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Lee County hunting base
Hunting from Auburn, AL: land, zones and dates
Auburn as a hunting base: lands by distance, the way in to each one, the ADCNR zones for Lee County, season dates and businesses that take a deer.
Photo: Samford Hall clock tower above green trees in Auburn; the hunting land starts outside town. Josh Hallett (CC BY 2.0)
Population alone earned Auburn a page: the Lee County city has more than 50,000 people. The latest Census figure for Auburn, from 2024, is 83,757 people. A 10-mile circle around Auburn catches some 3,145 public acres and 2 listed areas. Lee County itself has no public acres in the agency and federal layers, so every listed area lies in a neighbouring county. First on the map from Auburn is Tuskegee National Forest, whose nearest boundary is 7.7 miles away.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 miles are a GIS measure over ADCNR WMA, SOA and Forever Wild layers and USFS, USFWS, Corps, NPS and TVA boundaries (places.json). WFF district from the ADCNR district offices page. Checked November 1, 2026.
Public land near Auburn
Land whose boundary comes within 10 miles of Auburn heads the table, nearest edge first; areas farther out follow by miles to their mapped point.
| Area | Reach | Category | Agency | Entry rule | Acres | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuskegee National Forest | 7.7 mi SW | National forest | USFS | Public-land seasons | 11,347 | – |
| Macon State Forest PDHA | 9.1 mi S | Disabled hunters | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 190 | Quota hunts |
| Uchee Creek SOA | 21 mi SE | SOA, draw | ADCNR WFF | Random draw | 4,734 | Quota hunts |
| Chalk Hill SOA | 22 mi W | SOA, draw | ADCNR WFF | Random draw | 3,466 | Layer map link swapped |
| Coon Creek Tract (Forever Wild) | 22 mi W | Forever Wild tract | Forever Wild | License, free map | 316 | Archery deer only |
| Yates Lake WMA | 25 mi W | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 5,616 | No dog deer |
| Martin CHA | 30 mi NW | Community area | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 400 | Acreage differs by source |
| West Point Lake (Corps) | 32 mi NE | Corps lake | Corps | Free Corps permit | – | District page unread |
Largest of the nearby areas: Macon State Forest Physically Disabled Hunting Area, about 190 acres. Counted by type: 1 draw or disabled-hunter area and 1 federal area. Seasons on Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area come from its own area permit rather than the county dates. Questions go to Kara Glassey, (334) 530-1758. Walk-in hunting is not allowed at Uchee Creek Special Opportunity Area; hunt dates go out by drawing. Macon State Forest Physically Disabled Hunting Area is reserved for physically disabled hunters, who apply and then book days. Forever Wild opened Coon Creek Tract (Forever Wild) to hunting under the county rules. Our scripted read of the Mobile District page for West Point Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) was refused, so open areas there should be confirmed with the lake office. National forest ground near Auburn is hunted under Alabama law and the public-land gun dates.
Closest lands to Auburn, briefly
- Tuskegee National Forest: 11,347 acres; seasons for deer, turkey
- Macon State Forest PDHA: 190 acres; species: deer
- Uchee Creek SOA: 4,734 acres; seasons for deer, turkey, quail, rabbit, squirrel
- Chalk Hill SOA: 3,466 acres; species: deer, turkey, quail, rabbit, squirrel
- Coon Creek Tract (Forever Wild): 316 acres; listed game: deer, turkey, waterfowl, feral swine; archery deer hunting
Lands from ADCNR WMA, SOA, PDHA and Forever Wild pages and layers, the 2026-27 area permits, USFS, USFWS, NPS, Corps and installation records (lands.json; each land page cites its own source). Boundary miles from places.json, other miles to each mapped point. WMA rules from the ADCNR Where to Hunt page. Checked November 1, 2026.
