Official Publication of the ACEOA

www.aceoa.org FALL / WINTER 2008-2009

in this issue...
EDITOR:
Warren Hinson

PUBLISHER:
Brent-Wyatt West ARTICLES
601 Interstate Park Drive
Montgomery, Alabama 36109 President’s Corner....................................................................................... 3

SALES OFFICES: Notes From The Trenches.......................................................................... 5

Bryan Elkins, Sr.
Jim Downing 2008 BADF Life Hunt................................................................................. 9
601 Interstate Park Drive
Montgomery, Alabama 36109 What the Lifehunt Meant to Me................................................................. 17
(334) 213-6229
ACEOA Officer of the Year Nomination Letter.......................................... 21

Marengo Public Shooting Range............................................................... 25

ON THE COVER
Brian McSorley is the hunter A Great Experience.................................................................................. 33
sponsored by ACEOA for the
BADF Life Hunt. The Wounded Walking Night Hunter … A Dangerous Combination................................. 41
Warriors are servicemen and
women who were wounded
serving our country. Many of these The Friction Pot Turkey Call..................................................................... 49
brave soldiers fought for us in Iraq
and Afghanistan. These heroes The Long And Short On Deer Rifles......................................................... 53
are a part of the Wounded Warrior
Disabled Sports Project and The Man Who Wears Many Hats............................................................... 57
participated in the Life Hunt.
For more information on the
Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Thank You by C.O.P.S............................................................................... 59
Project through Disabled Sports
USA at www.dsusa.org. Note From New ACEOA Director.............................................................. 61

Appreciation Clay Shoot In District V........................................................ 63

Wilcox County Youth Dove Shoot Event.................................................... 65

Hunter Education Appreciation................................................................. 67

Macon County Cops & Kids...................................................................... 69

Talladega County Hunter Education Association....................................... 73

ACEOA At Work....................................................................................... 75

Advertisers Index.................................................................................... 271

Business Directory.................................................................................. 278

The ACE Magazine is the official publication of the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer 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 2008. All rights reserved.

ACE Magazine  1
President’s Corner
by Chris Jaworowski, ACEOA President and Wildlife Biologist
F rom the time I was a young boy hunting with my
father, I have always used my time in the outdoors to
reflect on the past and wonder what the future will bring.
While sitting 25 feet high in a climbing stand yesterday,
listening to acorns fall, I found myself reflecting on the
changes we have seen over the past year.
Rusty Morrow, our past President, celebrated his retire-
ment after 25 years of service as WFF–CEO for Lowndes
County. Rusty’s leadership and dedication to ACEOA has
helped this association gain a voice for Conservation
Officers across the state. Following his retirement, the
ACEOA board and elected officers voted unanimously to
appoint Rusty to the position of Executive Director.
Congratulations on your retirement, Rusty and keep up
the good work!
ACEOA membership is growing along with support
from communities across the state. ACEOA continued to
be a proactive organization last year introducing bills to
the legislature in support of pay raises for all Conservation
Enforcement Officers. Through our legislative efforts we
have gained many new friends and support from across
the state.
ACEOA sponsored conservation oriented events in
every district last year including youth dove hunts, youth
squirrel hunts, ladies outdoor events, disabled hunts, and
youth fishing events, just to name a few. These events
allow us to partner with like–minded organizations to
further our conservation message while also gaining
valuable friendships that will help us in the future.
(L-R) Chris Jaworowski, Rhonda,
Rusty Morrow, and Brian McSorley
Our ACEOA Convention and Banquet was held at the
Southern Sportsman’s Lodge August 22–23. The con-
vention was a lot of fun and the turn out was great despite
the bad weather. The day was filled with shooting events
for the whole family while the night time activities
included dinner, door prizes and a live band.
Fiscal Year 2009 election results were also certified at
the board meeting held on August 22 and are as follows:
Elected Officers
President – Chris Jaworowski
Vice–President – Trey Pose
Secretary/Treasurer – John Davidson
District Directors
DI Director – Ernie Stephens
DI Associate Director – Jay Lowery
DII Director – Scott Kellenberger
DII Associate Director – Jerry Fincher
DIII Director – Jeff Makemson
DIII Associate Director –
DIV Director – Mitford Fontaine
DIV Associate Director – Grady Myers
DVI Director – John Bozeman
DVI Associate Director – Tommy Haynes
The ACEOA 2008 Officer of the Year was also selected
and awarded to WFF–CEO Barry Johnson, Winston
County. Barry exemplifies the type of Officer we should
all strive to be. Congratulations again Barry! Look for the
Barry’s nomination letter in this issue of ACE Magazine.
The future of ACEOA is bright, but depends on support
from each and every member.
For this association to have a voice, we must increase
our membership in every District. The 2009 Board mem-
bers and Elected Officers will be working diligently in
every District to recruit new members.
If you need assistance or have any questions regarding
ACEOA membership, please contact your District
Director, Executive Director–Rusty Morrow, or President–
Chris Jaworowski (Cell: 334–239–6707, 154 Battlefield
Rd., Lowndesboro, AL 36752) l
ACE Magazine  3
Notes From The Trenches
by Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director
T he Fall/Winter issue of the ACE Magazine is
probably my favorite. We always feature the
BADF (Buckmasters American Deer Foundation)
Life Hunt. This year’s ACEOA sponsored hunter
was Brian McSorley of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
He harvested his very first buck. Read more
in his article and my editorial concerning
this very special hunt.
This issue also features some of
the events ACEOA sponsored and
co-sponsored this year. We are very
proud of our involvement in all of these
programs.
Please read about our Officer of the
Year winner. What a very special officer
from District I.
Our state officers and directors have been busy this
past summer. The Buckmaster’s Expo was back in
Montgomery after being in Greensboro, North Carolina
for a few years while our convention center in Montgomery
was being renovated. We featured our association in a
booth for the three day event. We wanted the hunting
public and all other 35,000 people that came through the
Expo in the three days to be aware of our association and
what we do.
Our officers and directors planned and held our sec-
ond ACEOA State Convention. The inclement weather
didn’t threaten the attendance or the fun that the group
had. We also crowned our first Top Gun. Look for articles
and pictures in our next issue of ACE Magazine.
Our new officers and directors are now on board. Chris
Jaworowski, our new state president has some great
ideas for ACEOA and he looks forward to working with
everyone. He was our previous Vice-President and
assumed the position of President when I retired in May.
Chris knows the association well and will do an outstand-
ing job. Our directors are eager and ready to serve. The
demands of this association have grown so that these
directors take on a great deal of responsibility.
We are proud of our newly restructured website. Please
check it out at www.aceoa.org. We believe the restructur-
ing will make the website more informative of our mis-
sion, goals, and various events we are involved in. We
hope to provide email access to all of the District
Directors through our website. In the very near future,
you should be able to view this issue of ACE Magazine on
our website. A special word of thanks goes out to our new
webmaster, Adam Thompson.
As always, we are very receptive to any ideas you may
have for improving our website or magazine. My contact
information is available on the web-
site. I’d love to hear from you.
Our corporate sponsors are the
most valuable members of our
association. I have told you before
and I’ll tell you again – We couldn’t
do what we do without YOU!
The economy is horrible and I
know it will affect our sponsors. I
expect that money will be tight for
everyone. I wish I could promise you
a great return of customers for your
ads. Unfortunately, I can not. I was
dealing with a client several months ago
who was referred to me by one of our sales staff.
He asked how much of his product I thought would be
sold by his placing an ad in ACE Magazine. I told him
probably not that much but the money he donated for the
ad would be used for far greater purposes. I explained
that we sponsored events all over Alabama. In 2009 the
budget is even larger and requests for grants increases
yearly. I encourage our corporate sponsors to stay on
board with us. Our association will work hard for your
support. Please, if I can answer any questions about our
association or how you can be a sponsor, my contact
information is on our website.
Our association represents all five enforcement divi-
sions in the conservation department. ACEOA is involved
with many programs benefiting many people. We work
with youth, women, and challenged hunters. We seek out
programs and events that reach as many people as pos-
sible. This association is also proud of the fact that we are
a pro-active association. We work hard for the enforce-
ment officers in the field.
We spent a great deal of time in the legislature this
year. We were seeking parity with the State Troopers. Our
bill had its highs and lows. Midway through the session,
State Personnel got involved and agreed to make wage
adjustments for our enforcement personnel. This is not
exactly what we wanted but it generated raises for a few
officers. I appreciate Commissioner Barnett Lawley and
State Personnel Director, Mrs. Graham for going to bat
for us. We are presently planning our legislative agenda
for the next session.
I would like to mention some key people who went
above and beyond to help us in the Legislature. If these
are your Senators or Representatives, please thank them
personally. Representative Spencer Collier sponsored
our bill in the House. Senator Del Marsh sponsored our
continued on 7
The ACE Magazine  5
 Saving a Life
Pregnancy Center
Notes From The Trenches – continued
801 Bradley Street
bill in the Senate. Senator Roger Bedford was a key upon. We plan to Decatur, AL 35601
make our efforts known in future issues
sponsor in the Senate committee. I have a great deal of of ACE Magazine and on our website.
respect for our legislatures and I have learned first hand 256-355-3828
Please enjoy ACE Magazine. When finished with your
what a very difficult job they have. You will see several issue, pass it on to a friend. We want to hear from you. If
ads in this magazine placed by legislatures. They appre- you have comments or suggestions, please let me know.
ciate what we do and support our endeavors. Most of I’m always available to hear your comments.
them know their local officers by name. I’ll leave you with a quote from Dale Carnegie:
Wrights Roofing
I mention our pro-active involvement because I call
upon our corporate sponsors to be aware of our involve-
BILL’S Flaming
ELECTRIC,
enthusiasm,
INC.
ment in the Legislature. Being a 501-C3 means that we backed up by horse sense
are not allowed to2011
lobbyMiller
nor can our funds be used to
Street 1814 andAirport Blvd.
persistence,
lobby. Without these capabilities, it is very hard to com- Is the quality
Montgomery,
pete in Montgomery. AL have
We can only 36107 success through Alexander City,
that most AL 35010
frequently
334-241-0019
a grassroots effort. Please support our efforts when called 256-234-4555
makes for success.

