Pine Apple Hunter Appreciation 2023

I have been to Pine Apple Alabama many times in my life. When I was in high school, I had friends and family who went to school there. I visited there many times over those years. As time went on, I would go through there from time to time if I was out rambling and in the vicinity of that part of the country. It seemed like the time intervals got longer and longer between visits.

It had been a good number of years since I had been there up until I started rambling, taking photos, documenting, our beloved Southland a couple of years ago. After I went back one time and took a few photos in the area it seems like I am drawn back more and more frequently. 

When I started visiting again, I started hearing about this big day that they have every year in November called Hunter Appreciation Day. This year was the 27th year that they have had it.

 From the best of my understanding, it started as a way to show appreciation for all of the hunters that came in and enjoyed their recreation time in the Pineapple area. That area of the Black Belt is a very rich area in wildlife. Many hunters bring their families and friends into the area and enjoy their recreation there. Over the years many have purchased property, or leased property in the area specifically for that purpose. Because of the benefit that they were for the community as a whole, the Appreciation Day was born. Since the last Saturday of the month of November is normally the opening day of gun season it appears that it was the ideal day to hold it.

I had heard of this special day for years but for whatever reason never went. Normally I would hear of it in past tense. In other words, my memory would be jogged when I heard somebody mention that they went to the event. 

I had full intentions on going two years ago and let it slip up on me. Then last year I had plans to go for sure. Yep, I missed it again. This year I made up my mind that I was going to make it. I would think about it every day or so. Beings that I have been involved in researching things in the Black Belt a lot recently I would be in the area more often. I got reminders every few days in some form. 

My wife and I had been staying in the motorhome at Isaac Creek Campground in Monroe County for a few days. We made a stew for Thanksgiving Lunch and cooked some hoecakes of cornbread on the griddle. Then the day after we rambled the West side of Wilcox and a small portion of Clarke County. 

We watched movie for a while in the motorhome that night. It was just a well-earned time of relaxing to get away from the grind. 

This morning we got up early. Had a normal breakfast and showered and headed to Pine Apple. It was a little over an hour drive.

As we got there, cars were parked everywhere. We rode a good way out and parked beside the highway and walked in. It was definitely a sight to behold. The main street was lined with vendors down both sides. The street was blocked off and people were able to walk freely down the street and enjoy the day.

It was an awesome time. We saw friends that we had not seen in years. We walked the line of booths and enjoyed the arts and crafts of too many different types to even think about keeping up with. We visited a while, reminisced a while with those we saw we knew. As normal I visited a while with a lot I did not know. My dad always said I could start a conversation at a gas pump a thousand miles from home with a stranger, and talk thirty minutes.

There were politicians there who were campaigning for office. I got to see Caroleene Dobson who is running for congress. There were others running for local office. Since I don’t live in Wilcox County they were not on my radar nor me on theirs.

There were antique cars. There was a show and then a parade which was very neat. 

My pick, of all of the vehicles there was a dually 1930 Model A Truck. I thought that was the neatest thing.

I saw another craftsman who had some very interesting game calls that was awesome to me as well. 

Of course, we had to stop by a food booth. There were several of those there as well. There was about any kid of that kind of food you would want there. Rib sandwiches, grilled turkey legs, alligator on a stick, burgers, fries, sausage dogs, various kinds of barbecue, and of course funnel cakes.

Hunter Appreciation Day at Pine Apple Alabama is definitely something that is a family event and I definitely intend to put it on my schedule for next year. I am not affiliated with it in any way, but I highly suggest to anybody that can come and support this wonderful event next year. It is definitely a great day with all there appearing to enjoy themselves.

This is just one of the many great events held in our beautiful historic Black Belt Region of Alabama. Hope to see many more of those as well this coming up year.