Auburn taxidermy and gear
Processors come from the ADCNR Hunters Helping the Hungry list, CWD sampling partners and directory entries that name deer or game. Nearest food-bank processor: J & H Tannery and Processing, 27 mi. Mounts from a Auburn hunt can go to Hammock Taxidermy in Notasulga, 8.8 mi away. Shells and an orange vest can be had at Firing Pin Shooting Sports in Opelika, 5.1 mi off. Among preserves and guides, White Oak Plantation (Tuskegee) sits nearest Auburn.
| Type | Inside 15 | Inside 35 | Nearest one | Distance | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing shops | 0 | 3 | Hunter's Cabin Deer Processing | 22 mi SE | Phenix City |
| Mount makers | 1 | 4 | Hammock Taxidermy | 8.8 mi SW | Notasulga |
| Outdoor stores | 3 | 7 | Firing Pin Shooting Sports | 5.1 mi E | Opelika |
| Preserves | 0 | 2 | White Oak Plantation | 18 mi S | Tuskegee |
Processing shops
Mount makers
Outdoor stores
Preserves
Processors from the ADCNR Hunters Helping the Hungry list, the ADCNR CWD sampling page and its drop-off map, and Yellow Pages; taxidermists, shops and preserves from chain store locators and Yellow Pages (services.json). Checked November 1, 2026; hours were not checked.
Zones and rules for the counties around Auburn
Deer zone A and B shares come from map shading; Zones C, D, E and the CMZ come from county names in the regulations.
| County | Zone (deer) | Zone (turkey) | Zone (dove) | Dog rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County town | A / B | 1 | North | Not listed | – |
| Macon County | B / A | 1 | North | Permit only | – |
| Russell County | B / A / E | 1 | North | Not listed | Gator: Southeast |
| Tallapoosa County | A | 1 | North | Permit only | – |
| Elmore County | A | 1 | North | Permit only | – |
By the shading on the ADCNR zone map, Lee County reads as Zone A and B; that line follows roads, so hunters near it should check the map. (Zone A, Zone B; ADCNR deer zone map.) Zone A dates: bows from October 15, 2026, rifles on private land from November 21, 2026, and open-permit public land closes February 10, 2027. Bucks: three per season and one per day, one of them with at least four points on a side. Gobbler hunters in Lee County go by Zone 1 dates (March 20 to May 3). The North Zone sets dove dates for Lee County. Hunting deer or feral hogs over bait is legal here only on private or leased land with the Bait Privilege License, and never on public land.
Zones from the ADCNR deer zone map and descriptions, turkey zones, dove zones, the dog deer restrictions and the CWD Management Zone; bag limits and baiting from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Auburn 2026-27 hunting dates by species
WMAs, Special Opportunity Areas and national forest lands set their own dates on area permits; this table is for private land and open-permit public land in Lee County.
| Quarry | Segment | Zone or area | Begins | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | King, clapper, Virginia rail, sora, gallinule | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | King, clapper, Virginia rail, sora, 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.
Turkey harvest and CWD tests near Auburn
Lee County hunters reported between 137 and 208 turkeys through Game Check in 2025. Across Alabama, 17,049 gobblers were reported in 2025. ADCNR does not post county deer harvest totals, so the page has none.
| Where | 2025 harvest band |
|---|---|
| Lee County | 137-208 |
| Macon County | 137-208 |
| Russell County | 137-208 |
| Tallapoosa County | 209-296 |
| Elmore County | 137-208 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 2,826 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 2,677 | 5 |
| 2025-26 | 2,367 | 9 |
| 2026-27 | 45 | 0 |
Turkey from the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report (harvest classes read from the county map); deer from ADCNR deer hunting page; CWD tests statewide from ADCNR CWD sampling results. Checked November 1, 2026.
Special access areas near Auburn
The list holds every SOA and PDHA within 45 miles of Auburn, nearest first. The 2026-27 SOA deer drawing closed September 14, 2026. A non-hunting partner may help a disabled hunter at a PDHA shooting house.
| Area | From town | Program | Hunt days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon State Forest PDHA | 9.1 mi | Disabled hunters | Deer, by reservation |
| Uchee Creek SOA | 21 mi | SOA, draw | Nov 5-8 |
| Chalk Hill SOA | 22 mi | SOA, draw | Nov 5-8 |
| Jordan PDHA | 44 mi | Disabled hunters | Deer, by reservation |
From the ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas page and the 2026-27 PDHA map packet (lands.json); deadlines from regs.json. Checked November 1, 2026.