The ACE Magazine  7

2008 BADF Life Hunt
by Rusty Morrow, ACEOA Executive Director
F ounded in 1998, (Buckmasters American Deer Found­
ation) BADF’s Life Hunts grant hunting wishes for criti­
cally ill and disabled youths ages 21 and under. Mainstream
wish-granting organizations like Make-A-Wish began refus­
ing such requests, leaving a void for the kids who wanted
to fulfill a dream hunt. It is incomprehensible that a child
can have a tremendous passion for hunting, have a life-
threatening condition, and be told that even though all the
other children like them can have any wish granted, that
theirs was unreachable. What does a parent tell a child in
that situation? It became BADF Life Hunt’s mission to
provide the resources to meet these very special requests.
BADF will always accept applications from qualified
children for Life Hunts. Because of the anti-hunting senti­
ment within many medical organizations, it is difficult for
them to spread the word through these channels. Please
help them get the word out to children’s hospitals, cancer
centers and counselors! Provide anyone interested with
their website address www.badf.org (click on Life Hunts),
or contact them for printed information to distribute.
ACEOA was very blessed to sponsor a very coura­
geous young man for the BADF 2008 Life Hunt. He is
Brian McSorley from Tuscaloosa. Brian was very eager to
participate in the hunt and what made it even better is
that he had never harvested a deer.
Jeff Makemson (ACEOA Director D-3) met up with
Brian McSorley with Wounded Warriors.
Brian on several afternoons before the hunt to target
practice. Jeff even allowed Brian to use his rifle.
The hunt was set and Brian and his mom, Rhonda,
arrived at Sedgefields Plantation in Dallas County. The
weather was threatening but hopes were high among the
hunters and the rut was on.
Credits are many at the Life Hunt but Life Hunt hosts
Jimmy Hinton and Jimmy Hinton, Jr. are two incredible
people! They offer their beautiful plantation each year for
this great event. They have a platoon of volunteers who
work tirelessly to provide every opportunity for these
special hunters to harvest the buck of a lifetime.
Buckmaster’s staffers and videographers Big John,
Elliott, Mark, Chris, Allen, Jimmy and more are on hand
every day to catch every moment on video. David
Sullivan (BADF Disabled Services Director) is also on
hand to make the event move smoothly.
County music singer, Mark Chesnutt, was the celebrity
hunter this year. I always enjoyed Mark when he came to
the earlier Buckmaster’s Classics in Lowndes County
during the 80’s and 90’s. He was able to harvest a nice
deer and there were some great times around the camp­
fire with his music being a hit.
Brian McSorley was excited to harvest his very nice
first buck on the final morning of the hunt in the very
continued on 13
The ACE Magazine  9
2008 BADF Life Hunt – continued
worst of weather conditions. Even as a quiet young man,
he did a fine job with his interview with Jackie Bushman
for the TV show. Rhonda even spoke of the hunt; but she
is never short of words (just kidding, Rhonda!) She is
really a great lady. We enjoyed having them as our guests
for this hunt. After the hunt, we spoke several times by
phone. Brian was exposed to double chemo to battle his
cancer. He is a big, strong young man and they felt he
could handle it. He is always in our prayers.
Brian and his family belong to the ACEOA family now.
They were our guests at our 2008 ACEOA State
Convention in August. Brian and Rhonda met up with
2007 Life Hunt participant Audra Mickle and her parents,
Judy and Keith. The two families spent quality time shar­
ing stories and viewing the collection of Life Hunt photos
from our large display.
This year’s classic also featured some very special
military hunters. The hunters chosen for the Life Hunt
were wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan. They are known as
the Wounded Warriors. I was really honored to be in their
presence. They are true heroes. I witnessed these very
special and brave hunters at the Life Hunt and I wondered
Jackie Bushman and Brian McSorley.
what goes through their minds while they are there. I also
wondered if I could be so brave if put in their position. I
am honestly humbled by their resilience and strength.
Brian wrote an editorial for this issue of ACE Magazine.
Brian answered most of my questions as he shared his
experience in writing. What does the Life Hunt mean to
people like Brian? It’s about peace. It’s about spending a
couple of days of great fun and fellowship without think­
ing about physical limitations. True heroes are the people
like Brian McSorley who keep moving forward and keep
looking up.
“The hero is one who kindles
a great light in the world,
who sets up blazing torches
in the dark streets of
life for men to see by.”
-- Felix Adler
Editor’s Note: Some of the background information used in this article
was provided through the BADF website at www.badf.org.
 l
The ACE Magazine  13
What the Lifehunt Meant to Me
By Brian McSorley
W hat the Lifehunt meant to me? Quite frankly as I
remember back, it simply meant a little slice of
peace. Peace in many versions:
Peace of mind from worry, anxiety and anticipation of
what is next in this cancer/sickness world I am in. We
stayed so busy hunting, eating good food and enjoying
the company of new friends that I didn’t even think about
my cancer.
For just a little while I didn’t have to think about what
if… Peace for body, peace from shots, MRIs, scans and
endless tests. I got to walk in the woods, listen to the
sounds of nature and taste great ribs, steak and fried
catfish. Peace of vision, being outdoors and in nature not
in the hospital or in bed because I feel so bad. But
observing nature and the wonders of God’s creation and
knowing that God has plans for me because he takes
care of even the hawks I saw fighting in the air.
He takes care of the birds that forget to save food for the
winter. I know he will take care of me and bring me
through this illness. Peace in listening, listening to the
Capt. Mark Rouleau with Brian McSorley.
sounds of nature, listening to Mark singing and the best of
all listening to laughter of others and laughing with them.
Peace of rest, the Lifehunt gave me a complete dis-
traction from all the things that cause me not sleep. I
slept soundly, partly because we were up before the sun
everyday but mainly because I simply didn’t have to think
about “What’s wrong” for just a little while.
I am so grateful to my sponsors at ACEOA who took
me target shooting before the hunt. They even allowed
me to borrow a firearm and they were so supportive and
provided me with anything and everything I needed. All
the people involved helped me get away from my cancer
for a little while and they even kept me distracted by
laughing.
I am so grateful to all of the guys at Buckmasters who
gave me and my Mom great gifts of clothes, flashlights,
hats, boots, jackets, lodging, great food and of course,
the most awesome experience of harvesting my very first
deer. It was all so exciting and I will never ever forget this
great experience. l
The ACE Magazine  17
