Outdoors

Dates finalized for dove season in Alabama

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced that the final framework for the 2008 dove season has been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This year, the north and south zones in Alabama will hunt under a 70-day season with a 15-per-day bag limit.

This change was finalized in late June and represents an increase in the bag limit for the south zone and an increase of the number of hunting days for the north zone.

The south zone includes Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Mobile counties. The remaining counties are in the north zone. The season dates are:

South Zone (15-per-day, 15 in possession) — Noon-sunset (Oct. 4); 30 minutes before sunrise-sunset (Oct. 5-Nov. 2); 30 minutes before sunrise-Sunset (Nov. 27-Nov. 30); and 30 minutes before sunrise-sunset (Dec. 6-Jan. 10, 2009).

North Zone (15-per-day, 15 in possession) — Noon-sunset (Sept. 6); 30 minutes before sunrise-sunset (Sept. 7-Oct. 5); 30 minutes before sunrise-sunset (Oct. 2-Nov.15); 30 minutes before sunrise-sunset (Dec. 13-30).

The mourning dove is the most abundant game bird in Alabama. More than 62,000 licensed hunters enjoy dove hunting.

25th Annual Deer and Turkey Expo

On Friday and Saturday the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex will host the latest in deer and turkey hunting equipment. Also, trout pound, deer mount displays and archer competitions will be available. For more information, visit http://outdoorswithbobcoker.com/

Bill Macoy Jakes event

The Clay County Chapter will host one on July 26th at Mountain View Hunting Preserve, Delta. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Call Phillip Wilkerson for more information at 256-396-9001.

Landowner seminar

The Alabama Association of Conservation is offering a landowner seminar covering many aspects of wildlife habitat and population management. The seminar will be held at Bear Branch Lodge in Walker County on Aug. 19-21. For more information, call 256-835-7821, ext. 3, or visit www.swcc.alabama.gov/BoardMtgs.htm and click on "Wildlife School."

Quail Forever to launch chapters

Quail Forever, a national organization dedicated to quail conservation efforts, has announced the formation of two new chapters in Alabama. The Alabama Covey Rise chapter will serve Tallapoosa and Coosa counties. The Alabama Covey Rise chapter will focus on converting unsuitable habitat into model quail habitat. To join the chapter or for more information, call John Thames at 256-749-1301 or at John@thamesconstructionllc.com.