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Hunting from Houston County
Hunting land and seasons around Dothan, AL
Public land measured from Dothan, the 2026-27 deer, turkey and dove zones of Houston County, draw hunts within reach, legal light and the processors and shops nearby.
Photo: Gazebo and lamp posts on the lawn at Landmark Park in Dothan, the starting point of this page. Joseph Eagan (CC BY 2.0)
Two things put Dothan on this list: it is the Houston County seat, and its population is above 50,000. Its mid-2024 population estimate stands at 71,650. Inside 10 miles of Dothan the overlay counts some 387 acres of agency or federal parcels and no listed hunting area. Public polygons on the agency and federal maps cover about 391 acres of Houston County, 387 acres of Forever Wild tracts and 4 acres of Corps fee land among them. Before anything else, a straight line from Dothan reaches Fort Novosel, roughly 23 miles to its mapped centre.
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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Dothan
Dothan land list
All of these areas lie more than 10 miles from Dothan; distances run to each mapped centre.
| Name | How far | Land type | Manager | Way in | Size (ac) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Novosel | 23 mi NW | Military post | U.S. Army | Post access program | 57,036 | – |
| Coffee County (Victoria) PDHA | 40 mi NW | Disabled hunters | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 180 | Quota hunts |
| Pike County Pocosin Complex (Forever Wild) | 48 mi NW | Forever Wild tract | Forever Wild | License, free map | 332 | – |
| Geneva State Forest WMA | 48 mi W | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 16,093 | 1 dove field |
| Barbour WMA | 51 mi N | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 28,214 | 4 dove fields |
| Frank Jackson State Park SOA | 53 mi W | Park SOA, draw | State Parks | Draw, park fee | 391 | Quota hunts |
| Walter F. George Lake (Corps) | 54 mi N | Corps lake | Corps | Free Corps permit | – | District page unread |
| Eufaula NWR (Alabama portion) | 56 mi N | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge rules | 7,631 | Quota hunts |
| Dozier PDHA | 60 mi W | Disabled hunters | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 530 | Quota hunts |
| Shiloh Hill PDHA | 65 mi W | Disabled hunters | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 61 | Quota hunts |
Geneva State Forest Wildlife Management Area runs on its 2026-27 area permit, which sets the seasons, legal weapons and bag limits there. Call Lawson Amlong (biologist) at (334) 850-5458 with questions. Drawn hunters only at Frank Jackson State Park Special Opportunity Area, with one guest allowed on most hunts. Disabled hunters can reserve Coffee County (Victoria) Physically Disabled Hunting Area, 40 mi from Dothan. On Pike County Pocosin Complex (Forever Wild), county seasons and limits apply, with the free Forever Wild permit map in hand. Ask the Walter F. George Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) project office for the free permit and its map before hunting. Geneva State Forest Wildlife Management Area has 1 managed dove field on the ADCNR list, starting with Geneva WMA (browntop millet).
Dothan area notes
- Fort Novosel: 57,036 acres
- Coffee County (Victoria) PDHA: 180 acres; seasons for deer
- Pike County Pocosin Complex (Forever Wild): 332 acres; open for deer, turkey, waterfowl, feral swine
- Geneva State Forest WMA: Geneva County near Florala; 16,093 acres; seasons for turkey, waterfowl, deer, dove, rabbit (2026-27 permit)
- Barbour WMA: Barbour and Bullock Counties near Clayton; 28,214 acres; hunted for turkey, waterfowl, deer, dove, rabbit; no deer dogs (area permit map)
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.
Dothan SOA and PDHA options
From Dothan, the closest limited-quota ground starts 40 mi away at Coffee County (Victoria) Physically Disabled Hunting Area. PDHAs take hunters with a physician certification or an Alabama disabled license, by application and reservation, two or three days a week.
| Area | Miles off | Kind | What it offers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee County (Victoria) PDHA | 40 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.
County-by-county rules for Dothan hunters
Zones, dog rules and special areas change at county lines and road lines, which is why Dothan gets a county-by-county table.
| County | Deer | Turkey | Doves | Dogs for deer | Special rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County this county | B / A | 1 | South | Stalk only | Gator: Southeast |
| Dale County | B | 1 | South | Stalk only | Gator: Southeast |
| Coffee County | B | 1 | South | Stalk only | Gator: Southeast |
| Pike County | B | 1 | North | Not listed | – |
| Geneva County | B | 1 | South | Permit only | Gator: Southeast |
ADCNR shades Houston County as Zone B and A; since the boundary is road-defined, look at the map if your land lies near it. (Zone B, Zone A; deer zone map.) Archery in Zone B runs October 15 to February 10, 2027, and the private-land gun season opens November 21, 2026. Hunters may take three bucks a season (one a day); at least one of those must have four or more points on one side. Houston County bans dogs for deer. Houston County is turkey Zone 1; gobbler season runs March 20 through May 3, 2027. Houston County is in the dove South Zone; the first segment opens September 12, 2026. Alligator hunting in Houston County runs through the Southeast area drawing. No baiting on public land; on private or leased land a Bait Privilege License is required.