ACEOA Officer of the Year
Nomination Letter
by Captain Johnny Johnson and Lt. W. Mike Nichols
W e nominate Officer Barry Johnson of District I for
the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer
Association (ACEOA) Officer of the Year Award. Barry
has been a Conservation Enforcement Officer with the
Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, Law Enforce­
ment Section since 1990 and during this time he has
proven himself to be a valuable asset to the Department
of Conservation, the State of Alabama, and the people
of Alabama.
Officer Johnson retired as a Chief Gunners Mate in the
United States Navy with 21 years of service. He served as
Boat Captain with the Navy’s famous Riverine Patrol Boat
Unit for four and one-half years in Vietnam where he was
highly decorated for his skills, leadership and bravery.
Barry received three Purple Heart Awards during this
period. He also earned a degree in Criminal Justice. The
skills, professionalism and commitment to duty devel­
oped in the U. S. Navy have carried over into Officer
Johnson’s career as a Conservation Enforcement Officer.
A strong work ethic is becoming a rare commodity but
not with CEO Barry Johnson. He schedules his work time
to ensure it is most effective. He is available when needed plays a standard of excellence and devotion to the people
and answers calls in a timely manner. Barry aspires to
pass on his knowledge and experiences to others and is
doing so as a field training officer and mentor for District to assist other officers, other sections within the
Chris Jaworowski, Barry Johnson, and Capt. Johnny Johnson
I. In the woods and on the water, Barry has made signifi­
cant contributions to the training of old and new officers.
He is the model of a Conservation Enforcement Officer.
Winston County, Barry’s primary area of patrol, con­
tains two of the largest and most rugged areas in
Alabama; Bankhead National Forest and Black Warrior
Wildlife Management Area. In today’s fast paced hunting
society, most officers utilize 4 x 4 vehicles or ATVs to
patrol for violations. Barry patrols by foot and makes
quality arrests through hard work and dedication. His
intimate knowledge of these areas has proven to be an
indispensable asset not only to the Department of
Conservation but to the U.S. Forestry Service and the
public. Barry has made a significant difference in our
wildlife enforcement program in Winston County. His
efforts to minimize violations, rescue lost hunters and
hikers and protect the treasures of our natural resources
have made visiting these areas both safer and more
enjoyable to the hunter and nature enthusiast.
CEO Johnson’s dedication to duty and love of his work
sets an example for all officers who know him. He dis­
he serves. Barry is a professional and has a sincere desire
help. This desire is exemplified by his ready cooperation
Department of Conservation and other agen­
cies in Winston County and statewide. He
has an excellent rapport with the courts,
local law enforcement agencies and the
public. Barry’s “take action” attitude is illus­
trated by the “Renew Our Rivers” program
on Smith Lake which began in 2006.
Supervised by Officer Johnson, this pro­
gram organizes volunteers and organizations
to clean up Smith Lake and has removed
over 300 tons of discarded Styrofoam and
debris from this beautiful area.
The ACEOA award for Conservation
Officer of the Year is presented by the most
recognized organization among field enforce­
ment officers. It is esteemed because it is
awarded by our peers. Veteran Officer Barry
Johnson epitomizes what all of us strive to
be: professional, skilled and respected.
Please reward Officer Barry Johnson by
presenting him with the ACEOA Officer of
the Year Award. l
The ACE Magazine  21
Marengo Public Shooting Range
by David Rainer, Writer for Outdoor Alabama, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Printed with permission from David Rainer
L ive in the Marengo County area and need a place to
sight in your deer rifle or get in a little practice shoot­
ing clays? If so, you’re in luck. The Marengo Public
Shooting Range, located just off County Road 44 north of
Linden, has opened last week — the culmination of a
partnership formed between the Marengo County
Commission and the Alabama Department of Conserva­
tion and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater
Fisheries Division (WFFD).
The opening of the Marengo range marks the 11th such
facility operated solely or jointly by the Wildlife and
Freshwater Fisheries’ Wildlife Section. “Most of the shoot­
ing ranges we have are on our Wildlife Management Areas,
where we have people who can maintain the ranges,”
explained Gary Moody, Wildlife Section Chief. “When we
move into an area where we don’t have those facilities
nearby, it takes partners to make things happen.
Somebody has to mow the grass; somebody has to
open and close the gate; somebody has to watch things
to make sure the range is running like it’s supposed to.
Partnerships, like this one, are what make that happen.
“Another thing, the Wildlife Section operates partly
through the Wildlife Restoration Fund. This is money paid
by hunters and shooters. When you buy a gun or a box
of shells, you pay an excise tax. That money comes back
to the state to run our Wildlife Management Areas, to do
our wildlife research and to build shooting ranges.
If you’re a sport shooter, if you’re a hunter, you helped
Marengo County Commissioner Fred Armstead left, and Hobbie Sealy, Assistant Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources, unveil the sign at the new Marengo Public Shooting Range, just north of Linden off of County Road 44.
pay for this facility. It’s yours and we want you to use it
and help us take care of it.”
Moody credited Marengo County Commissioner Fred
Armstead as a driving force behind completion of the
range. Armstead, in turn, said the range would not have
built without the efforts of Jim Stanford of Robertson
Banking.
“This is going to be a great asset for Marengo County,”
Armstead said. “It’s going to be a great asset for the adjoin­
ing counties, as well. Law enforcement personnel will use
this, as well as the general public. And let me say, we could
not have done it without the help of Jim Stanford.”
Moody said it took about a year to get the range from
idea to fruition, and the timing couldn’t have been better.
This is a busy time of year, and we wanted the hunters to
have a place to get their rifles sighted in,” Moody said.
“When you come out here, you might find law enforce­
ment using the range. It’s for them to enjoy, not only
off-duty, but they will also be doing some on-duty train­
ing out here, also. This facility will be for multifunction
use, which will make it more valuable for the county.”
The only requirement for the public to use the range is
either a valid hunting license or Wildlife Heritage License;
Alabama residents 65 years and older are exempt from
the requirement.
The shooting benches — five on the 25-yard section
and five on the100-yard section — were made by stu­
continued on 29
The ACE Magazine  25
Marengo Public Shooting Range – continued

