent Auction and Sponsor Gun Raffles. The Wild Turkey Hunt winner was Bobbie-Ann Scholfield Thames. A Savage Rifle w/scope was won by Teresa Hammer. The Montana Bear/Turkey Hunt was won by Ashley Toellner. The Mississippi Waterfowl Hunt was won by Ashley Toellner. The ACEOA Hunt was won by Sabrina Strength. The White Tail Deer Hunt was won by Reggie Morrow. As outdoor enthusiasts, our respect for Mother Nature must be a priority. What a profound statement! OWU members were challenged, yet, accepted the call. Rain, hail, sleet and snow…over 100 dedicated and passionate believers trailed the course with 35 NEW members forging ahead! Thank you for the memories of a lifetime!!! The year 2008 was phenomenal for Outdoor Women Unlimited. Through the many hours of committed volunteers, our membership has exceeded 350 with sponsor and donor support highlighting our growth! With 18 continued on 83

Outdoor Women Unlimited Southern Classic – events, OWU soared in its goal to support our mission and to build our vision. With over 3,000 members, sponsors, donors, contacts and participants, our 2009 Executive Committee has accepted the challenge to double the numbers this coming year! In 2009, OWU will introduce new and exciting opportunities for members and families. Premier events will include Pistol and Taser Safety, and Instructional Clinic. South Oak Riflery Safety and Instructional Clinic, Paint

continued

Rock Valley, OWU Weekend Outdoor Adventure, OWU Wood Crafting Instructional Clinic and MORE! How can you be a part in the excitement and adventures of the Outdoor Women Unlimited program? All you have to do is join! www.outdoorwomenunlimited.org. Thank you for your support and commitment to the mission of Outdoor Women Unlimited. Take the challenge… make the change to “Accept No Limits” in 2009!  l

ACE Magazine  83

2009 Natural Resources Youth Camp M

ussel Creek Hunting Lodge was the site of the 2009 Natural Resources Camp held for area sixth-grade students. Outdoor Environmental Education is the major emphasis of this youth camp. The camp is an indoor and outdoor classroom for energetic, inquisitive students to learn about forestry, wildlife, ecology, tree identification, fire protection, forest

products, soil and water conservation, and the people who manage these resources in Alabama’s vast forests. The camp is organized by the Butler County Forestry Planning Committee. This camp is in its 14th year of operation. There were 29 students who attended. ACEOA, along with numerous other sponsors, provided funds that contributed to this camp’s success. l

ACE Magazine  91

Pike County Youth Fishing Day by John Bozeman, ACEOA District VI Director

Y

outh Fishing Day was held in Banks, Alabama on June 20, 2009. Eighty children enjoyed a great day of fishing, food, and prizes. The group caught over 140 pounds of fish! The children were treated to hamburgers

and hot dogs after a great morning of fishing. Trophies were given for the top catch in each age group along with a gift certificate for a bicycle. Ten additional gift certificates were given away as door prizes. l

ACE Magazine  95

Greenville Youth Fishing Day by John Bozeman, ACEOA District VI Director

O

n June 6, 2009 the ACEOA, along with Wal-Mart and the Butler County Sheriff’s Department, sponsored a Youth Fishing Day at the American Legion Post in Greenville.

There were 54 children who attended the fishing day. Hamburgers and hot dogs were served after the morning of fishing. Ten rod and reels were given away as door prizes. l

ACE Magazine  99

Alabama: Home of the Big Catch by David Rainer, Outdoor Writer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

O

ne thing that’s great about fishing in Alabama – among the many – is that you never know what you’re going to catch. And that holds true from one end of the state to the other. And another thing, you don’t have to be in a boat to catch big fish. Take Bruce Kelly and his 8-year-old son, Brian, and 13-year-old stepson, Ben Yockers, for example. The trio doesn’t have a boat, so they make the rounds around Mobile Bay, often ending up at the mouth of Weeks Bay at the spot known by several names - Big Mouth, Pelican Point and Viewpoint. “We’re landlocked, so we have to fish off the docks and other places,” the elder Kelly said. “We got to Big Mouth and we were catching lots of sting rays and some big hardhead catfish. They’re still fun to catch, and you never know for sure what you’re going to get. “We were at the end of the day. It was time to go home.

