Sportsmen have long realized
the uniqueness of the Delta, its abundant fish and wildlife
resources, and the peaceful solitude of hunting and
fishing this area. The lower Delta is subject to tidal
influence and salt water intrusion. Generally, during
late summer and early fall the volume of fresh water
declines and salinity is elevated. Marine fish, such
as spotted seatrout, red drum, and flounder, enter the
rivers providing fisherman an added bonus to the more
common resident freshwater fish.
This region provides some of the best fresh water
fishing to be had anywhere. Bass, bream, crappie,
and catfish being the most sought after species. Unique
fish, such as the alligator gar, Alabama’s largest
fresh water fish, inhabit this region and fishing
for them is gaining popularity due to the fish’s
size and fighting ability.
Ducks and duck hunting in the Delta has a long and
rich tradition. This land of rivers, sloughs, shallow
bays, and marsh is the wintering and stopover point
for many species of waterfowl. Resident wood ducks
find the hollow cypress trees of the delta excellent
places to nest. In recent years, hundreds of wood
duck nest boxes have been constructed and erected
to increase nesting habitat where natural cavity trees
are limited. The abundant invertebrates in the shallow
waters and aquatic plants provide an excellent food
source for young ducks. Another resident duck, the
mottled duck, nests in grass and canes of the tidal
marsh. This is the only place in the state where mottled
ducks occur in significant numbers.
Beginning in late summer, the Delta begins to receive
the first of the winter migrants. Blue-winged and
Green-winged teal are harbingers of the variety of
migrant waterfowl to follow. The Delta has a reputation
of providing excellent waterfowl hunting, beginning
with teal season in September which allows waterfowl
hunters the opportunity to try their skill with some
of the fastest wing-shooting around.
As the temperature drops, waterfowl from Canada and
the northern states begin to arrive in the Delta.
The sloughs, creeks, and lakes of the upper Delta
are choice areas for wood ducks, mallards, and ring-necked
ducks. The lower Delta attracts a wide array of divers
and puddle ducks. By the end of the fall migration
the Delta will be the winter home to twenty different
species of waterfowl, a greater variety than anywhere
else in Alabama.
The upper Delta, near the confluence of the Alabama
and Tombigbee Rivers, has a higher elevation than
the lower Delta lands and is forested with good mast
producing hardwood species, such as oak and hickory.
This area will provide hunting opportunities for game
such as deer, squirrel, raccoon, wild hogs, and turkey.
During periods of heavy rain, usually late winter
and early spring, flood waters may cover a large part
of the area. Some game species such as squirrels,
raccoons, and turkey will wait out the flood in the
trees. Game species such as deer and wild hogs move
to higher ground and will return as the flood water
recede.
