Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - History

History

Alabama has a long history of wildlife conservation which dates back to 1867. That year the first laws in the state to regulate hunting and fishing were introduced. With the creation of the State Oyster Inspector in 1891 the state legislature began to pave the way for the creation of a state conservation agency, and in 1907 the Department of Game and Fish was established through a bill authored by Representative Henry Stegall of Dale County. State Representative John Wallace of Madison County was appointed as the first commissioner of the Department. The Department’s duties included Ďregulating wild bird and game harvests, setting hunting seasons and harvest limits, and issuing certificates for the scientific study of birds.

In the early 1900s most of Alabama’s peace officers were required by the state legislature to function as game and fish wardens in addition to their regular duties. That changed in November 1907 when H.M Henderson and W.F. Sirmon were appointed as the first official state game wardens, which also made them the first state law enforcement officers in Alabama. Sixty five non-salary officers were soon added, and by 1922 game wardens were salaried and hired through an examination and training process.

In 1915 several agencies and commissions responsible for the state’s wildlife and natural resources were consolidated under the Department of Game and Fish, and in 1919 the agency was renamed the Alabama Department of Conservation. The Department would undergo many name changes as the focus and overall scope of operations evolved until settling on its current name, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, in 1971.