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From the ADCNR pages and the 2026-27 Digest
Alabama Hunting
107 public hunting places from the Tennessee Valley to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, all 67 counties, 151 base towns, deer Zones A to E and the CWD Management Zone, Special Opportunity Area draws and all 73 license rows, each checked against Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources sources on November 1, 2026.
Photo: National Park Service (Public domain)
Alabama seasons open right now
Pulled from the 169 season rows ADCNR published for 2026-27. Deer dates hang on the zone, turkey dates on Zones 1 to 3 and dove dates on the North or South zone, so match the zone column to your ground; the Today column reads the date on your own device.
Seasons running on Nov 2, 2026: 21 rows
| Game | Season or segment | Applies in | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundhog | Beaver, nutria, groundhog | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Bullfrog and Pig Frog | Bullfrog and pig frog | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Feral Swine | Feral swine | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Red and Gray Fox | Fox | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Virginia Opossum | Opossum | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| American Crow | Unprotected birds | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Eastern Cottontail and Swamp Rabbit | Rabbits | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray and Fox Squirrels | Squirrels | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Archery | Zone D | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Archery | Zone E | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Archery | Zone A | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Archery | Zone C | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Archery | CWD zone | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Archery | Zone B | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Youth gun | Zone D | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Youth gun | Zone E | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Zone D | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Zone E | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 |
The next twelve openers
| Game | Season or segment | Applies in | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Bobwhite | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Wilson's Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Youth gun | Zone A | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed Deer | Youth gun | Zone B | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 |
Trapping rows and the four no-season species stay on the season and species pages. Sources: ADCNR seasons and bag limits; deer dates, Digest p. 23; turkey zones, Digest p. 30; 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guide, held against the ADCNR wording on November 1, 2026.
Where Alabama hunters can walk onto public ground
ADCNR's seasons page puts Alabama's public hunting land at more than 1.3 million acres, and its WMA page says the Division manages over 750,000 acres for hunters, about 38,000 of them private land leased in kind. By GIS measure the ADCNR WMA layer covers about 762,538 acres and the four national forests about 677,405 acres of Forest Service land.
| Public land hub | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Wildlife management areas, units and community hunting areas | 29 WMAs, 6 units, 2 CHAs |
| Special Opportunity Areas, drawn by lottery | 15 areas |
| Physically Disabled Hunting Areas | 17 areas and 1 blind |
| Forever Wild Land Trust tracts | 10 tracts, 1 field trial area |
| National forests, refuges, the preserve and posts | 4 forests, 8 refuges, 2 posts |
| Army Corps lake projects open to hunters | 5 lake projects |
| Programs: CHAs, field trials, dove fields | Statewide programs |
| WMA dove fields | 35 fields on 19 areas |
| Statewide land map | 107 pins |
The land hub also lists 11 state parks, refuges and other places that stay closed to hunting, with the reason each manager gives. Public land hub
Every land page carries its own source links; GIS acres are polygon measures, not official acreages. Sources: ADCNR WMA page; ADCNR Where to Hunt; ADCNR dove field page; ADCNR seasons page, held against the ADCNR wording on November 1, 2026.
All Alabama hunting ground with a map point
107 places with a map point, from Freedom Hills and Swan Creek along the Tennessee River to Barbour in the Wiregrass and the Upper Delta above Mobile Bay. Bigger dots flag tracts of 10,000 acres and up.
Alabama deer zones and the other rule maps
Alabama splits deer hunting into Zones A, B, C, D and E plus the CWD Management Zone of Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties. Zones D and E open earliest, archery on Oct 1 and gun on Nov 7, and close Jan 27, 2027; the rest open archery on Oct 15 and run gun season to Feb 10, 2027.
| Deer zone | Counties | How listed | Archery opens | Gun opens | Gun closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A | 41 | Map shading | Oct 15 | Nov 21 | Feb 10, 2027 |
| Zone B | 29 | Map shading | Oct 15 | Nov 21 | Feb 10, 2027 |
| Zone C | 11 | Named in text | Oct 15 | Nov 21 | Feb 10, 2027 |
| Zone D | 4 | Named in text | Oct 1 | Nov 7 | Jan 27, 2027 |
| Zone E | 5 | Named in text | Oct 1 | Nov 7 | Jan 27, 2027 |
| CWD Management Zone | 3 | Named in text | Oct 15 | Nov 21 | Feb 10, 2027 |
| Other rule set | Reach |
|---|---|
| CWD Management Zone | 3 counties |
| Turkey Zones 1, 2, 3 | 53, 9, 6 counties |
| Fall turkey | 6 Zone 3 counties |
| Dove North and South | 58 and 9 counties |
| Mobile-Tensaw Delta WMZ | Baldwin and Mobile |
| Dog deer by permit only | 16 counties |
| Stalk hunting only | 29 counties |
| Alligator management areas | 5 areas |
| Special Opportunity Areas | 13 draw areas |
| Baiting rules | Bait Privilege License |
Zone A and B lines follow highways and rivers rather than county lines, so a county can sit in both; the counts come from shading on the ADCNR zone map, and anyone near a line should read the boundary text before hunting.
Sources: deer zone map; CMZ rule; turkey zones; dove zones; waterfowl zones; dog deer rules, held against the ADCNR wording on November 1, 2026.
Alabama hunting by the numbers
Turkey hunters reported 17,049 gobblers through Game Check in 2025, down from 18,263 in 2024, while the post-season survey put the take near 41,869 birds. For deer ADCNR gives only a statewide statement: about 180,000 hunters who typically take more than 300,000 deer a year. The CWD results table logged 2,367 tests for the 2025-26 season.
Acres are a GIS union of public land polygons, not an official acreage. ADCNR publishes no deer harvest by year or county. Sources: 2025 Wild Turkey Report; crane harvest report; ADCNR CWD results table; ADCNR deer hunting page, held against the ADCNR wording on November 1, 2026.
Alabama species pages: 44 game, furbearer and protected animals
Whitetails statewide by zone, spring gobblers in three zones with a fall season only in six Zone 3 counties, ducks and geese on the Tennessee River reservoirs and the Delta, feral hogs year-round, alligators by drawing in five areas and sandhill cranes by permit in the north. Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Red Wolf and Ruffed Grouse have no open season, and their pages say why.
Black Bear · Mourning Dove · White-winged Dove · Canada goose · Light geese · American Coot · Mergansers · Sandhill Crane · Rails gallinules · American Woodcock · Wilson's Snipe · Gray and Fox Squirrels · Rabbits · Ruffed Grouse · Groundhog · Bullfrog and Pig Frog · Raccoon · Virginia Opossum · Beaver · Nutria · Coyote · Bobcat · Red and Gray Fox · Mink · Muskrat · River Otter · Striped Skunk · American Crow · European Starling · House (English) Sparrow · Mountain Lion · Red Wolf · Eastern Spotted Skunk · Long-tailed Weasel · Marsh Rabbit · Appalachian Cottontail · Eurasian Collared-Dove · Rock Pigeon
Five WFF districts, 67 county pages
The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division works Alabama from five district offices in Tanner, Jacksonville, Northport, Enterprise and Spanish Fort, with headquarters in Montgomery. Pick a county for its deer zone with the map caveat, turkey and dove zone, dog deer status, public land by kind, the 2025 turkey harvest class and the nearest office.
WFF District I: the Tennessee Valley, the Bankhead National Forest and the northwest Alabama hills
Blount, Colbert, Cullman, Fayette, Franklin, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Walker, Winston
WFF District II: the northeast ridges, Lake Guntersville, the Talladega National Forest and the Coosa valley
Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Marshall, Randolph, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa
WFF District III: the Black Warrior and Cahaba river country, Birmingham and the western Black Belt
Autauga, Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lowndes, Perry, Pickens, Shelby, Sumter, Tuscaloosa
Districts follow county lines. Sources: Digest district offices page; WFF districts layer, held against the ADCNR wording on November 1, 2026.
Eight Alabama rules worth knowing before the first hunt
Licenses
Residents 16 to 64 pay $35.30 for an all game license and $23.40 for small game; a nonresident all game license is $411.45 a year or $179.05 for three days.
Harvest record and Game Check
Every deer and turkey goes on the harvest record before it is moved and into Game Check within 48 hours, by app, online or phone.
Orange or pink
During gun deer dates, 144 square inches of hunter orange or fluorescent pink above the waist, or a full-size orange or pink cap; on WMAs it applies all season.
Bait Privilege License
Deer and feral swine may be hunted over bait only on private or leased land and only with the Bait Privilege License, $18.95 for residents; never on public land or in the CWD zone.
Legal hours
Deer and other resident game from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; waterfowl to sunset; doves from noon on each zone opener.
Sundays
No Sunday restriction: Code of Alabama 13A-12-1 was repealed in 2015, and seasons run every day of the week.
Drawings
Special Opportunity Area deer draws closed Sep 14, 2026; small game, turkey and hog draws open Dec 1, 2026.
Youth and veterans
Hunters under 16 need no license, youth deer days run before gun season in every zone, and youth, veterans and active military share two waterfowl days.
Sources: license prices, Digest p. 42; Game Check rule; ADCNR hunter orange page; Code of Ala. 9-11-244; hours, Digest p. 52; Code of Ala. 13A-12-1; SOA page; youth, Digest p. 54, held against the ADCNR wording on November 1, 2026.
Alabama banquets, draw hunts and shooting ranges
121 hunting events are dated from Nov 2, 2026 on: conservation banquets, ADCNR youth hunts and hunter education classes, bird dog field trials, coon hunts and the SOA draw hunt dates. ADCNR runs public shooting ranges and community archery parks open to anyone holding a qualifying license.
| Date | Event | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2, 2026 | Conecuh Station Open Shooting Dog Classic 2026 | Union Springs, Bullock County | Field trial |
| Nov 5, 2026 | Alabama Deer Management & Herd Health Field Talks seminar | Eastaboga, Talladega County | Class |
| Nov 5, 2026 | Cedar Creek SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only | Dallas County | Draw hunt |
| Nov 5, 2026 | Chalk Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only | Tallapoosa County | Draw hunt |
| Nov 5, 2026 | Colbert-Lawrence Ducks Unlimited Dinner | Sheffield, Colbert County | Banquet |
| Nov 5, 2026 | Demopolis Ducks Unlimited Annual Steak Dinner and Auction | Demopolis, Marengo County | Banquet |
Processors, taxidermists, shops and offices across Alabama
Deer processors
65 on the list; 7 take donated deer for Hunters Helping the Hungry.
Taxidermists
75 shops from business listings and the ADCNR CWD sampling pages.
Preserves and guides
40 preserves, game farms and guide services from business listings.
Gun and bow shops
284 gun, archery and outdoor shops, chain stores included.
ADCNR offices
7 offices: Montgomery headquarters, five WFF district offices and the Demopolis office.
All services
One Alabama map with every listing, plus a near-me sort.
Sources: HHH processor list; ADCNR CWD sampling page; district offices, held against the ADCNR wording on November 1, 2026.
Alabama hunting questions
How many acres of public hunting ground are there in Alabama?
ADCNR's seasons page says more than 1.3 million acres. By GIS measure the public land polygons in Alabama add up to about 1,434,452 acres, counting WMAs, Forever Wild tracts, SOAs, the national forests, refuges, Corps and TVA land and Little River Canyon.
How do Special Opportunity Area hunts work?
Limited-quota draw; cost = Alabama hunting license + WMA license before registering (plus HIP/stamps for migratory birds). Selected hunter and guests get a dedicated unit for 2-4 days.
Does Alabama still restrict hunting on Sundays?
Yes. The old Sunday law, Code of Alabama 13A-12-1, was repealed in 2015, so seasons and legal hours run every day.
When does gun deer season open in Alabama?
Nov 7, 2026 in Zones D and E and Nov 21, 2026 in Zones A, B, C and the CWD Management Zone, on private and leased land and open-permit public land. WMAs set their own dates.
What is the Alabama buck limit for a season?
Three antlered deer a season, one a day, and one of the three must have at least 4 points on one antler. In Barbour County every buck needs 3 or more points on one side.
When may Alabama hunters shoot deer over corn or other bait?
Only on private or leased land and only with a Bait Privilege License, $18.95 for residents and $65.25 for nonresidents. Bait is banned on public land and anywhere in the CWD Management Zone.
Where is chronic wasting disease in Alabama?
ADCNR confirmed CWD in Lauderdale County in January 2022 and in Colbert County in December 2024. Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin form the CWD Management Zone, with mandatory sampling weekends and carcass rules.
Can black bears be hunted anywhere in Alabama?
No. Black bear, mountain lion, red wolf and ruffed grouse have no open season, and taking a bear is a Class A misdemeanor.
What does an out-of-state hunter pay in Alabama?
$411.45 for an annual all game license, $253.95 for 10 days or $179.05 for 3 days, plus $23.40 for the WMA license.
Where can I find Alabama deer harvest totals by county?
No. ADCNR gives only a statewide statement for deer; turkey harvest appears by county as 2025 Game Check harvest classes.
Plan an Alabama season
Start with a county for its deer zone, CWD status, dog rules and public land, or with a town for the nearest WMA, a processor and a range down the road.
Other photos on this page: Steven Polunsky (CC BY 2.0); Fredlyfish4 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Toby Gray (CC0 1.0); US Forest Service – Southern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Shannon McGee (CC BY-SA 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); 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); kevin dooley (CC BY 2.0); Darron Birgenheier (CC BY-SA 2.0); formatc1 (CC BY-SA 2.0).