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County seat Livingston
Sumter County Hunting
Sumter County sits in Zone A and Zone B for deer, Turkey Zone 1 and the dove North Zone. This guide lists every 2026-27 season date that reaches the county, 3 public areas inside its line and the ADCNR offices that serve it.
Photo: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0)
Sumter County public ground and acreage
Our Alabama land list has 3 hunting areas inside Sumter County; the largest is David K. Nelson Wildlife Management Area at 8,308 acres. Mapped public land in the county adds up to roughly 2,869 acres (0.5% of its land).
| Area | Kind | Acreage | Game | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David K. Nelson WMA | WMA | 8,308 | turkey, ducks, deer | 1 dove field, no deer dogs |
| Black Warrior and Tombigbee Lakes (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) | Corps lake | — | — | — |
| Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) | Corps lake | — | — | — |
Sumter County areas worth a closer look
- The WMA David K. Nelson Wildlife Management Area runs to 8,308 acres and crosses into Hale County, Marengo County and Greene County. Expect turkey, ducks, deer and doves on its permit. The record adds 1 dove field, no deer dogs.
- Black Warrior and Tombigbee Lakes (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) (Corps lake) spreads into Clarke County, Greene County and Hale County as well.
- Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) is a corps lake that also reaches Greene County and Pickens County.
Across the Sumter County line
- Marengo PDHA442 acres in Marengo County; 29 miles off
- M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area443 acres in Hale County; 30 miles off
Areas from our Alabama land list (ADCNR WMA area permit maps, the ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas page, ADCNR where to hunt, USFS, USFWS and Corps records); acres by kind from the ADCNR WMA, Forever Wild and SOA layers, USFS, USFWS, PAD-US (Corps, TVA, state parks) and NPS GIS layers (GIS measures, not official acreages). Checked November 1, 2026.
Sumter County deer zone and dog, bait rules
Deer zone lines cut through Sumter County: the ADCNR map shades Zone A (about 75%) and Zone B (about 25%) of the county. Zones A and B are not listed by county: the line follows highways and rivers, so near it check the ADCNR zone map before you hunt.
Sumter County deer dates by zone
| Season point | Zone A | Zone B |
|---|---|---|
| Archery opener | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Youth gun days | Nov 13–Nov 16 | Nov 13–Nov 16 |
| Muzzleloader season | Nov 16–Nov 20 | Nov 16–Nov 20 |
| Gun opener | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 |
| Last dog day | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Last day (stalk) | Feb 10, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 |
In Zone B the first ten days of archery, October 15 to October 24, are antlered bucks only. Three bucks a season, one per day, one with 4 or more points on a single antler: that is the statewide antlered limit.
Sumter County dog hunting status
No permit-only or stalk-only rule names Sumter County, so deer dogs may be used in the dog season.
Hunting over bait in Sumter County
Bait is legal for deer and hogs in Sumter County only on private or leased land and only with a Bait Privilege License, which costs $18.95 for residents and $65.25 for nonresidents. Bait is never legal on WMAs, SOAs or federal land, including TVA and Corps ground.
Zones and dates from the ADCNR deer zones and seasons and 2026-2027 Digest season tables; dog rules from the Digest dog deer section; bait from the ADCNR feeding and baiting rules. Checked November 1, 2026.
Every season that reaches Sumter County
Type a species to filter the 60 rows. WMA, SOA and national forest hunts follow their own permits.
| Species | Window | Reach | From | Through | Today? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone A | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone A | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone A | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone A | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone A | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone A | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone A | Jan 4, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, bucks only | Deer Zone B | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone B | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone B | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone B | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone B | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone B | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone B | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone B | Jan 4, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey Zone 1 | Mar 13, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | Turkey Zone 1 | Mar 19, 2027 | Mar 19, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Turkey Zone 1 | Mar 20, 2027 | May 3, 2027 | |
| Feral hogs | Feral swine | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Feral hogs | Night, with dogs | Statewide | May 8, 2027 | Aug 30, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbits | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrels | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Doves | Segment 1 | Dove North Zone | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 5, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 2 | Dove North Zone | Sep 6, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 3 | Dove North Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 4 | Dove North Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Teal | Special teal season | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Statewide | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 1 | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 2 | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 3 | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 4 | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Coots | Coot season | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Coots | Coot season | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mergansers | Merganser season | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Mergansers | Merganser season | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Foxes | Fox | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Opossum | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Beaver, nutria, groundhog | Beaver, nutria, groundhog | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Bullfrogs and pig frogs | Bullfrog and pig frog | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected birds | Unprotected birds | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Rail and gallinule | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Rail and gallinule | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 |
From the ADCNR seasons and bag limits, the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest and the 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guide (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), checked November 1, 2026.