dents of Clifton McKnight at Demopolis High School and Etowah Public Range
Rudy Parker at Linden High School. The Marengo County Owl’s Hollow Road, Gadsden
Sheriff’s Department (Sheriff Jessie Langley) will be in Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol
charge of opening and closing the gate. Moody said oth­ Telephone: 256-435-5422
ers who contributed to the construction were Warden
Freedom Hills WMA Range
Leon Bolen of the State Cattle Ranch and Rod Laduron of
8 miles south of Cherokee
Alabama Tractor Company.
Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Bow
Ray Metzler, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Hunter
Education Coordinator, said finding suitable property is
Murphy WMA Firing Range
the largest hurdle to public shooting ranges. “It took about
Cannon Creek Road, Guinn
a year to find this piece of property,” Metzler said of the
Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol
Marengo range. “Jim Stanford and I had been looking for
property. I told Jim if he could find a piece of property we South Sandy Shooting Range
would build it. We looked and looked and looked. USFS Road 706, Duncanville
“We had to get the plat books and make sure a site met Type: Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun
the requirements, like fallout zone. We finally found this Telephone: 205-339-5716
piece of property and it belonged to the county. They were 205-926-9765
agreeable to letting us build the range as long as it didn’t
interfere with the old landfill part. This was an area where Skyline WMA Firing Range
they had removed the topsoil to use on the landfill area.” Highway 146, Skyline
Metzler said the shooting range construction follows Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Bow
National Rifle Association guidelines. “This property Telephone: 256-587-3114
meets those criteria,” he said. “There are wooded areas
and pasture behind the range. The berm is 28 feet tall Swan Creek WMA Range
with targets at 25, 50 and 100 yards.” Harris Station Road, Tanner
Metzler also said the public shooting ranges have Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol
“phenomenal” use, and he expects the Marengo range Telephone: 256-353-2634
will be heavily utilized. “People are looking for a place to
shoot, and it’s becoming harder and harder to find a Upper Delta WMA
place,” he said. “We’ve had calls from all around the state St. Lukes Church Road, Stockton
from people wanting us to partner with a range, and I do Type: Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun
try to work it out any time I can. We’re looking at Choctaw Telephone: 251-626-5474
County right now.
“We’d like to find places in urban areas,
like Jefferson County or around Montgomery.
But that’s a little tougher because of the
fallout zone and noise.”

Other State WMA Shooting Ranges:

