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County seat Clanton
Chilton County Hunting
A county guide to Chilton County, served by the WFF District III office in Northport: deer zones, season table, turkey class, alligator and SOA hunts where they apply, and public land.
Photo: formulanone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Chilton County public ground and acreage
The table below covers all 1 hunting area on our list that reach into Chilton County. GIS layers map about 24,352 public acres here, close to 5.5% of the land area. Talladega National Forest accounts for about 24,352 of those acres.
| Place | Type | Acres | Hunted for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakmulgee Ranger District | Ranger district | 159,204 | deer, turkey | — |
Biggest public areas in Chilton County
- Oakmulgee Ranger District covers 159,204 acres across Chilton County, Bibb County, Perry County and Hale County. ADCNR lists deer and turkey among its game.
Also in the county: Talladega National Forest
Public land just outside Chilton County
- Pine Hills PDHAAutauga County, 14 miles (85 ac)
- Coosa WMACoosa County, 19 miles (17,486 ac)
- Shelby SOAShelby County, 20 miles (1,198 ac)
- Charles D. Kelley-Autauga WMAAutauga County, 21 miles (10,463 ac)
- Cahaba River NWRBibb County, 24 miles (4,774 ac)
- William R. Ireland, Sr.-Cahaba River WMABibb County and Shelby County, 26 miles (35,559 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 rules that apply in Chilton County
For deer dates, Chilton County sits wholly in Zone A by the zone map. No county list exists for Zones A and B; confirm your stand on the official map.
Deer season markers for Chilton County
| Point | Zone A |
|---|---|
| Bow season starts | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Youth days | Nov 13–Nov 16 |
| Air rifle, muzzleloader | Nov 16–Nov 20 |
| Gun season opens | Nov 21, 2026 |
| Dog hunting closes | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Season closes | Feb 10, 2027 |
Each hunter gets three antlered bucks per season in Alabama, no more than one a day, with at least one showing 4+ points on one side.
Can you run deer dogs in Chilton County?
ADCNR bans dog deer hunting across Chilton County.
Chilton County baiting rules
On private or leased land in Chilton County, deer and feral hogs may be hunted over bait only with the Bait Privilege License ($18.95 resident, $65.25 nonresident). Public areas in the county are closed to hunting 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.
Chilton County season table for 2026-27
Statewide rows and the zone rows for Chilton County are merged here, 48 in all.
| Game | Method | Covers | Opening day | Closing day | 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 | |
| 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, sora, gallinule | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Rails, 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, doves and waterfowl in Chilton County
Chilton County turkey facts
Chilton County hunts turkeys under Zone 1 dates. Gobblers may be hunted from March 20 to May 3, 2027 outside WMAs and ranger districts. Game Check reports from Chilton County in 2025 fell in the 209-296 bird range on the ADCNR map, alongside 27 other counties. The state total was 17,049 birds in 2025, down from 18,263.
Chilton County dove segments
ADCNR lists Chilton County in the North Zone for doves, with a noon start on opening day.
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Waterfowl around Chilton County
Alabama has one statewide duck zone, so Chilton County follows the statewide waterfowl dates in the table above.
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.
Local help for a hunt in Chilton County
The WFF District III office in Northport covers Chilton County; call (205) 339-5716. The shortest hop to an ADCNR office is Montgomery, near 41 miles out. Visit Monday to Friday, 9 until 4; ask about CWD sampling when you call.
Chilton County town guides
The Census lists 4 places in Chilton County: 4 incorporated and 0 census-designated. Top three by 2024 population: Clanton (9,228), Jemison (2,999) and Thorsby (2,190). The county counted 47,262 people in 2024, 5.0% more than in 2020, on 693 square miles of land.
- Clantonpop. 9,228 · seat
- Maplesvillepop. 660
Chilton County hunting businesses
Businesses on file in Chilton County: 2 processors, 3 taxidermists and 3 gear shops. None of our guides and preserves are in Chilton County; the list reaches into adjoining counties. Call ahead: directory listings change, and only the tagged rows come from ADCNR.
Rules next door to Chilton County
| Neighbour | Deer zone | Turkey zone | Dove zone | Dog rule | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autauga County | Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 23 miles |
| Bibb County | Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 26 miles |
| Coosa County | Zone A | 1 | North | Permit only | 29 miles |
| Shelby County | Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 29 miles |
| Perry County | Zone A/Zone B | 1 | North | Stalk only | 36 miles |
| Elmore County | Zone A | 1 | North | Permit, stalk | 38 miles |
| Dallas County | Zone B/Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 42 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.
Chilton County: ranges, lanes and trap fields
4 ranges are on file for Chilton County, from ADCNR sites to gun clubs and indoor lanes.
Of ADCNR’s 12 public ranges, Coosa County WMA Range is closest, about 22 miles from the Chilton County centre. Full page
Chilton County shoot dates
| Date and shoot | Category | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 6-7, 2027 | Gun show | Posted at |
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Legal hours in Chilton County
ADCNR prints one sunrise and sunset table for downtown Birmingham and warns that other places can differ by 10 minutes or more, so the times below are worked out for Chilton County.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:50 a.m. | 6:15 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:22 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 5:52 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 5:52 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-fall | 6:28 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:45 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:49 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:36 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:26 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.
Chilton County FAQ
What buck limit do hunters in Chilton County work under?
Three antlered deer per season, never more than one a day, and one of the three needs 4+ points on a single antler.
Do dog deer hunters in Chilton County need an ADCNR permit?
No county permit requirement applies here.
Are turkey decoys legal from the first day of spring in Chilton County?
Yes. For 2026-27 decoys may be used all spring.
Do special duck hours apply anywhere in Chilton County?
No; statewide waterfowl dates and hours apply.
Does any national forest acreage fall in Chilton County?
Yes, Talladega National Forest.
Where do people in Chilton County pick up a hunting license?
Online, in the Outdoor AL app, from license agents or at a probate office.
Is putting out corn for deer legal in Chilton County?
Only on private or leased land with the Bait Privilege License, and never on public land.
Which processor is the shortest straight-line hop from Chilton County?
Reed's Meat Processing.
What was last season's deer total in Chilton County?
Unpublished; ADCNR releases no county deer figures.
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.
Chilton County reminders for 2026-27
Get written permission before hunting private land in Chilton County.
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: Tom (CC BY-SA 2.0).