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The northeast ridges, Lake Guntersville, the Talladega National Forest and the Coosa valley
Calhoun County Hunting
Deer zone, dates, dogs and public ground for Calhoun County, a WFF District II county around Anniston. Every rule and number on this page comes from ADCNR and the 2026-2027 Digest.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain)
Mapped public acres of Calhoun County
Shoal Creek Ranger District, 119,572 acres, tops the 3 public hunting areas we list for Calhoun County. Public ownership comes to around 36,612 acres, or 9.4% of the county. The Forest Service share, Talladega National Forest, is near 21,920 acres.
| Public area | Type | Size (ac) | Main game | Also |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoal Creek Ranger District | Ranger district | 119,572 | deer, turkey | — |
| Mountain Longleaf NWR | Refuge | 9,070 | deer, turkey, squirrels | — |
| Fort McClellan Training Center – Clarke Range Complex | Military land | — | deer | disabled hunters, draw hunts |
Calhoun County public land, the large blocks
- Shoal Creek Ranger District is a ranger district of about 119,572 acres that also reaches Cleburne County, Clay County and Cherokee County. Game listed for it includes deer and turkey.
- Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge covers 9,070 acres within Calhoun County. Expect deer, turkey, squirrels and rabbits on its permit.
- At an unlisted number of acres, Fort McClellan Training Center – Clarke Range Complex gives Calhoun County hunters another option. Expect deer on its permit. Extra details: disabled hunters, draw hunts.
Forest Service land here: Talladega National Forest
Close to Calhoun County, other counties
- Choccolocco WMACleburne County (56,838 ac), 14 miles
- Big Oak PDHACleburne County (1,839 ac), 17 miles
- Indian Mountain Complex (Forever Wild)Cherokee County (1,127 ac), 29 miles
- Talladega Ranger DistrictClay County and Talladega County (116,093 ac), 32 miles
- R. L. Harris PDHARandolph County (248 ac), 37 miles
- Hollins WMAClay County and Talladega County (28,802 ac), 43 miles
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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Calhoun County
How Alabama deer rules fall in Calhoun County
More than one deer zone reaches Calhoun County: Zone A (about 91%) and Zone E (about 9%) by the ADCNR map. The regulation text names Calhoun County for Zone E, but only the part inside the described roads and rivers belongs to it. ADCNR draws the Zone A and B line along roads and rivers, so the shares above are approximate; the map decides.
Calhoun County deer calendar in brief
| Marker | Zone A | Zone E |
|---|---|---|
| Bows from | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 |
| Under-16 gun hunt | Nov 13–Nov 16 | Oct 30–Nov 2 |
| Primitive and air rifle | Nov 16–Nov 20 | Nov 2–Nov 6 |
| First gun day | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Dog deer close | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 1, 2027 |
| Stalk season ends | Feb 10, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 |
The early zones (D, E) run from October 1 to January 27, and the last days are bucks-only archery. Bucks: 3 per season and 1 per day statewide, including one with 4 or more points on one antler.
Calhoun County dog deer restrictions
Calhoun County has no county dog deer restriction in the Digest.
Bait and feed in Calhoun County
Hunting over feed in Calhoun County needs the Bait Privilege License at $18.95 (resident) or $65.25 (nonresident), on private or leased land only. None of the public areas above may be hunted over bait.
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.
All Calhoun County hunting dates
Turkey, dove and deer rows here are the ones for the zones that touch Calhoun County.
| Species | Hunt | Applies in | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Deer Zone E | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone E | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone E | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone E | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone E | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone E | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late archery, bucks only | Deer Zone E | Jan 16, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone E | Jan 16, 2027 | Jan 27, 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, gallinules | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Rails, 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.
Calhoun County turkey, dove, duck and gator rules
Calhoun County turkey zone and harvest
For turkey, ADCNR places Calhoun County in Zone 1. Spring gobbler season on private and open permit-public land runs March 20 to May 3, 2027. In 2025, 297-444 turkeys were reported from Calhoun County, per the ADCNR class map; exact counts are not published. Statewide reports: 18,263 in 2024, 17,049 in 2025.
