Home › Alabama › Public land › Fred T. Stimpson SOA
Clarke County · SOA
Hunt Fred T. Stimpson Special Opportunity Area
Hunting access on public ground in Clarke County, about 5,280 acres.
Photo: formulanone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Fred T. Stimpson Special Opportunity Area
Fred T. Stimpson SOA: hunt dates and draw rules
Fred T. Stimpson SOA works on limited-quota draws; winners get their dates, everyone else waits for the next round. Registration asks for your hunting license, your WMA license and a no-cost Conservation ID. Units run 300 to 400 acres and hunts last two to four days, one drawn hunter plus guest per unit. Bucks must meet the Fred T. Stimpson SOA antler rule (at least 3 antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main antler).
| Game | Hunt dates |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Oct. 22-25, Jan. 7-10, Jan. 21-24, Jan. 28-31, Feb. 4-7 |
| Deer | Youth Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Nov. 14-15, Dec. 5-6, Dec. 26-27 |
| Turkey | April 2-4, April 9-11, April 16-18, April 23-25 |
| Rabbit & Squirrel | Youth – Oct. 10-11, Feb. 6-7 |
| Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
Application windows for Fred T. Stimpson SOA
| Draw | Opened | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| SOA deer hunts | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Fred T. Stimpson SOA youth small game | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 |
| SOA small game and turkey hunts | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 |
Fine print: Opens 8 a.m., closes 1 p.m.; results Sept. 15, 2 p.m.
Hunting deer or hogs over bait is a private-land privilege in Alabama and does not extend to Fred T. Stimpson SOA.
Sources: ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas, ADCNR draw deadlines. Checked November 1, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Fred T. Stimpson Special Opportunity Area
The Fred T. Stimpson SOA file
Size on record: 5,280 acres, per the ADCNR SOA map layer; the ground lies in Clarke County. Among 3 sized records in Clarke County, it places 1st. ADCNR, through the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, manages it (WFF District V). It is part of the ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas (limited quota draw hunts).
7,308 acres of Clarke County are mapped as public land.
The record names this game: Deer, Turkey, Rabbits, Squirrels, Bobcat, Coyote, Feral hogs, Foxes.
From the agency record (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division); checked November 1, 2026.
Fred T. Stimpson SOA: the county rules that apply
| Zone or rule | Clarke County |
|---|---|
| Deer zone | B (map) |
| CWD zone | Outside |
| Turkey zone | 3 |
| Fall turkey | Open |
| Dove zone | North |
| Dog deer | Allowed |
| Waterfowl zone | Statewide |
| Alligator area | Southwest |
| Turkeys, 2025 | 297-444 |
| WFF district | V |
The A/B boundary through Clarke County follows US 80, the Alabama River, I-65, I-85 and other roads, so the ADCNR deer zone map is the reference. The permit for Fred T. Stimpson SOA overrides the zone calendar for deer. The season limit is three antlered deer (one per day), and one must show 4 or more points on one antler. Turkey reports for Clarke County in 2025: 297-444 birds (ADCNR class). Deer harvest by county is not released.
ADCNR deer zones, turkey zones, dove zones, dog deer rules, CWD rules and the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report; checked November 1, 2026.
Fred T. Stimpson SOA on the map with its neighbors
Rows run from nearest to farthest, beginning with Upper State SOA (13 mi, northwest).
