NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 26, 2001

JACKSON COUNTY HOSTS NORTH ALABAMA ZONE 2001 WATERFOWL HERITAGE DAYS YOUTH
EVENT /  A HUGE SUCCESS!!!

Mallard Place, which borders the North Sauty Waterfowl Refuge and AWA hosted
the Waterfowl Heritage Day (WHD) youth event. After a successful morning of
duck hunting, refreshments were served and marksmanship was improved with
skeet shooting. Mr. Frank Eaton Jr., Mallard Place owner and manager said,
"Over 54 ducks were harvested Saturday, November 24th 2001, the second day
of duck season.  People brought youths from Georgia, Tennessee and many
parts of Alabama to participate in this WHD event.  This brought many
dollars into Jackson County that we hope will stimulate a weak economy in
our area."   Mallard Place is a new commercial hunting area that provides
critical over-wintering habitat to the shrinking waterfowl habitat in North
Alabama.   Many ducks were harvested on Hembree Wildlife Management Area,
Caney Creek Farm, and Guntersville, Wheeler Lake also had good harvest
reports for the first 3 days of the season. 

Over 300 young Alabama Waterfowlers participated in  Waterfowl Heritage Days
during Thanksgiving weekend, introducing newcomers to and involving family
members in waterfowl hunting and the waterfowling tradition and heritage.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Alabama
Waterfowl Association, Alabama Wildlife Federation, and Delta Waterfowl are
coordinating Waterfowl Heritage Days youth hunts in four regions across the
state.   Major sponsors include Hevi-Shot, Mossy Oak and Avery Outdoors.

Each participating youth was entered into a drawing for a December 2001,
4-day Waterfowl Dream Hunt in Stuttgart, Arkansas - compliments of Avery
Outdoors.  Four youths, one from each of the four regions in the state, will
be randomly selected for the Dream Hunt and will get the chance to take
along the adult of their choice to Stuttgart.

The purpose of STEP OUTSIDE events is to welcome newcomers to traditional
outdoor activities.  By combining introductory lessons with fun in a
non-intimidating atmosphere, these events can generate new interest and
support for hunting, fishing, target shooting, archery, and a variety of
great outdoor pursuits.

Getting youth and newcomers involved in waterfowling generates more income
in user fees and excise taxes on arms and ammunition that are used to
acquire and enhance wildlife habitat in Alabama.  In a news release this
week, it is projected that over 12 million acres of forest land in the south
will be lost to development by 2020.  This should inspire people and
conservation organizations to work towards acquiring more lands in the
southeast for wildlife and outdoor activities in the future.

 Another benefit often overlooked, but more noticed since the attack on
America on September 11, 2001 is the education of our youngsters in the
responsible and safe use of firearms.  This will ensure that American
hunters will bolster America's homeland security.  Many people never think
how American hunters offer a very important national security force that
could discourage enemies of the United States from invading our country.
The American hunter not only knows how to survive, he has the knowledge to
provide food (harvest of wildlife) in the event of commercial food
contamination by terrorists.  Hunters could provide a huge amount of
self-defense for country in an invasion of our mainland.  I am sure our
President and Homeland Security director Gov. Tom Ridge realize this. 

Getting more youth and disadvantaged sportsmen involved in hunting / outdoor
recreation is the reason AWA acquired two areas that cater to these groups,
Phillips Wildlife Demonstration Area between Skyline/Martin Wildlife
Management Area and Mud Creek Wildlife Management Area and Big Spring Creek
Wildlife Management Area in Guntersville.

Please come to the AWA's Jackson County Chapter Membership Dinner and
Conservation Awards Ceremony at the VFW on Legion Drive, the event starts at
6 pm December 8, 2001.  Dinner is $10;  membership and dinner are $25.
There will be a raffle, silent auction of hunts and collectibles: a perfect
place to do your Christmas shopping.  Ms. Kim Pilarski Cornwell, wetlands
specialist for TVA in their Knoxville office, will be one of the guest
speakers on the Phillips Project and Mr. Flint Riordan from Montgomery will
speak on AWA's Mallard Restoration Project.

For more information check AWA's web site: http://www.alabamawaterfowl.org