Safety and Outdoor Ethics

Alabama's national forests take every step to make your visit a safe and memorable experience. In an effort to ensure outdoor safety, pre-cautionary guidelines are listed to make you and your family less vulnerable to various risks and dangers. You are asked to follow certain ethical rules designed to protect the forest and its natural environment. These rules are intended to uphold the health and safety of visitors while providing a rewarding outdoor recreational experience for all. Check Forest bulletin boards or contact a district office for rules and regulations.

Watch for Hazardous Situations

• Remember, you are responsible for your own safety
• Watch out for natural hazards within the forest
• Wear appropriate safety gear when participating in any activity

Apply the “Neighborhood Watch” Concept

• Know how to contact law enforcement and other emergency services personnel
• Keep an eye out for the well being of your fellow forest visitors
• Be observant of others and their activity

“Know Before You Go” - Prepare for your visit to a National Forest

• Obtain a Motor Vehicle Use map, a Forest map of the area you are visiting and law enforcement phone numbers
• Tell a friend where you are going
• Be prepared in case you get stranded
• Carry identification; preferably your name, phone number and any pertinent medical information
• Check Forest bulletin boards for closure orders and visitor rules, or visit the district office before your trip

Respect the Forest and Neighbors

• Throw all garbage, litter, and foreign substances in trash containers
• Wash food and personal items away from drinking supplies
• Do not carve, chop, cut, or damage any live tree. Leave natural areas the way you find them
• Native American sites, old cabins, and other structures, along with objects and artifacts associated with them, have historic or archeological value- DO NOT remove or damage them
• Remember to practice trail courtesy while sharing trails with other Forest users
• No fighting or boisterous behavior
• Keep noise at a reasonable level. Be considerate of your neighbor
• Marijuana use is illegal. Alcohol is not allowed in developed recreation areas, other posted areas, or on national forest land where city or county laws prohibit alcohol possession

Hunter Safety

We want to ensure the safety of the public while traveling on roads and using our recreation facilities. Hunters cannot hunt or discharge a firearm within 50 yards of the right-of-way of any public road or highway. (See Stay Safe tab for Hunting Rules)