It was the last cast. And then Brian said, ‘I’ve got one, Dad.’ I could see the rod bowing over. I told him to bring him in, but by this time he was really struggling with it. I told him, ‘Buddy, you’ve got something big this time.’ I’m still thinking sting ray. The guys (regulars at Big Mouth) were saying it might be a manta ray because they had caught some before.” Brian’s rig, a Zebco 33, gave all the anglers watching the fight concern about the tackle surviving the fight. When the diminutive 8-year-old asked for help, Bruce grabbed the rod and took up the battle. “I ran out to the end of the dock, and by that time, everybody out there had stopped fishing and was watching what was going on,” Bruce said. “Everybody out there is always real helpful and they were giving me advice. Luckily, the fish didn’t run for the bay. About 25 minutes later we caught sight of him. A couple of the guys had their nets out to try to help me land him. He made a couple of more runs and then we got him beside the docks and somehow the fish got the line wrapped around his tail.” Suddenly, the line went slack and Bruce thought surely the 12-pound test line had finally succumbed to fight. “I just knew he was gone, but it was just the line coming off when he flopped his tail,” Bruce said. “Thankfully, he was still hooked. Then I just kind of led the fish up the loading ramp and we grabbed him.” Turns out this was no sting ray. It was a 39-inch black drum that weighed in at 26.5 pounds. After a considerable amount of effort, according to Bruce, the fish was cleaned and a neighborhood fish fry ensued. Meanwhile, on the other end of the state, a tale of a monster freshwater fish unfolded earlier this spring. Veteran pro bass angler Stephen Browning was probing a creek off Wheeler Lake for bass that might be moving in and out of the area on spawning runs. “I was throwing a Rapala DT10 in Hot Mustard,” Browning said. “I was going Brian Kelly and Ben Yockers show off the catch of the day caught recently down the edge of the creek. The creek at the mouth of Weeks Bay. Two puppy drums, a ground mullet ledge dropped from 9 feet down to 17 and a 26.5 pound black drum.

continued on 111 ACE Magazine  109

Alabama: Home of the Big Catch –

continued

Stephen Browning snagged this monster flathead catfish while bass fishing on Wheeler Lake.

feet. I was just trying the find some fish that might be going into the back end of the creek to spawn, or those that had spawned that were coming back out.” Browning hadn’t caught a single bass and then he thought he had snagged his crankbait. “Honestly, I thought it was a rock,” he said. “I’ve caught rocks in the past. Every time you’d quit leaning back and reeling, it’d go back down a little bit. I just figured I had a rock. It was one of those deals when I don’t think the fish knew it was hooked until it got beside the boat and then it all broke loose from there. “When I finally saw it, I thought it might be a sturgeon. I didn’t know if there are any sturgeon in Wheeler or not, but it had that pale yellow look to it and it was as long as my rod box. And that was after 20 minutes of fighting it before I even got a look at it. Then after I got a look at it,

