Jonathan Goode- Land for Sale in West Alabama

Alabama landowners face some unwelcome intruders that can harm timber and wildlife habitat.

This afternoon as my daughter and I were riding around our family land, I noticed there are three invasive species all growing in one spot. I only had my phone, so I apologize for how fuzzy this picture is. If you can enlarge this photo, you will see that there is kudzu, privet, and a mimosa tree growing together. This is the unholy trinity of invasive floral species in Alabama.

In late-winter and early spring many Alabama landowners and forest managers are performing controlled burns on their timberlands. Forest owners understand how important it is to manage these invasive species, which if left untreated, will often out-compete native species and do immense harm to timber production and displace desirable wildlife forage.

Alabama landowners have many resources available to them to help in the treatment and eradication of these pesky plants. Below is a list of sources for information and help for landowners as you do battle with invasive plant species.

Alabama Cooperative Extension System- ACES is one of the best resources for any Alabama landowner in regard to invasive species. Your local extension agent is an invaluable resource for this and a host of other agricultural and silvicultural issues.

Alabama Forestry Commission- Alabama's Forestry Commission has some helpful resources and pictures about many types of invasive plants, insects, and diseases that effect trees.

Invasive.org- The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health has some tremendous resources available to educate and arm landowners against invasive species. One of the most helpful is a comprehensive document titled: Invasive Plant Responses to Siivicultural Practices in the South.

Alabama Natural Resources Conservation Service- Alabama's NRCS offers the EQIP programto help landowners battle invasive species. Each Alabama County has an NRCS office, and this program can offer some cost-share assistance in treating qualifying species.

Alabama Invasive Plant Council- AIPC maintains a list of invasive speices and also ones that are on a "watch list" that could potentially become a threat in the future. The Council even ranks the threat the various species pose to natural forests, urban areas, and croplands.

There are many other resources available to landowners in their fight against invasive species. The key is educating yourself to the harm these plants pose to your forests and wildlife. Learning to identify these species in the wild is helpful for determining the extent to which your land is being threatened. Contact your local extension agent, forestry service office, or an Alabama Consulting Forester for help combating and eradicating invasive species from your Alabama land.

Everyone who owns Alabama hunting land, timberland, recreational property, or any wildlife enthusiast must get a copy of "Managing Wildlife" presented by the Alabama Wildlife Federation.

This book is a compilation of a seemingly endless supply of useful information for land owners or wildlife enthusiasts. The book has chapters devoted to managing and improving habitat for whitetail deer, turkeys, small game, water fowl, non-game animals, and many other topics of interest to landowners. The chapters are filled with practical, cost-efficient, and well-researched insights into making your land the most conducive for various species.

 This book is well-balanced for those who want more than a basic overview of wildlife-related issues, but is not as tedious as reading research papers. Over 550 pages filled with tips, hints, photographs, and insights will be sure to entertain and educate anyone who has an interest in improving the wildlife populations on your property.

Improving wildlife habitat and establishing healthier populations is also a way to add value to your property. Many of these improvements can be made for next to free, allowing you to build some sweat equity in your land.

This book is a must-have and would make a great gift for those who love land and wildlife. I received a copy for Christmas this year, and have been enthralled with this read. I highly recommend it to any Alabama landowner or wildlife enthusiast.

It's deer hunting season again in Alabama, and if you haven't already sighted in your rifle, it's time to get out to the range and make sure you are zeroed before you head to the woods.

Here is a link to the list of Alabama's public shooting ranges.

Before you head out to the range don't forget to pack the following items:

1. Ear plugs or muffs
2. Shooting glasses
3. Sandbag or shooting vice
4. Weapon and ammunition (just went this weekend and forgot the clips to the rifle).
5. Target (staple gun and staples)
6. Marker or stickers to indicate holes that have already been shot
7. Optics for checking the target (binoculars, spotting scope, etc..)

Once you arrive at the arrange practice safe shooting habits.

1. Keep the breach open and clear of ammunition until you are your station.
2. Always keep the barrel pointed down-range.
3. Treat every gun as if it is loaded.
4. Stay behind other shooters.
5. Never proceed down-range until the "all clear" is given.
6. Wear you safety gear.

Enjoy your time at the range and please be safe. Please contact me if I can be helpful with any of your rural land needs in Alabama.

Living the country-life in Alabama is great. Today was a Saturday where I ended up not having to show any rural properties. That allowed me some time to work on some chores around our family land.

My son and I checked our newly-planted food plots to see if the rain had helped the seeds germinate. We saw thousands of tiny green shoots peeking through the sandy loam soil. While we were observing the progress in one of our plots, four deer came to check for themselves. It was neat for us to drop to the ground and watch them for a moment.

Later I had to tackle taking down a problem magnolia tree that had grown into a powerline and also remove a dead crab apple tree. After an hour of cutting and hauling limbs, I could check that off the list.

Around 3:00 I took some college students bass fishing. It was a fabulous day to be on the water. We caught over 100 bass among the four of us. One of them fell out of the canoe, which added some more fun to the day. The fish were biting so well that on one occasion we had a "Quad"; all four of us had a fish on at one time.

This evening the family played some games and had a nice supper together. We watched Auburn beat Mississippi. SEC football is always a part of an Alabama Saturday. After bathing the kids and putting them to bed, I spent an hour or so practicing my new mandolin.