Barbour Co. WMA Range

County Road 49, Midway
Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol
Telephone: 334-529-3222
Cahaba WMA Range
County Road 91, Helena
Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol
Telephone: 205-339-5716
Coosa County WMA Range
County Highway 29, Rockford
Type: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol State Representative Artis “A. J.” McCampbell gets ready to fire a
Telephone: 334-242-3469 .270 rifle during opening ceremonies at the new Marengo Public Range.
The ACE Magazine  29
A Great Experience
By Griffin Pritchard, The Wetumpka Herald/Sports Editor
F or some people, a trip into the woods on a cold blis-
tery morning is a daily occurrence during deer
Season, but for one Elmore County High School student,
it will go down as the “greatest experience ever.”
Meet Josh Worthington.
Josh is 18-years-old and is set to enter his senior year
at Elmore County High School. He also has spina bifida
and is paralyzed from the waist down. Spina Bifida,
according to www.sbaa.org, is defined as ‘split spine,’ and
is a condition that occurs in the embryo within the first
month of pregnancy; it results from an incomplete closure
of the spinal column. Spina Bifida is the most frequently
occurring permanently disabling birth defect. Every day in
the US, an average of eight babies are affected by Spina
Bifida or a similar birth defect of the brain and spine.
“The kids at the school don’t treat him any different
than any other child,” said Jerold Alexander, Josh’s
grandmother. “When he got his class ring last year, they
all stood and clapped when his name was called.”
Josh Worthington signals victory as he
and his crew prepare for his great adventure.
Worthington also has a fascination with nature. “I just
love being outdoors,” said Worthington, who is confined to
a motorized wheelchair. “Anything to do with being out-
doors or deer hunting, or turkey hunting.” Worthington’s
fascination was merely as an outsider. Up until the first part
of 2008, Worthington had never been on a hunting trip.
In January, however, that changed. As a junior at
Elmore County High School, Worthington’s course load
included a life science course taught by Rebecca Wood.
“Me and Ms. Wood would talk about hunting after class
all the time,” said Worthington.
Outside the confines of the classroom, Wood serves as
the executive director of Outdoor Women Unlimited. “In
my eyes it was probably, for he and I together, one of the
most memorable hunting experiences for both of us,”
said Wood. “This shows that OWU hunting experiences
really have no limits.”
Wood had been contacted earlier by Rusty Morrow,
president of the Alabama Conservation Enforcement
Officers’ Association, about co-sponsoring
a challenged hunt. ACEOA partners with
Challenged Sportsmen’s Outfitters in Ozark,
under the direction of Keith Jordan. Jordan,
a former police sergeant, is paralyzed from
the waist down after a tornado ripped
through his home and slammed him into a
chair with his wife on top of him.
The lodge’s mission statement reads:
“Challenged Sportsmen’s Outfitters of
Alabama (CSO) is a non-profit organization
whose mission is to provide a place where
persons with special needs and disabilities,
along with a friend or family member, can
come and enjoy a complete outdoor experi-
ence. Activities may include hunting, fish-
ing, ATV riding or outdoor photography.
Whatever the activity, CSO will strive to
meet the wishes of each individual and
allow them to enjoy a wonderful time in out-
door Alabama.”
“Josh’s hunt was one of the best hunts
that we have ever done,” said Jordan. “It
was nice to see his enthusiasm and excite-
ment. It would have been nice to do a two-
day hunt, but we were just able to work it
out for one day. I wish that we could have
gotten him on a deer he could have shot.”
Failing to harvest the big one didn’t darken
Worthington’s day. “That was the greatest
continued on 37
The ACE Magazine  33
A Great Experience – continued
experience of my life,” said Worthington. “I wasn’t ner-
vous. I knew that this had been in the works and I was just
ready to get down there.”
While ACEOA had the partnership with Challenged
Sportsmen to provide the facility, it was up to Wood and
OWU to figure out how to get him from point A to point B.
Getting Worthington from Eclectic to Ozark took a
group effort. Teachers and staff gathered at the high
school to see the soon-to-be senior off on his
adventure.
With his arms raised in a V of triumph, Worthington
rose from the ground via a chair lift and backed into the
bright yellow school bus and began his descent into the
state’s Wiregrass region. The group stopped at McDonald’s
in Troy to add Worthington’s mother – Angie Worthington
– to the group.
WATTS ENGINEERING
“As we were on our way to Ozark, we missed our turn
off to the hunting club, so we went down the road to the
next store – a country store – to ask for directions,”
SALES, INC.
Worthington wrote in a letter telling of his experience.
Once at the club which is located in Louisville,
Alabama, the excited young hunter started the morning
with an educational experience. “He learned a lot about
what to look for and about the terrain,” said Wood. “I
P.O. Box 969
learned how to call a deer using a deer caller,” said
Worthington. A specialized trailer that was constructed
Fultondale, AL 35068
by Jordan and the staff at Challenged Sportsmen’s
Outfitters allowed Worthington and Wood to venture into
the forest. Worthington was also able to take advantage
of the facility’s design and roll into a shooting house.
205-841-8858
“I saw a six-point buck,” said Worthington. “Didn’t get to
shoot it though,” said Worthington, just like an experienced
hunter lamenting the one that got away. The group spent a
majority of the January day in the woods and returned to
the lodge that night without a harvested animal.
“This wasn’t about harvesting the deer, it was just about
giving him the opportunity to be the hunter – the celebrity
of the day,” said Wood. “It was just exciting being in the
shooting house with him, seeing the gleam in his eye and
watching him get excited every time a twig snapped.”
Once the day ended, the group returned to Eclectic,
victorious. “He didn’t stop talking about that trip for a
solid month,” said Alexander. “I’m so glad he got to go on
this trip.”
With a smile, Worthington chuckled and simply stated,
“This was the greatest experience of my life.”
According to Wood, this is the second year that the
Saving a Life
ACEOA has partnered with Challenged Sportsmen’s
Outfitters to offer a hunt to challenged outdoorsmen.
Pregnancy Center
“OWU would like to extend our sincere appreciation to
everyone who made this opportunity for Josh possible,”
said Wood.
Challenged Sportsmen’s Outfitters is a relatively new
non-profit organization, started in 2005 and gained non-
profit status in 2006; that is designed to give disabled
801 Bradley Street
hunters the opportunity to go hunting. “I have some guys
that work with me and I train them on what to look for
and how to handle any problems that may arise,” said
Decatur, AL 35601
Jordan. “But we let the disabled hunter do as they are
comfortable with. My guys are there to help if needed.”
256-355-3828
For more information about the facility or the programs
offered, visit their website: www.csoutfitters.org. l
The ACE Magazine  37
Walking Night Hunter . . .
A Dangerous Combination
by Jeff L. Makemson, ACEOA District III Director
E arly in my career with the Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources, as a Wildlife Biologist and
Conservation Officer, a well respected Senior Conservation
Enforcement Officer was kind enough to give a rookie
some advice. He explained to me some of the many
potential dangerous situations an officer may
encounter while enforcing game and fish laws
and regulations in Alabama. I can still hear him
telling me that one of the most dangerous
situations was a poacher at night on
foot. The following events are dedi-
cated to my friend, whose life ended
too soon, Captain Jack Kennedy:
Last year I was scheduled to assist with a
gun deer hunt on Mulberry Fork Wildlife
Management Area (WMA), in Walker County.
I called my friend and Conservation Officer
Brian Fisher, who had recently transferred to
Walker County. Brian and I worked closely
when he was an officer in Hale County, and I
was looking forward to working a detail with him
again. I called him on the radio and told him I would be
working on the WMA in his county and if he needed any
help with a night deer hunting detail, I would help him
after the WMA hunt.
Brian was as excited as I was and told me about a
recent complaint about night deer hunting from a land-
owner North of Jasper. Someone recently shot a nice
buck at night on his property from a public road. Brian
secured written permission from the landowner for us to
use the deer decoy on his property. On the night of the
detail, we met in Jasper at my mother’s house and ate
dinner with her. After dinner, I loaded my equipment in
Brian’s truck and we arrived at the detail location at
approximately 8:00 p.m.
We placed the decoy about 100 yards off the road, in a
draw alongside a pond. The area was an old reclaimed
strip mine with gentle rolling hills with a patchwork of
scattered loblolly pines and openings. I hid in a pine
thicket across the road from the decoy. It was a cold, clear
night and the sky was full of stars. I made a nice warm
bed in the thicket with my army sleeping bag and wool
blanket. Brian took the truck to the top of the hill and
parked behind a gate about a quarter of a mile from me.
Approximately two hours later, several vehicles had
passed with nothing out of the ordinary happening.
Around 10:00 p.m., I noticed that a white van kept
coming by very slowly. I was talking to Brian on the radio
about the vehicle and he told me that it had just stopped
on the side of the road near him. He told me he was not
sure what they were up to but it looked like they were get-
ting out of the vehicle. The van pulled back onto the high-
way and through the radio Brian whispered “someone
was dropped out and they were walking in the woods
toward him shinning a spot light.” I knew Brian could han-
dle the situation, but I felt helpless not being with him.
I advised Brian that I was running toward him as fast
as I could. After diving in the ditch along
the side of the road a couple of times to
avoid being seen by vehicles traveling
on the road, I reached the top of the hill.
Brian called me on the radio and said
they were coming toward me. I crossed
the ditch and scanned the valley and hill-
side and saw the spotlight on the far
side of the valley.
I radioed Brian and told him to bring
his shotgun and walk out to the road
toward me and we would go in after them together.
While I was waiting on Brian I took my coat off to cool
down and wiped the fog off my glasses. The spotlight was
turned on and quickly scanned the area, and then turned
off. I could hear the subjects talking, even though they
were a considerable distance from me and we knew there
were at least two of them.
When Brian reached me we discussed our game plan
and decided to stalk them using the pines and shadows
as cover. The suspects were slowly making their way
toward the pond, stopping only to quickly shine the area
in front and to the side of them, before moving on. We got
to within 35 yards of them and we were at the end of the
pine trees and shadows. If we were going to take them
down, now was the best time while we still had some
cover. We spread out about ten yards and were getting
ready to turn our lights on, when they started shinning
again. They were scanning the side of the pond in the
direction of the deer decoy.
We could clearly see the outline of one suspect holding
the light while the other one raised the rifle and fired one
shot at the decoy. We both immediately turned our lights
on and yelled for them to get on the ground. With the tone
of our voices and the use of some choice words, they knew
we meant business. They quickly followed our commands
continued on 45
The ACE Magazine  41
Walking Night Hunter...A Dangerous Combination –
and spread out on the ground. We placed them in cuffs,
secured the weapon, and thoroughly searched them both,
removing hunting knives and other belongings.
The suspects were escorted to the edge of the right-of-
way and sat down on the ground behind a larger earthen
embankment. We were out of view of vehicles traveling
on the road. A Walker County Sheriff’s Deputy was dis-
patched to us for transporting the suspects. While Brian
was covering the suspects, I removed the decoy and
gathered my things from my hiding area and placed
them together. While walking up the highway to get my
coat, I had to hide in the ditch to avoid being seen by an
oncoming vehicle. I could tell the vehicle was going slow,
but I did not look at it until it had passed by me.
When the vehicle passed by me I watched as the driver
shinned the area with a light. I called Brian on the radio and
told him about it. He said the driver had also shinned the
field close to them. I returned to the staging area, and we
continued
continued to wait on the deputy to arrive. A vehicle went
by us and one of the suspects said that was his wife. She
was coming back to pick them up. As the vehicle came
back by I turned on my light and the vehicle stopped.
After identifying myself, I explained to the woman that
her husband and his friend were going to be transported
to jail, and that she had better get out of the area before
she was also taken to jail. She left without any questions.
The deputy arrived and the suspects were transported to
the jail for processing. Brian and I discussed the events
of the evening over and over that night and we gave each
other several high fives. It was almost 3:00 a.m. when I
finally went to bed.
Regardless of our ages or our length of service, the
love, passion, and dedication to the landowners, natural
resources, and environment keeps us all young at heart.
I know Captain Jack was watching over us and saying,
“Good job boys, good job.” l
The ACE Magazine  45
The Friction Pot Turkey Call
by Tim Cosby