I just wanted to get my hands on it. Then I just really played him down like you’re supposed to.” The reality of the 12-pound test line spooled on his reel then hit Browning. “I backed off the drag and I would push the release button on the reel when he would make a big hard run,” he said. “I followed him around with the trolling motor the best I could. I was just trying to keep a tight line on him.” Browning didn’t realize how precariously he had the big fish hooked. “I thought he had it in the mouth,” he said. “I’ve caught catfish with a crankbait before, so I figured he was hooked in the mouth. After I tired it down and got it to the side of the boat, I saw it was hooked in the gill plate.” After the protracted fight, Browning realized there was no way he could get the fish in the boat by himself. He called fellow pro angler and fishing buddy Jeremy Starks for help. “Jeremy came up and just got on my boat and let him boat drift off,” Browning said. “After three or four times of getting him up beside the boat, Jeremy tried to put Boga Grips (device that safely grips the lower jaw of a fish) on him, but this fish’s lips were so big that he couldn’t get the Bogas on him. I finally talked him into putting his hand in the fish’s mouth. When he did, the fish kinda bit down him, and he said, ‘I’m not doing that.’ About the fourth or fifth time, Jeremy finally reached under and got the gill on the opposite side of where he was hooked. And he didn’t just pick him up over the side of the boat. He drug him over the side of the boat.” Browning is also friends with Steve Bowman with ESPN Outdoors. After Bowman found out about the catch, he called me wanting to know what the state record is for flatheads. “Eighty pounds on the nose,” I responded. Bowman said, “Browning has caught one about that big on Wheeler. Where can he get it weighed?” I told him a potential state record fish must be weighed on certified scales. When Browning started searching for place that had certified scales, he came up empty. “This happened on a Monday, and I guess every marina in the area is closed on Monday,” Browning said. “I had the fish on a rope for 45 minutes to an hour, trying to find a place to weigh it. I didn’t want to take it out of the water to go looking for a place. So I just decided to take measurements (51 inches long with a 31-inch girth) and release it. Besides it was cutting into my pre-fishing time. “It might have been a state record, might not. I know it was the biggest catfish I’ve ever seen.” Visit www.outdooralabama.com to learn more about the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or to read previous columns by David Rainer. l ACE Magazine  111

ACEOA Supports 4-H Shooting Sports by Jeff L. Makemson, ACEOA District III Director

T

he Alabama Conservation Enforcement Association (ACEOA) recently supported the 4-H Shooting Sports Club of Tuscaloosa. This group of young men and women, along with dedicated 4-H leaders, practices weekly to sharpen their marksmanship skills. They participate regularly in local, regional and state competitions. At a recent competition with seventy-six shotgun

shooters, Junior team member Jacob Jones placed first in skeet, first in trap, and first overall. Senior team member Cody Rester placed third in skeet, second in trap and first overall. ACEOA understands the need to promote firearm safety and responsible shooting demonstrated in the 4-H program.  l

ACEOA District III Director Jeff Makemson presenting the Tuscaloosa County 4-H Shooting Sports member with a check from ACEOA.

ACEOA District III Director Jeff Makemson with members of the Tuscaloosa County 4-H Shooting Sports members presenting them with a check at a recent club meeting. ACE Magazine  115

Editorial by Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director

T

his association has never hidden the fact that we are pro-active for our officers. We believe we represent the best enforcement divisions in Alabama. It is time we addressed some very disturbing issues in our state government. We are fed up with it to be blunt. We are blessed to have great support from our Alabama Legislators. Many place personal ads in our ACE Magazine. They know how we are affected by the Governor freezing merit-pay raises. It is the governor’s way of balancing the budget. Unfortunately, it is done on the backs of the state employees. When these merit-pay raises have been frozen, we have not seen any recovery after the governor decides to lift the freeze. Employees tend to work longer in an attempt to recover these lost steps. Many readers may not know that the Conservation Department does not draw from the General Fund. We are self supportive and generate our own funding from license sales and fines. The Wildlife Section receives federal funding under the Pittman-Robertson Act. These monies go back into wildlife restoration and other programs. Our merit-pay raises are budgeted each year which means the money is in the budget for our officers and

support personnel to receive their raises if they are due. I can honestly say our department is very efficient. They make every effort to cut back when asked. They make sure the funds are managed wisely. I cannot and will not speak for other state agencies. We believe that, if the money is there and it was budgeted, the governor should not have the power to freeze these funds. Raises that don’t come out of the general fund should not be subject to freezes. These decisions by the current and some past governors have become so much of a routine that it is ridiculous. If the state employees had the freeze power issued to them, I am sure some of the governor’s pet spending sprees, in times when money is tight, would be frozen. Several of these sprees by the governor would have paid for hundreds of state employee’s merit pay raises. ACEOA will be supporting our officers and will be taking a stand against the governor’s ability, at the stroke of a pen, to control our livelihood and our well-deserves raises. These officers put their lives on the line everyday and we will support them. Our approach to these issues is not yet determined; but you can be assured we are working actively to address this serious misuse of power. It will take a major grass-roots effort by everyone and we will be asking for your support. Maybe these would be good questions to ask the gubernatorial candidates in the 2010 election.  l

ACE Magazine  119