Introduction

Office of the Governor

As Governor of the great state of Alabama for nearly a decade, I have been reflecting on the efforts of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to expand access to hunting and fishing for all Alabamians and for those who travel here to enjoy our abundant natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Under the leadership of Commissioner Chris Blankenship, Alabama has bolstered its Wildlife Management Area System, renovated many of its State Public Fishing Lakes, improved and increased access to shooting sports, built new boating and fishing access areas and renovated many existing ones, and developed outreach programs that teach hunting and fishing skills to new generations of Alabamians. These investments in our outdoor recreation infrastructure will improve the quality of life in Alabama for years to come.

None of this is possible without our hunters, anglers, and gun buyers. License sales for outdoors recreation leverage federal funding through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration acts which levy excise taxes on some hunting, fishing, and shooting sports equipment. These funds are distributed to states according to each state’s size and number of license sales.

In addition to funding wildlife conservation and habitat restoration in Alabama, the purchase of hunting, fishing, and wildlife heritage licenses is also an important part of the state’s economy. Outdoor recreation generates an economic impact of $7.3 billion in Alabama annually. That spending supports more than 72,000 outdoor industry jobs for Alabamians. Your participation in hunting, fishing, and shooting sports makes all of this possible.

Alabama is dear to my heart. No better place exists to raise a family, start a business, and to enjoy life in the great outdoors.

Thank you for your support of ADCNR’s conservation efforts, and I hope you have a safe and successful season!

Kay Ivey, Governor