N ot too many years ago, if you used a friction pot

turkey call, it used slate as the sounding surface and
a two-piece hickory peg for the striker. The pot was
Step 1

almost always either walnut or high density plastic. If you

practiced with determination, you could imitate the low
yelp, purr, and cluck of a hen turkey – that is if you lucked
out and got a call capable of making decent hen turkey
music. Too often, the call just didn’t work.
Times have surely changed. There are now custom
call makers and call companies making friction pot calls
out of a variety of domestic and imported woods. Call
surfaces are now made out of glass, aluminum, stainless
steel, copper and exotic man-made materials. Slate is
also used extensively. Call design has improved consider-
ably since the early days of the slate call.
Pegs are now custom turned from a single piece of
wood and calls and pegs are matched. Many of these
calls are excellent and produce all of the calls of a hen
turkey. Cackles, cuts, tree yelps, lost yelps, excited yelps,
Step 2
an old hen’s assembly call, and excellent clucks can be
made on some of the better calls.
Once you have a call that will make these sounds, it is
absolutely necessary to develop the proper technique if
you are going to be proficient with a friction pot call.
For years, I struggled to get the sounds I wanted out of
the pot calls I carried to the turkey woods. It was only
after I had a short lesson from a really good competition
caller that I was able to use a pot friction call.
I prefer a double glass friction pot call because of the
range of frequency and volume that can be produced by
a properly made call and matched peg. It will be difficult
to describe every nuance of using a call simply by writing
about it. It will be helpful to the reader if he/she will refer
to the pictures as they read this article.
I will list the main points in using a double glass fric- Step 3
tion call below:  (Reverse the instructions if you are left-handed)
1. The surface of the glass call is best prepared with
stone. I really like the conditioning stone on a pri-
mos slick stick. You can get a slick stick from most
any sporting goods store for under $10. When the
surface is sanded with the stone, use a back and
forth motion. Do not make swirls or circles.
2. The tip of the peg is best cleaned with 220 grit
sand paper using very light strokes. (Do not
change the shape of the end of the peg.)
3. The call is held in left hand with only the thumb
and middle finger. Do not hold the call with a death
continued on 51
The ACE Magazine  49
The Friction Pot Turkey – continued
grip as this will dampen the sound and frequency
of the call. The peg is held in the right hand as Step 4
shown in the accompanying picture. It is not held
like a pencil in spite of all of the instructions that
come with most calls.
4. I always hinge my hand holding the peg to the call
by letting the back part of my palm rest on the
call.
5. The yelp is made by sliding the peg across the glass
surface of the call using a wrist motion instead of
moving the peg with a motion of the fingers. The
peg is never removed from the surface of the glass.
When you slide the peg back to begin a new yelp it
will not make any noise. However if you lift the peg
on the return stroke, you will break your rhythm Step 5
and lose your place on the call surface.
6. The cluck is made by pulling the peg toward the
palm with the index finger.
7. The duration and volume of a particular hen yelp
or cluck is a product of pressure and the length of
the movement of the peg on the call surface.
Usually, you should call about one-third of the way
in from the edge of the call surface. One thing that
will help you to use a friction pot call is to consider
it a musical instrument. After all, that is what a
good call is designed to re-create – the music
made by a hen turkey. Step 6
One pitfall of most hunters starting to use a friction
pot turkey call is to put too much pressure on the peg
and put too much angle on the peg as it slides on the
surface of the call. I have found that light pressure and
holding the peg so the top of the peg is only slightly
away from you and only slanted about five degrees to
the right work best.
Remember to let the call do the work. A good call will
call for you. It does not have to be forced to make the
sounds of a hen turkey. The other and most important
factor is practice, practice, practice, and more practice.
Experiment and play with the call until you are comfort-
able enough to call without finding it necessary to look at Step 7
your hands while using the call.
It is extremely difficult to put into words everything
there is to know about using a friction pot call. I am,
however, willing to show you in person if you will just stop
by sometime. Good luck and safe hunting!
About the Author
Tim Cosby is retired from Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries as Chief of
the Enforcement Division. Tim is an avid squirrel hunter and raises
treeing fiest squirrel dogs. He also builds a really good friction pot
turkey call. l
The ACE Magazine  51
The Long and Short on Deer Rifles
by David Rainer, Writer for Outdoor Alabama
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Printed with permission from David Rainer