Calhoun County dove calendar
The dove North Zone covers Calhoun County, and each opening day starts at noon.
| Segment | Runs |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Calhoun County ducks, geese and coots
Calhoun County uses the statewide duck dates; only the Mobile-Tensaw Delta has its own hours.
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.
Calhoun County offices and local help
For district questions, Calhoun County hunters reach Jacksonville at (256) 435-5422. Straight-line distance from the county centre to the closest ADCNR office (Jacksonville) is about 8 miles. Office hours run Monday to Friday from 9 to 4 o'clock, and staff sample deer for CWD when you phone first.
Where to base a Calhoun County hunt
13 Census places sit in the county (7 incorporated, 6 CDPs). Biggest towns: Oxford (22,088), Anniston (21,127) and Jacksonville (14,651). Calhoun County spans 606 square miles and held 116,427 residents in 2024.
- Annistonpop. 21,127 · seat
- Jacksonvillepop. 14,651
- Weaverpop. 3,317
- ChoccoloccoCDP
- Nances CreekCDP
- White PlainsCDP
Services near Calhoun County
Our directory has 2 processors, 1 taxidermist and 9 gear shops inside Calhoun County. No guides and preserves turned up inside the county, so the cards below include neighbours. In-county businesses come first, then those in adjoining counties, by straight-line distance.
Next to Calhoun County
| Adjoining | Deer zone | Turkey | Dove | Dog status | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleburne County | Zone E/Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 19 miles |
| Etowah County | Zone C/Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 23 miles |
| Cherokee County | Zone A/Zone E | 1 | North | Stalk only | 23 miles |
| St. Clair County | Zone A/Zone C | 1 | North | No rule | 28 miles |
| Talladega County | Zone A | 3 | North | Permit only | 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.
Calhoun County sight-in spots and shoot dates
Within Calhoun County the guide finds 4 ranges; every card says who may shoot.
Without a club card, Calhoun County shooters can use Etowah Public Shooting Range in Etowah County, 22 miles away. Hours
Local shoot calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2026 | CMP match | Enter |
| Jan 30, 2027 | CMP match | Sign up |
| Jan 30, 2027 | CMP match | Enter |
| Jan 30, 2027 | CMP match | Sign up |
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Calhoun County shooting hours on key dates
Mobile and Huntsville see sunrise many minutes apart in winter, so use the times worked out for Calhoun County.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:47 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:21 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | November 14 | 6:26 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:44 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:48 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:33 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:49 a.m. | 6:54 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:54 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.
Calhoun County events and results
Booked inside the county: 1 upcoming date, namely Learn to Hunt workshop.
Still ahead
| Dates | Event | Where | Link | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2027 | Let's Talk Turkey Hunting (ADCNR Learn to Hunt workshop) | Choccolocco WMA near Piedmont | Register | Source |
Calhoun County hunting questions
Who would skin and grind a Calhoun County deer?
Thompson's Meat Processing Co, Buckstop Deer Processing and The Trading Post Processing top our distance list.
Are night hog hunts allowed in Calhoun County?
Yes, on private or leased land in the nighttime season, with the nighttime feral swine and coyote license.
On what date do rifles come out for deer in Calhoun County?
November 21, 2026 in Zone A; stalk hunting on private land lasts to February 10, 2027.
How many deer come out of Calhoun County in a season?
ADCNR publishes no county deer harvest, so there is no figure.
From when to when can gobblers be hunted in Calhoun County next spring?
March 20 to May 3, 2027 on private and open permit-public land.
Is Calhoun County on either of the two dog deer lists?
Neither list names it.
If Calhoun County is full, what public land sits closest outside it?
Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area, about 14 miles from the county centre.
Are teal and early geese hunted on the statewide dates in Calhoun County?
Yes; teal and the September goose segment follow the statewide calendar.
How far is the closest ADCNR office from the middle of Calhoun County?
The Jacksonville office lies about 8 miles from mid-county.
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.
Calhoun County season reminders
Dates on this page cover 2026-27 only; a new Digest comes out each summer.
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: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).