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.
Dothan processors and shops
Alabama keeps no public list of hunting guides or preserves, so those rows come from directory listings; phone before you drive. Taxidermy work near Dothan starts with David Collins Taxidermy, listed in Dothan. Ammo and licenses aside, Country Guns in Dothan is the first gear store we list. The nearest preserve or guide business is Southern Trophy Hunters, about 3.1 mi from Dothan.
| Kind | 15 mi | 35 mi | Closest listing | Distance | In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer cutting | 0 | 2 | B & B Deer Processing | 18 mi W | Daleville |
| Taxidermists | 3 | 4 | David Collins Taxidermy | at town | Dothan |
| Hunting retailers | 14 | 17 | Country Guns | at town | Dothan |
| Guide businesses | 1 | 1 | Southern Trophy Hunters | 3.1 mi W | Dothan |
Deer cutting
Taxidermists
Hunting retailers
Guide businesses
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.
Seasons open near Dothan
Gun deer dates differ for private or leased land and for open-permit public land, and dog hunting is limited by county, so read the season column closely for Houston County.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | 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 South Zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 12, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 2 | Dove South Zone | Sep 13, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 3 | Dove South Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 4 | Dove South 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 | |
| Alligator | Alligator season | Southeast gator area | Aug 8, 2026 | Sep 7, 2026 | |
| 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.
Dothan: gun clubs and ADCNR lines nearby
The three closest ranges to Dothan, measured as the crow flies.
The nearest state-run range is Barbour County WMA Shooting Range, 52 miles off. Hours
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 1, 2026.
Dothan turkey and CWD numbers
ADCNR bins Houston County at 76-136 gobblers reported in 2025. Alabama hunters reported 17,049 turkeys in 2025 against 18,263 the year before. Deer harvest by county is not published by ADCNR; this page leaves it out rather than estimate.
| County | Gobblers, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Houston County | 76-136 |
| Dale County | 297-444 |
| Coffee County | 209-296 |
| Pike County | 209-296 |
| Geneva County | 76-136 |
| Year | Tested | 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.
Dothan legal 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 | 6:43 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–6:41 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:13 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 5:43 a.m.–5:11 p.m. | 5:43 a.m.–4:41 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:18 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 5:48 a.m.–5:10 p.m. | 5:48 a.m.–4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:35 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:05 a.m.–5:13 p.m. | 6:05 a.m.–4:43 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:40 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 6:10 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:28 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 5:58 a.m.–5:53 p.m. | 5:58 a.m.–5:23 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.
ADCNR staff near Dothan
The WFF District IV office in Enterprise handles WMAs, dove fields and biologists for Houston County. District offices also take deer for CWD sampling during office hours.
Enterprise: ADCNR staff
Offices from the ADCNR WFF district offices page (counties.json, services.json). Checked November 1, 2026.
Asked about Dothan
Which venison processor lies closest to Dothan?
B & B Deer Processing of Daleville sits 18 mi away, the shortest haul on our list.
Which Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries district includes Dothan?
WFF District IV, run from Enterprise.
Name the four town pages nearest to Dothan.
Ozark, Abbeville, Enterprise and Geneva, ordered by distance from Dothan.
Leaving Dothan, which listed hunting land do I reach first?
Fort Novosel, roughly 23 miles to its mapped centre. Second on the list is Coffee County (Victoria) Physically Disabled Hunting Area, roughly 40 miles to its mapped centre.
Counting areas inside 10 miles, how many does Dothan have?
0 listed areas covering about 387 acres.
Are deer dates around Dothan set by Zone A or by Zone B?
Houston County reads as Zone B and A on the map.
What date does rifle season for deer start around Dothan?
On private or leased land in Zone B: November 21, 2026.
Which spring gobbler dates cover Houston County?
Zone 1 dates, March 20 to May 3, 2027.
Does Houston County allow dog deer hunting?
No, it is on the stalk-only list.
Could I hunt by a feeder on a WMA near Dothan?
No. Baiting is banned on WMAs, SOAs, federal land and other public land.
Are spring gobbler hunters near Dothan exempt from orange?
No, turkey hunters are exempt on private land; WMAs exempt only migratory bird hunters.
After a gobbler goes down near Dothan, what comes first?
Enter it on the harvest record before moving or dressing it, then use Game Check within 48 hours.
Do Dothan hunters lose Sundays during deer season?
Yes, unless an area sets other days.
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.
Dothan trip checklist
Before leaving Dothan, confirm the county and deer zone of the land you picked and whether it needs an area permit.
Other photos on this page: 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); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Maria Brindle (CC BY-SA 4.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).