Sumter County small-zone rules for birds
Turkey hunting in Sumter County
Zone 1 is the turkey zone for Sumter County. Expect spring turkey from March 20 until May 3, 2027. The 2025 harvest class for Sumter County is 297-444 reported turkeys (ADCNR publishes ranges, not exact county counts). Alabama hunters reported 17,049 turkeys in 2025 and 18,263 a year earlier.
Dove shoots around Sumter County
Doves in Sumter County: North Zone segments, with shooting from noon to sunset on the opener.
| Segment | Dates |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Sumter County duck and goose notes
Duck, goose, coot and merganser dates in Sumter County are the statewide ones; there are no duck zones apart from the Mobile-Tensaw Delta rules. Hours on Corps of Engineers ground come from the Corps permit.
Turkey zones and dates from the Digest turkey section; 2025 harvest class from the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report; dove from the ADCNR dove zones; waterfowl from the 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guide. Checked November 1, 2026.
Local help for a hunt in Sumter County
Biologists and officers for Sumter County work out of Northport, the WFF District III office. Nearest ADCNR office: Northport, about 54 miles from the middle of Sumter County. The district staff work Monday to Friday from 9 to 4 and will sample a deer for CWD by appointment.
Towns in Sumter County
Sumter County has 7 incorporated towns and cities and 2 census-designated places. Leading towns by size are Livingston (3,138), York (2,278) and Cuba (279). About 11,607 residents (2024) live on 904 land square miles, 6.0% down since 2020.
- Livingstonpop. 3,138 · seat
Sumter County hunting businesses
In Sumter County itself we found 1 gear shop and 1 guide or preserve. The county has no listed processors and taxidermists. Tags mark ADCNR program partners; untagged rows are from Yellow Pages and store locators.
Counties bordering Sumter County
| County | Deer zones | Turkey | Doves | Deer dogs | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greene County | Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 22 miles |
| Marengo County | Zone B | 1 | North | Permit only | 34 miles |
| Choctaw County | Zone B | 1 | North | Permit only | 42 miles |
| Pickens County | Zone A | 1 | North | Permit, stalk | 49 miles |
Offices from the ADCNR WFF district offices page; towns and places from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; services from ADCNR lists (Hunters Helping the Hungry, CWD sampling partners), store locators and Yellow Pages as tagged; neighbours from the Census county adjacency file. Checked November 1, 2026.
Sumter County ranges and shoot dates
No range in Sumter County is on file, so the three nearest to the county centre follow.
Marengo Public Shooting Range is the public shooting range nearest Sumter County, 27 miles away, with no range fee. Range page
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Sumter County shooting light
Migratory birds run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset; game animals get the extra half hour after sunset, unless a night season applies.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and game | Ducks, geese, doves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:56 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:28 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-November | 6:33 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:50 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:55 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:41 a.m. | 5:33 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:58 a.m. | 7:04 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location (NOAA solar formula, Central Time), checked against the Digest’s Birmingham table; checked November 1, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Sumter County FAQ
Where do people in Sumter County pick up a hunting license?
Online, in the Outdoor AL app, from license agents or at a probate office.
Does any national forest acreage fall in Sumter County?
No; none is mapped in the county.
Which processor is the shortest straight-line hop from Sumter County?
Genesis Processing.
Is putting out corn for deer legal in Sumter County?
Only on private or leased land with the Bait Privilege License, and never on public land.
What buck limit do hunters in Sumter County work under?
Three antlered deer per season, never more than one a day, and one of the three needs 4+ points on a single antler.
What was last season's deer total in Sumter County?
Unpublished; ADCNR releases no county deer figures.
Are turkey decoys legal from the first day of spring in Sumter County?
Yes. For 2026-27 decoys may be used all spring.
Do dog deer hunters in Sumter County need an ADCNR permit?
No county permit requirement applies here.
Do special duck hours apply anywhere in Sumter County?
No; statewide waterfowl dates and hours apply.
Answers from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest, ADCNR seasons and bag limits, the hunter orange rule, Game Check rules, Code of Alabama 13A-12-1, the ADCNR deer page and the sources above. Checked November 1, 2026.
Sumter County trip reminders
ADCNR can change dates after the Digest prints; recheck the season pages before a Sumter County hunt.
Sources: 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest, ADCNR hunting, Census and the sources in each section. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: James St. John (CC BY 2.0).