W ith a hint of fall in the air, Alabama deer hunters

usually move into a frenetic pace as they prepare for
the upcoming season.
For those who are considering a new deer rifle, Larry
Teague, editor of Buckmasters GunHunter magazine,
said quite a few variables go into the decision of what
firearm to choose.
“In some places you have short shots,” Teague said.
“In some places you have long shots. In Alabama, you
have both. You have thick woods. You have power lines.
You have rights of way. Depending on where you’re hunt-
ing, you can get a rifle for each area, or you can get a rifle
that will work for both.”
“Hunting guns for Alabama is kind of a misnomer,
because they would work anywhere else. The calibers of
.270 Winchester, .30-06 and 7mm Magnum are all
traditional whitetail calibers. The advantages of the .30-
06 is, as everybody knows, you have wide range of bullets
and the ammo is available everywhere. If you’re out in the
middle of nowhere, you won’t have trouble finding ammu-
nition. The availability is about the same for the .270.”
The problem with those bullets and larger calibers
is when you have somebody that is recoil sensitive, either
a little or a lot. It doesn’t take much “flinch” to foul up
a shot.
“When you are shooting .30-06, the Magnums or
UltraMags it will have more recoil than a small stature indi-
vidual or female shooter can handle,” Teague said. “For
woman or youths, I would drop down to a 7mm-08, one of
my favorites. A .260 Remington is also very good.
“The .243 may be a little light for Alabama deer. There
continued on 55

Deer hunters in Alabama use a range of ammunition from the (left to right) .243, .25-06, .270, .30-06 and .300 Ultra Mag.
Larry Teague, editor of Buckmasters GunHunter magazine, considers the .243 too light for Alabama deer,
but cautions about the recoil factor for the large calibers like the Ultra Mag.
The ACE Magazine  53
The Long and Short on Deer Rifles – continued
are arguments on both sides. The .243 will kill deer all day
long in central Texas where a 130-pound buck is a big one.
In Alabama, where you’re looking at a 175- to 200-pound
buck, that’s completely different. In my opinion, you need
a bullet with more mass and a little more energy.”
Compared to a lot of hunters in Alabama, myself
included, Teague’s body mass would put him in the light-
weight category. The smallest I would hunt deer in
Alabama with is .25 caliber, which is one of my favorites,”
he said. “The .25 is an ideal bullet size for me. That’s
what I carry most of the time. It’s a combination of low
recoil, it has enough energy and enough mass to take
any whitetail. But you’re not overdoing it, either. So you
don’t get punished by heavy recoil.
Now if I were going to shoot down a right of way at a
300-yard deer, I probably wouldn’t choose a .25 with the
possible exception of a .257 Weatherby Magnum - the
fastest .25 caliber out there. It’ll fly along at about 3,800
feet per second. It’s a tremendous caliber, and it will take
a deer way out there. If you want to shoot a little farther
or a little flatter, I really like the Remington Ultra Mags,
the 7mm and the .300. They will hammer you, but they’re
the flattest shooting things out there.
But there is another aspect to consider - can you shoot
a magnum caliber effectively? There are these things
called muzzle blast and recoil. It takes a toll on you and
you don’t even know it. The more you shoot these rifles,
the more you develop an unconscious fear of these guns.
When you get into the field, you’re more apt to jerk the
shot and make a poor shot.
I get a lot of people calling me and asking what caliber
to use. The first thing I ask is can you tolerate recoil, can
you take a kick? If you can’t you don’t need to be shoot-
ing these calibers. A lot of people say they can and they
really can’t. That’s why I really like the .25 caliber
because it has a mild kick and gets the job done. And
everybody can shoot it. For Alabama deer, it may be the
best caliber of all.”
With the variety of calibers and bullets available,
Teague said it’s very easy to become confused about the
proper selection of a rifle. Probably the best way to look
at this whole deal is not to look at what caliber you should
be shooting,” he said. “It really should begin with what
bullet do I want to shoot, and what speed do I need that
bullet to fly? You can go to any of the manufacturers’ web
sites and they will have ballistics charts.
You try to determine where your normal shot will be on
a deer - 100, 200 or 300 yards. You look at the trajectory
of each bullet. You look at the trajectory and then deter-
mine if you have enough downrange energy to kill that
animal swiftly. Most modern ammunition is tuned to
mushroom within a certain velocity range.
Instead of saying I want a .30-06, you look at a.30-
caliber bullet because there are a number of calibers that
shoot a .30-caliber bullet. It just takes some homework to
determine what would be the best choice for the distance
and terrain you’re hunting.”
For those who are adept at hand-loading bullets, the
possibilities are almost endless. Usually the number of
people hand-loading varies from five to 10 percent, but
hand-loading is making a comeback right now because of
the high price of ammunition,” Teague said. “You have to
reload a lot to save any money. After you load a couple of
boxes, you start to realize significant savings. Plus, you get
to use a bullet you like, which is a whole different story.
Teague said there are basically two types of bullets –
the traditional lead-core, copper-plated bullet like the
Remington Core-Lokt and the Winchester Super-X and
the premium and super premium ammo like the Barnes
TSX, Winchester XP3, Nosler Accubond, Hornady
Interbond and Remington Core-Lokt Ultra.
Now what’s the difference?” he said. The old-style,
copper-plated lead bullets expend a lot of energy inside
the animal and you won’t get a good pass-through. With
the newer ammo, you get good pass-through and a good
blood trail. If you’re hunting an area where a deer can run
60 yards and get lost, you’re going to need a good blood
trail. You’re going to pay more for the premium ammo,
but in the grand scheme of things the cost of bullets is
small compared to the other expenditures.” l
The ACE Magazine  55
The Man Who Wears Many Hats
By Gayle Morrow
W ho is this man who wears many hats? He is our
friend. Recently you might have seen him wearing
an ACEOA hat at our 2008 State Convention. He was
moving about taking numerous pictures and helping with
logistics. He was memorable in 2007 at our first conven-
tion driving the tractor for the hayride. Tom Jaworowski
has quite a history of wearing many hats!
Back in 1966, Tom wore the uniform hat of the US Air
Force. Since he is the past National President of the Train
Collectors Association, you could have seen him wearing
a conductor hat. He serves as a member of the Mildred
Tom Jaworowski as ‘hayride captain’ with the Lowery family.
Tom Jaworowski plays Santa with the Governor.
Horton Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians
and he is the secretary of the Elmore County Treasure
Forest Association.
You’ll see Tom again this Christmas wearing the famil-
iar Santa hat as he volunteers at the Montgomery Zoo
and at Polar Express in Calera Alabama. I don’t know
about you but I’m certainly proud that this man who
wears so many hats wears OURS.
Tom Jaworowski is married to Sue Jaworowski and
proudly mentions that he is the father of our new ACEOA
State President, Chris Jaworowski. l
Tom Jaworowski on the train.
The many hats of Tom Jaworowski.
The ACE Magazine  57
 Thank You by C.O.P.S.
Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS)
National COPS was organized in May 1984 by a unanimous vote of 110 police survivors.
Concerns of Police Survivors’ membership now totals well over 17,000 families. There
is no membership fee – the price paid is already too high. Alabama Chapter was
chartered in May 1995 during Police Week in Washington DC.

Our Mission statement:

COPS provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families of
law enforcement officers killed in the line-of-duty as determined by Federal criteria.
Furthermore, COPS provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor
victimization issues and educates the public of the need to support the law enforcement
profession and its survivors.

During Police Week in May, National COPS provides the first exposure to other
survivors from all across the nation who understand how the line-of-duty death affects
their lives.