Enjoying the outdoors and caring for land is not just something I do or write about; my family lives it. We enjoy all that God has created outdoors (with the exceptions of a few bugs, snakes, and spiders). I help people buy and sell rural land because I love land. If you are in west Alabama and would like to purchase or sell hunting land, farmland, timberland, or recreational property please contact me.

There is a new place to get information about rural land for sale that joins or is near both sections of the Talladega National Forest.

Robert King and Jonathan Goode are professional land agents with AlaLandCo. We decided this would be a good resource for people who are searching for great hunting and recreational properties near the Talladega National Forest.

We will also be including articles of interest and helpful information about what happens in the National Forest.

I am a firm believer that "Good Forests Make Good Neighbors", and that purchasing land that adjoins the National Forest is a good decision.

You can get more information on land for sale near the Forest by visiting our website at www.talladeganationalforest.com.

Thank you for checking out the site, and we would love to help you find your piece of Alabama.

Are you buying or selling rural land in Dallas County, Alabama? Please contact Jonathan Goode, professional land agent with AlaLandCo.

Dallas County is situated in the heart of the historic Black Belt of Alabama. This area is world-renowned for its dark, fertile soils and the amazing effect it has on local agriculture and wildlife. Dallas County is home to the pristine Cahaba River, Bogue Chitto Creek, the Dannelly Reservoir, and the Alabama River.

The town of Cahaba (Cahawba) was the first permanent capital in the state of Alabama. The capital was eventually moved, and Selma became the county seat. Selma was the site of some of the most memorable activities during the Civil Rights Era. The famous Edmund Pettus Bridge is still frequently visited by campaigning politicians.

Dallas County is within about 75 miles of Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Montgomery. The main towns in Dallas County are Selma, Selmont, Orrville, Cahaba, Stonewall, Summerfield, Browns.

Dallas County is home to some of the best whitetail deer hunting in the Southeast, and lots of hunters flock here to chase their game. If you are interested in buying or selling hunting land, farmland, recreational tracts, or timber investments in Dallas County, please contact me.

Bibb County, Alabama land for sale. Bibb County is a great place to buy rural land.

Bibb County is home to the pristine Cahaba River and large exspanses of public land. The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge and the Talladega National Forest comprise nearly a quarter of the land area in the county. The Oakmulgee Ranger Station is located in Brent.

Bibb County is located in close proximity to Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Montevallo, and the highly populated areas of Shelby County. This makes Bibb County a convenient place to own rural land for hunting or great for enjoying country living and commuting to the city.

The main towns in Bibb County are Brent, Centreville, West Blocton, Six Mile, Brierfield, Antioch, Vance, and Woodstock.

Bibb County is home to a pretty healthy whitetail deer population, and lots of hunters flock here to chase their game. If you are inerested in buying or selling land in Bibb County, please contact me.

Yesterday as I was out showing a 13 acre tract of land for sale that joins the Talladega National Forest in Perry County, Alabama, my customer and I came upon what I perceive to be a "trail tree".

Trail trees were reportedly used by native Americans to mark travel routes, establish local boundaries, or point to food, water, or shelter. They were shaped by lashing or bending a small sapling (usually oak) in the direction they wanted it to face.

There is a small stream roughly 50 yards from where this tree is located. I was elated to find it standing in the woods. They are fairly rare in Perry County, which is in the Black Belt of Alabama. I saw them more as a teenager in the hills of north Alabama near the Tennessee state line.

This tree doesn't add any monetary value to the tract, but it does make you wonder why it is here. If it isn't old enough to have been shaped by native Americans, could it have been used by local troops in the Civil War to mark a hideout or some other cache of supplies? Maybe some young boys heard stories from their grandfather about bending trees to make signposts and they experimented on this one. Whatever the case, it is a neat find and a part of history most people never see anymore.

AlaLandCo enjoyed great success manning booths at the 2010 World Deer Expo in Birmingham and the 17th Annual Buckmaster's Expo in Montgomery.

Our agents had the opportunity to talk land and pass out information about our great listings to over 1,000 people who are interested in purchasing land in Alabama. During the two events, we were able to expose over 100,000 visitors to our company and what we do.

This past weekend in Montgomery, I personally spent 15 hours shaking hands and talking with dozens of land owners and buyers. Multiply that by our 10 agents that helped at the booth, and that's a lot of good land advertising taking place!

Participating in these events is just one of the ways that we market rural Alabama land for our clients. We currently have over 370 properties for sale in Alabama, and we want to make a Herculean effort to reach out to every prospective buyer in today's land market.

AlaLandCo is committed to providing the best service to our clients. If you are interested in buying or selling hunting land, farmland, timberland, or a recreational property in Alabama, please contact me to let me know how I can be helpful to you.

AlaLandCo will be showcasing some of our great land for sale across the state of Alabama at the 17th Annual Buckmaster's Expo in Montgomery, Alabama.

Visitors from all over the country will be checking out the latest hunting and outdoor equipment from some of the biggest vendors in the sporting world.

AlaLandCo will have booths 90 and 91, and we will be located near the entrance and the Yamaha and Young Bucks displays.

If you are looking for hunting land, a timberland investment or recreational property in Alabama, please stop by and talk with our professional land agents during the expo. Our staff will be available all 3 days of the event to discuss buying or selling land in our great state.

I will be at the show on Friday and Saturday, so if you are looking for land in Perry County, Alabama or anywhere in the Black Belt, please feel free to stop by or call my cell at 334-247-2005 if you have trouble finding our booth.