Where Do We Go From Here?

Where do we go from here? What is out there? Who is to say? My hope is that with a new Commisioner in place, there may be a ray of hope for those displaced by the Lawley regime. I hope that the will to exterminate me and my friends may have passed and that we will be recognized as the good soldiers we have always been. I remember a time when if a cross word was said about my advisory board, I would have drawn my sword and cut off an ear. Sadly, that is not so anymore. I have followed the Baldwin County Newspaper where much has been written about the new Commissioner. He seems honest. We have some common ground. We have some differences. Neither of which matter right now. What matters is replacing the existing members of the advisory board with members who will represent the people. We need members who believe in the honesty and integrity of Alabama's hunters. Punish the law breakers, educate the uneducated, and leave me alone. We need people on the board who are not "connected". We need people who are from the low, middle, and high end societies. Many call themselves hunters but few earn the title legitimately. Anyone can do a hunting show but that doesn't make you love it anymore than the guy who got off work at Express Oil Change today at 3:30 and hustled out to the WMA. The new commissioner will have a say in where we go from here. He will have the Governor's ear. He can replace these members. He can install an advisory board representative of the people with the peoples interest at heart. He can mend the fences or he can be a puppet of an advisory board out of control and corrupted by personal interest. The entire ocean is before us. What is out there? Where do we go from here?

Looking Ahead, Lawley Retires

Retirement is something we all hope to one day achieve. We hope to do it in a comfortable way. We want to look back and think that we made a difference. We want to know we put in an honest days work for an honest days pay. I wish Barnett all the best. It is no mystery that in a position like his, you cannot please everyone no matter how hard you try. This being understood, Barnett is not my favorite commissioner. As a matter of fact, I'm elated he is gone. One screw up at my job wipes away a novel of at-a-boys and I'm sure in Barnett's case it is no different. My major issue with Barnett was the day he made his way into a position of influence, he made it known his number one goal was to implement buck limits. I was 17 or 18 years old at this time and instantly set against him. During the same time Dan Moultrie was showing up at the advisory board meetings banging the drums of buck limits. Next thing you know, Barnett's the Commissioner, our old hero's are thrown off the board and Moultrie is the chairman. The advisory board we admired, that knew us, that was our friend, was hijacked. Before anyone in Alabama knew what was going on, the board had a new face and a new leader. We were going to be regulated into submission of their ideas, no matter what the data showed, no matter what the history was, or what the studies said. Worse than that, we were going to face regulation no matter what the people said. Kind of like the gambling machines. They were going to find a way. Barnett himself told me that in three years I would be thanking him for what he had done. It's been over three brother and I aint there yet. Many like me in the hunting and fishing world began digging the fox holes and laying out strategies to fight but most still believed in them. The thought was they will never do this to us. Well they did it. Hunters across Alabama were divided. Now here we sit. It's been the worst three or four years of my hunting life because we had no voice, no friend, and no commissioner..... at least one I would claim. It is my hope that the new commissioner will be our friend. That he will listen. That he understands Alabama's history and the quality of the Alabama hunter. This state and it's hunters are unique because there can only be one #1. I'm personally offended when they quote to me what other state's are doing because we are the leader's and have proven that with the largest deer herd in America by land area. Regulation, Big Government, the idea that government knows best and will look out for you, is going to be the downfall of the country and under Lawley, in the Game and Fish Department, a monster few knew existed. All this being said, I hope he does well in his retirement and has good health and happiness. I did my best in opposing him and it is over. If I could find something to say, it might be that his retirement has restored my hope and I thank him for that.

A Squirrels Hunter's Dream Dog

This is Mo. Mo is a squirrel dog extraordinaire. Because of his excellent nose, Hunter, Myself, and Jim Mays had a day to remember. Mo is a pleasurable dog to be around. Never jumping or licking us, he was always in search mode. He got in his dog box when he was told, he came when he was told and he hunted when he was told. At the end of the day he was where we wanted him, right at our feet. We didn't want to have to chase him half the night and we didn't. Unbelievably, Mo is up for sale. Now that's a shocker. When you got a dog like him you hang on to him right? Not when you got little B.B. on the hunt as well. B.B., a 6 year old female fiest can hold her on and one is all you need. The price on old Mo, 2000 dollars. Yikes! Now hold on. Before you get sticker shock consider a few things. Mo is a champion, proven, and tempored. Compare that to a dog, say a puppy purchased to be trained. You may only give as little as $50 dollars for the pup but you have years of training, hour upon hour of fruitless, silly, puppy days and lots of fuel burned ahead. Or, you can buy Mo, or another proven champion and go hunting. Invite your friends to come along and brag about your wonderful dog. They may want one just like him, then like you, they have a decision to make. What's it going to be? Puppy and training or big dollars and go hunting. I've had success in the puppy department yet many failures. Never had the big dollars but I'm saving up. If ole Mo is available in the spring and a few odd jobs come through, next year you will want to be with me if your hunting squirrel.

Tumbled Squirrels at Demopolis

Hunter, myself and Jim Mays of McCalla Alabama spent a great day hunting the Demopolis, (David K. Nelson) Wildlife Management Area. With two squirrel dogs and a lot of energy we took down 12 with Hunter doing most of the damage. Demopolis WMA is rich in game. If you like swamps, slues, and thickets, Demopolis may be the place for you. Most of the access is by boat only. It is an extra step but worth the effort. Most hunting pressure is on the most easily accessed property of course but if you are willing to adventure, thousands of acres await with generally low hunting pressure. From highway 59 south take the Union or "Dog Track" exit. Take a left and go to the stop sign. There you take a right. Stay on that road and turn left at the Eutaw Bait and Tackle sign. At the second stop sign make a left. Go and veer right onto Highway 43. Take 43, through deer country, all the way into Forkland. Leaving Forkland turn left just before you cross the railroad tracks going towards the Alabama Power Steam Plant. Stay on that road and the boat launch is on your left.

Other hunter's were dog hunting on the property but we didn't see them after first light. At lunch when we returned, they were gone. Don't let hunting pressure push you away. Hunt it like you own it because, acutally you do. It is state land.

In the picture above, Hunter zeros his 20 guage on a squirrel high in the top of a Water Oak tree. Right after this picture was taken, a large, fat, Gray Squirrel tumbled to the ground. Good job Hunter! And thanks Jim for bringing your excellent dogs and yourself.

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Hi, Brady here. Taking a lazy day today. You know that the settlers at Plymoth Rock outlawed lazyness. Not a bad plan, although today I'd be in the pen cause I have enjoyed listening to the wind howl while I dozed in a warm Lazy Boy. You need some down time every now and then. Even while you are hunting or fishing. I know a guy who made it to the Bass Masters Classic this year. While pre-fishing a tournament with him one day, in the heat of the afternoon, we pulled under a shade tree and sat in the bottom of the boat. He got out his lunch and stretched out on the bow of the boat for some r & r. I said to him most tournament fishermen would say you are wasting time. His reply to me was recharging his batteries is always a part of his day. We relaxed in the shade, ate a nice lunch, and had some good conversation. When we pulled back out into the Alabama River heat we were ready to fish once more and that momentum took us all the way till quitting time. I like the plan and ever since that day, I have taken myself a lunch while out on the water. Some guys may be to intense for that and can fish all day. All I can say is my buddy is in the Classic. Laziness is not a good thing. Being smart is another. I don't know if I am being smart or lazy today because I am not on the water or in the woods. I think I'll just lie here and consider it in the Lazy Boy.