| Neighbor | Category | Acreage | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper State SOA | SOA | 1,918 | Clarke | 13 mi | northwest |
| Upper State PDHA | PDHA | 1,915 | Clarke | 13 mi | northwest |
| Little River State Forest PDHA in Monroe County | PDHA | 1,137 | Monroe, Escambia | 23 mi | east |
| Little River State Forest SOA in Escambia County | SOA | 2,929 | Escambia | 23 mi | southeast |
| Splinter Hill Bog Complex (Forever Wild) | Forever Wild tract | 631 | Baldwin | 27 mi | southeast |
| Upper Delta WMA | WMA | 42,451 | Baldwin, Mobile | 28 mi | south |
| South Alabama Foundation PDHA | PDHA | 4,462 | Mobile | 31 mi | southwest |
| Choctaw Refuge SOA | SOA | 3,969 | Choctaw | 35 mi | northwest |
Points: ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Supplies and help around Fred T. Stimpson SOA
The nearest town page is Rockville, 2.2 mi from Fred T. Stimpson SOA. Grove Hill (1,723 residents) has the most services, 23 mi away. The WFF district office for this county is at 30571 Five Rivers Blvd., Spanish Fort.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockville | Clarke | – | 2.2 mi | northeast |
| Carlton | Clarke | – | 3.0 mi | southeast |
| Leroy | Washington | – | 10.0 mi | northwest |
| Uriah | Monroe | – | 22 mi | east |
| Grove Hill | Clarke | 1,723 | 23 mi | north |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024); offices and businesses from services.json (ADCNR offices and business listings, chain stores left out); straight-line miles. Checked November 1, 2026.
Dates tied to Fred T. Stimpson Special Opportunity Area and its surroundings
Kinds close by: SOA deer (archery) draw, SOA turkey draw and SOA youth draw. Count: 4 upcoming dates. Count 2 limited-quota SOA hunts, by draw only.
Upcoming dates
| Date | Event | Miles away | Location | Sign-up or details | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14–Dec 27, 2026 | Fred T. Stimpson SOA youth deer hunt · SOA youth draw | On site | Event details | Source | |
| Oct 22–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Fred T. Stimpson SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (archery) draw | On site | Event details | Source | |
| Oct 10–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Fred T. Stimpson SOA youth rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA youth draw | On site | Event details | Source | |
| Apr 2–25, 2027 | Fred T. Stimpson SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | On site | Register | Source |
Fred T. Stimpson SOA shooting hours on key dates
ADCNR prints one sunrise and sunset table for downtown Birmingham and warns that other places can differ by 10 minutes or more, so the times below are worked out for Fred T. Stimpson SOA.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:53 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:24 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:30 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:47 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:51 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:38 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:57 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:02 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.
Landscape and game photos for Fred T. Stimpson SOA
Where Fred T. Stimpson Special Opportunity Area hunters zero a rifle
Baldwin County has the ADCNR range nearest Fred T. Stimpson Special Opportunity Area: Upper Delta WMA Shooting Range (17 miles). Two more ranges follow.
From ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Fred T. Stimpson SOA questions and answers
Deer zone for Fred T. Stimpson SOA?
Clarke County also has Zone A or B ground, and that line follows roads and rivers, so check the ADCNR zone map. Area permits override zone dates on managed areas.
Does Fred T. Stimpson SOA allow dog hunting for deer?
The SOA schedule lists no dog deer hunt.
Bait and feeders on Fred T. Stimpson SOA?
No. ADCNR bans hunting with bait on WMAs, SOAs and federal land.
Which animals may be hunted on Fred T. Stimpson SOA?
The record lists deer, turkey, rabbits, squirrels, bobcat, coyote, feral hogs and foxes.
Who manages Fred T. Stimpson SOA?
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.
Is there other public hunting land close to Fred T. Stimpson SOA?
Upper State SOA sits 13 mi away. 9 more lie within 50 miles.
Hunter orange rules for Fred T. Stimpson SOA?
Yes in gun deer season: 144 sq. in. above the waist or a full-size cap, orange or pink.
When do applications close for Fred T. Stimpson SOA?
The SOA deer hunts drawing ran Sep 1, 2026 to Sep 14, 2026. Later rounds: 2.
What time can I start hunting Fred T. Stimpson SOA?
For deer on November 21, 2026: 5:54 a.m. until 5:20 p.m..
Which county is Fred T. Stimpson SOA in?
Fred T. Stimpson SOA lies in Clarke County, in WFF District V. Rockville is the closest town with a page here, about 2.2 mi away.
How large is Fred T. Stimpson SOA?
The figure on file is 5,280 acres (the ADCNR SOA map layer).
Fred T. Stimpson SOA: last-minute checks
Signs on the ground outrank any web page; look for posted safety zones and closed areas on Fred T. Stimpson SOA.
Sources: source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Emmett Tullos (CC BY 2.0); Bec1971 (CC BY-SA 4.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain).