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The Black Warrior and Cahaba river country, Birmingham and the western Black Belt
Autauga County Hunting
Plan a season in Autauga County: ADCNR deer Zone A, dated openers and closers, dog deer status, the 2025 turkey harvest class, about 10,545 mapped public acres and help near Prattville.
Photo: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0)
Mapped public acres of Autauga County
Autauga County holds 3 listed places where some hunting is allowed, led by Charles D. Kelley-Autauga Wildlife Management Area (10,463 acres). By GIS measure about 2.8% of Autauga County, some 10,545 acres, is public ground.
| Area | Kind | Acres | Game | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles D. Kelley-Autauga WMA | WMA | 10,463 | deer, turkey, ducks | 3 dove fields, no deer dogs |
| Pine Hills PDHA | Disabled hunting area | 85 | deer | disabled hunters, draw hunts |
| Alabama River Lakes (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) | Corps lake | — | — | — |
Main hunting areas of Autauga County
- Charles D. Kelley-Autauga Wildlife Management Area counts as a WMA with 10,463 acres on record. The record names deer, turkey, ducks and doves. Extra details: 3 dove fields, no deer dogs. The listed biologist answers at (334) 850-5459.
- At 85 acres, Pine Hills Physically Disabled Hunting Area gives Autauga County hunters another option. ADCNR lists deer among its game. The record adds disabled hunters, draw hunts.
- Alabama River Lakes (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) (Corps lake) spreads into Wilcox County, Dallas County and Lowndes County as well.
Nearby areas for Autauga County hunters
- Lowndes WMA13 miles from mid-county (15,920 ac)
- Prairie Creek PDHA16 miles from mid-county (129 ac)
- Prairie Glades SOA21 miles from mid-county (167 ac)
- Jordan PDHA23 miles from mid-county (198 ac)
- Coosa WMA28 miles from mid-county (17,486 ac)
- Old Cahawba Prairie Tract (Forever Wild)33 miles from mid-county (4,586 ac)
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.
Deer hunting rules for Autauga County
Zone A covers Autauga County on ADCNR's map; no second zone shows up inside the county. This reading comes from map shading, not a county list, because ADCNR draws the A/B line along roads.
Key deer dates for Autauga County
| Date type | Zone A |
|---|---|
| First archery day | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Youth deer days | Nov 13–Nov 16 |
| Muzzleloader, air rifle | Nov 16–Nov 20 |
| Rifle season starts | Nov 21, 2026 |
| Dog season ends | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Closing day | Feb 10, 2027 |
Alabama caps antlered deer at 3 per season and 1 per day, and one buck must have 4+ points on one antler.
Deer dogs and Autauga County
The dog deer lists skip Autauga County: dog hunting runs on the regular dog dates.
Autauga County and the Bait Privilege License
A Bait Privilege License ($18.95 / $65.25) is needed to hunt deer or hogs over bait on private land in Autauga County; it is required at every age. Public land stays bait-free: WMAs, SOAs, national forests, refuges, TVA and Corps land.
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.
Autauga County openers and closers by species
The 48 rows below cover private, leased and open permit-public land in Autauga 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 | |
| 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 | Rails and gallinules | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Rails and gallinules | 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.
Bird and alligator hunting in Autauga County
Turkey in Autauga County
Autauga County is in Turkey Zone 1. The 2027 spring opener is March 20; the last day is May 3. ADCNR binned Autauga County at 209-296 gobblers reported in 2025, the 3rd of five classes. For scale, the 2025 statewide Game Check total was 17,049.
Autauga County and the dove zones
Autauga County hunts doves under the North Zone dates; opening day shooting runs from noon to sunset.
| Part | Window |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Autauga County waterfowl zone
Waterfowl seasons in Autauga County run on the single statewide calendar.
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.
Autauga County offices and local help
Northport is home to the WFF District III staff who serve Autauga County. The nearest ADCNR office open to the public, Headquarters (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division) in Montgomery, is about 23 miles from mid-county in a straight line. District offices keep hours Monday to Friday, 9 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon, and take deer for CWD sampling; call ahead.
Autauga County towns and places
Census records show 3 incorporated places and 2 CDPs inside Autauga County. The largest by 2024 estimate: Prattville (40,139), Autaugaville (815) and Billingsley (128). Population: 61,464 in 2024 (4.5% gain on 2020); land area 594 square miles plus 10 of water.
- Prattvillepop. 40,139 · seat
- Autaugavillepop. 815
- Pine LevelCDP
Services near Autauga County
The county has 1 processor, 1 taxidermist, 4 gear shops and 1 guide or preserve on our list. Phone first, especially in November; hours are not verified here.
Autauga County neighbours compared
| Next door | Deer | Turkey | Dove | Dogs | Apart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chilton County | Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 23 miles |
| Lowndes County | Zone B | 1 | North | No rule | 27 miles |
| Elmore County | Zone A | 1 | North | Permit, stalk | 30 miles |
| Dallas County | Zone B/Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 31 miles |
| Montgomery County | Zone B/Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 34 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.
Autauga County ranges and shoot dates
Each Autauga County card gives the access rule and the source (2 ranges in all).
Nearest ADCNR shooting range: Coosa County WMA Range in Coosa County, about 32 miles from the Autauga County centre. Details
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
When shooting light starts in Autauga County
The times below use the solar formula for Autauga County rather than the Birmingham table in the Digest, which can be off by several minutes this far from Birmingham.
| Day | Marker | Sun up | Sun down | Game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:49 a.m. | 6:15 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:21 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-Nov. | 6:27 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:44 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:48 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:35 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:52 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:58 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.
Autauga County hunting questions
How many deer come out of Autauga County in a season?
ADCNR publishes no county deer harvest, so there is no figure.
On what date do rifles come out for deer in Autauga County?
November 21, 2026; stalk hunting on private land lasts to February 10, 2027.
Is Autauga County on either of the two dog deer lists?
Neither list names it.
From when to when can gobblers be hunted in Autauga County next spring?
March 20 to May 3, 2027 on private and open permit-public land.
Are teal and early geese hunted on the statewide dates in Autauga County?
Yes; teal and the September goose segment follow the statewide calendar.
If Autauga County is full, what public land sits closest outside it?
Lowndes Wildlife Management Area, about 13 miles from the county centre.
How far is the closest ADCNR office from the middle of Autauga County?
The Montgomery office lies about 23 miles from mid-county.
Are night hog hunts allowed in Autauga County?
Yes, on private or leased land in the nighttime season, with the nighttime feral swine and coyote license.
Who would skin and grind a Autauga County deer?
Ken's Deer Processing, Ratliff Deer Processing and Reed's Meat Processing top our distance list.
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.
Final details for a Autauga County outing
Rules here are for the 2026-27 license year; where this page and ADCNR differ, ADCNR wins.
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: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0).