Alabama offers our Alabama survivors peer support, letting them know they have
support from families who have experienced a similar loss. Members are surviving
spouses, children, parents, siblings and extended family members, affected co-workers
and friends who have experienced trauma involving a line of duty death. At the current
time Alabama COPS reaches out to over 400 survivors throughout the State. We offer
the agency of a fallen officer support in filing for the PSOB benefits and State benefit.
We offer any assistance they need for filing insurance benefits and just raw support
during this time. We also offer trial and parole support.

We have a Candlelight Service during May honoring the fallen officers from the prior
year, and remembering all fallen officers. We have a picnic during the summer where we
release helium balloons with letters from the families to their loved one. During
December we have a Christmas party, with Santa for the “little” children and “big”
children.

COPS programs for survivors that are offered include:

Spouses’ Getaway
Parents Retreat
“C.O.P.S. Kids” Summer Camp for children ages 6-14 years.
Outward Bound Wilderness Experience for children ages 15-20 years.
Adult Children’s Retreat
Siblings’ Retreat
In-Laws Retreat
Finance and Significant Others Retreat

The ACE Magazine  59

 Gulf coast
Note From New ACEOA Director
Air & Hydraulics
by Bo Willis, Marine Resources Enforcement and ACEOA District V Director

I would like to take a few minutes to introduce myself, I

am Bo Willis (Marine Resources Enforcement) and I am
the new Director for District V. I can be reached by email
at Fishcop@mchsi.com. I have been serving you in this
district for nearly a year now as the Associate Director.
The “old” Director for this district, Trey Pose (Marine
Resources Enforcement), has been elected to serve as
As we come to the end of this year and look back at
the many, many great things the Association has done
and the hurdles we have cleared, I ask that you help your
association to continue serving both the officers and the
people of this state by rejoining.
Membership renewals and new member dues were due
January 1st. Please join and please spread the news! Tell

take his position.

P.O. Box 161134
Vice President of the association and I will move up to
Mobile, AL 36616
I look forward to working both for and with each of you
this coming year. The Association has done great things
both for the conservation officers of Alabama and the
people of this state. I look forward to all of the great
those officers around you and others that you know of the
many great accomplishments of the Association and all
that we are trying to do for the Officers (and the state).
As the old saying goes, there is strength in numbers!
That means we need each of you that are members to
rejoin and spread the word to increase the numbers. Help

251-666-6683
events that are scheduled for the upcoming year and for
the opportunity to serve and meet all of you.
us grow the membership so that we can better serve you.
 l

The ACE Magazine  61

Appreciation Clay Shoot In District V
By Trey Pose, ACEOA Vice President
O n July 19, 2008 the ACEOA sponsored a Sporting
Clay Shoot in appreciation for all the hard work that
the Baldwin County Hunter Education Instructors have
put in over the last year.
This is the second annual event and was held at Bushy
Creek Sporting Clays range in Perdido. The event was orga-
nized by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Officer Thad
Holmes. The food and prizes were provided by ACEOA.
In attendance were Hunter Education Instructors Mike
Guillotte, Randall Gautney, Andy Jones, Wesley Moore,
2008 Hunter’s Eductaion Appreciation Shoot.
Ribs on the Grill!
Ribs on the Grill!
and C.C. Myers. Also attending were WFF Officers Thad
Holmes, Clem Powell, Joe Thornton, James Altiere as
well as Marine Resources Officers Cole Gates and Mark
Phillips. Representing ACEOA were Executive Director
Rusty Morrow and District V Director Trey Pose.
The shoot was a great way to show appreciation to the
volunteers that help Alabama youth through the Hunter
Education Program. Everyone in attendance had a great
time and a wonderful lunch. The Top Shooter was given
a $25.00 Gift Certificate from ACEOA. l
  
Jim at the ready.
‘Top Gun’ for the event.
The ACE Magazine  63
Wilcox County Youth Dove Shoot Event

Another Lifetime Hunting License Winner Dan Quincy registered 75 youth and 45 adults for the
with Officer Dan Quincy. Youth Dove Hunt in Wilcox County.

Hunter Goul winner of Lifetime Hunter License pictured

with ACEOA Executive Director Rusty Morrow. Lots of Sponsors – Lots of Door Prizes!

Officer Dan Quincy with Hunter Goul. Proud winner of a nice shotgun.
The ACE Magazine  65
Hunter Education Appreciation
By Jerry L. Fincher, CEO Talladega County
O n April 5, 2008, approximately 60 hunter education
instructors and their family members participated in
a dinner social and shooting sports event sponsored by
ACEOA.
The event served as a reward for a job well-done and
provided an opportunity to plan next year’s hunter educa-
tion agenda. The event began at the Childersburg Church
of God, where everyone ate their fill of catfish and hush
puppies while participating in family-oriented activities.
After the meal, everyone moved to the local FOP
range to compete in shooting sports. Awards were given
to the top gun in three divisions: male, female, and
youth. As one can tell from the photos, the day was cold
and wet, but, thanks to the generosity of ACEOA, every-
one had a great time.
I would like to thank ACEOA for its support of
Alabama’s volunteer hunter-education instructors and its
commitment to education of Alabama’s youth. l
The ACE Magazine  67
Macon County Cops & Kids
by Keith Mann

T he event was held the first Saturday of August 2008.

Approximately 500 people came by the booth.
We gave away nearly 30 rods and reels, whistles, col-
oring books, iron-ons, and wrist bands. Two Marine
Police Officers Walter Lacey and Lee Maddox were pres-
ent and helping with the event. Conservation Officers
Nate Foster and Keith Mann also helped with the event.
The event is held annually and is intended to help the
kids in the county to see that law enforcement of all types
benefits them. l
continued on 71

The ACE Magazine  69

Macon County Cops & Kids – continued

The ACE Magazine  71

Talladega County
Hunter Education Association
by Jerry Fincher
O n September 13, 2008, the Talladega County Hunter
Education Association and ACEOA members assisted
the Department of Conservation in holding the first
shooting sports day for the youth of Talladega County.
Seventy-five participants enjoyed events which included
a 22 rifle station, a shotgun and trap station, a muzzle
loader station, and an archery range. ACEOA members
manned several of these stations and provided support
and instruction for participants.
The archery range, which was the most visited station,
included nine 3-D targets and Mathews Genesis bows.
The archery targets, food, and much of the equipment
used was purchased with funds donated by ACEOA.
The Talladega County Hunter Education Association
and the people of Talladega County would like to thank
ACEOA and the Alabama Department of Conservation
for helping make this day a success.
The generous donation by ACEOA provided an oppor-
tunity to expose children to the outdoors and the shoot-
ing sport in a controlled, supervised, and positive manner.
This investment in today’s youth will pay dividends for
conservation for generations to come. l
The ACE Magazine  73
ACEOA At Work
Renew Our Rivers

Fishing Derby

The ACE Magazine  75

ACEOA At Work – continued

Youth Fishing Event In Dale County

The ACE Magazine  77

ACEOA At Work – continued

Youth Fishing Event In Barbour County

The ACE Magazine  79