Nearest ADCNR help, Auburn
The Lee County district office is at 3520 Plaza Dr. in Enterprise. For a face-to-face visit, Montgomery is the nearest ADCNR office to Lee County. Licenses sell online, in the Outdoor Alabama app, at probate offices and at license agents; WFF offices answer WMA and draw questions.
WFF District IV office, Enterprise
ADCNR office in Montgomery, about 50 mi away
Offices from the ADCNR WFF district offices page (counties.json, services.json). Checked November 1, 2026.
Auburn and nearby, event dates
Kinds inside the 30-mile ring: DU chapter dinner, Field trial stake, SOA deer (gun) draw, SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw, SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw, SOA small game draw, SOA turkey draw and SOA waterfowl draw. Total: 13 upcoming dates. 11 of them are SOA draw hunts, open only to hunters drawn by ADCNR.
Scheduled
Auburn shooters: the three nearest ranges
The three closest ranges to Auburn, measured as the crow flies.
Barbour County WMA Shooting Range, about 43 miles away, is the ADCNR range closest to Auburn. Open
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 1, 2026.
Shooting light at Auburn
Mobile and Huntsville see sunrise many minutes apart in winter, so use the times worked out for Auburn.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:44 a.m. | 6:10 p.m. | 6:14 a.m.–6:40 p.m. | 6:14 a.m.–6:10 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:16 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 5:46 a.m.–5:09 p.m. | 5:46 a.m.–4:39 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:22 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 5:52 a.m.–5:07 p.m. | 5:52 a.m.–4:37 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:39 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 6:09 a.m.–5:09 p.m. | 6:09 a.m.–4:39 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:43 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–5:27 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–4:57 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:30 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 6:00 a.m.–5:51 p.m. | 6:00 a.m.–5:21 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:47 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–7:22 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–6:52 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.
Auburn, answered
Does a deer zone line cross Lee County?
Yes, Lee County shows Zone A and Zone B.
From start to finish, how long is gun deer season in Lee County?
November 21 to February 10, 2027 on private or leased land in Zone A.
What day does gobbler season begin around Auburn?
March 20, 2027 on private and open-permit land.
How does ADCNR treat dog deer hunting in Lee County?
No county limit is listed for Lee County; follow the zone dog dates.
Can landowners in Lee County put out supplemental feed?
Outside the CMZ it is not banned, but hunting over it needs the Bait Privilege License.
Is blaze pink legal in place of orange in Alabama?
Yes, solid fluorescent pink is legal; camo pink is not.
Does a Auburn hunter need a paper or app harvest record?
Yes, paper or in the Outdoor AL app, and only one at a time.
May I hunt a WMA near Auburn on a Sunday?
Only if its area permit lists Sunday as a hunt day.
What is the nearest deer processing shop to Auburn?
Hunter's Cabin Deer Processing, based in Phenix City, at 22 mi.
Whom should Auburn hunters ask about WMA dove fields?
Staff at the WFF District IV office, Enterprise, can help.
Which nearby towns also have hunting pages here?
The four closest are Opelika, Notasulga, Tuskegee and Reeltown.
How short is the trip from Auburn to public hunting land?
The shortest straight line runs to Tuskegee National Forest, whose nearest boundary is 7.7 miles away. The next area out is Macon State Forest Physically Disabled Hunting Area, whose nearest boundary is 9.1 miles away.
Does Auburn work as a base for hunting Alabama public land?
It has 2 listed areas and about 3,145 public acres inside 10 miles.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, counties.json, services.json and the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest; Game Check from the ADCNR Regulation Book, hunter orange from ADCNR, baiting from Code of Alabama, Sunday hunting from Code of Alabama 13A-12-1. Checked November 1, 2026.
Leaving Auburn to hunt
Orange or pink in gun season, a harvest record filled in before you move the deer, and Game Check within 48 hours keep an Alabama hunt legal.
Other photos on this page: US Forest Service – Southern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Maria Brindle (CC BY-SA 4.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).