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Alabama county guide · 2026-27
Clarke County Hunting
Plan a season in Clarke County: ADCNR deer Zone B, dated openers and closers, dog deer status, the 2025 turkey harvest class, about 7,308 mapped public acres and help near Grove Hill.
Photo: Bec1971 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Clarke County WMAs, refuges and other public land
Clarke County holds 5 listed places where some hunting is allowed, led by Fred T. Stimpson Special Opportunity Area (5,280 acres). By GIS measure about 0.9% of Clarke County, some 7,308 acres, is public ground.
| Area | Kind | Acres | Game | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred T. Stimpson SOA | SOA | 5,280 | deer, turkey, rabbits | draw hunts |
| Upper State SOA | SOA | 1,918 | deer, turkey, coyotes | draw hunts |
| Upper State PDHA | Disabled hunting area | 1,915 | deer | disabled hunters, draw hunts |
| Alabama River Lakes (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) | Corps lake | — | — | — |
| Black Warrior and Tombigbee Lakes (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) | Corps lake | — | — | — |
Main hunting areas of Clarke County
- Fred T. Stimpson Special Opportunity Area (SOA, 5,280 acres) lies wholly inside Clarke County. The record names deer, turkey, rabbits and squirrels. Extra details: draw hunts.
- At 1,918 acres, Upper State Special Opportunity Area gives Clarke County hunters another option. ADCNR lists deer, turkey, coyotes and hogs among its game. The record adds draw hunts.
- Upper State Physically Disabled Hunting Area (Disabled hunting area, 1,915 acres) lies wholly inside Clarke County. ADCNR lists deer among its game. The record adds disabled hunters, draw hunts.
- Alabama River Lakes (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) has no published acreage across Clarke County, Wilcox County, Dallas County and Autauga County.
Nearby areas for Clarke County hunters
- Choctaw NWR23 miles from mid-county (3,917 ac)
- Choctaw NWR SOA23 miles from mid-county (3,969 ac)
- Red Hills WMA27 miles from mid-county (13,930 ac)
- Little River State Forest PDHA35 miles from mid-county (1,137 ac)
- Little River State Forest SOA36 miles from mid-county (2,929 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Clarke County
Deer hunting rules for Clarke County
Zone B covers Clarke 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 Clarke County
| Date type | Zone B |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Zone B bowhunters may take only antlered bucks from October 15 through October 24. 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 Clarke County
The dog deer lists skip Clarke County: dog hunting runs on the regular dog dates.
Clarke 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 Clarke 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.
Clarke County openers and closers by species
The 57 rows below cover private, leased and open permit-public land in Clarke County.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fall, first segment | Turkey Zone 3 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall, second segment | Turkey Zone 3 | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey Zone 3 | Mar 13, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | Turkey Zone 3 | Mar 19, 2027 | Mar 19, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Turkey Zone 3 | 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 | |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 1 | Southwest gator area | Aug 13, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 | |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 2 | Southwest gator area | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 | |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 3 | Southwest gator area | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 1 | West Central gator area | Aug 13, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 | |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 2 | West Central gator area | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 | |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 3 | West Central gator area | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 13, 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 | 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 Clarke County
Turkey in Clarke County
Clarke County is in Turkey Zone 3. The 2027 spring opener is March 20; the last day is May 3. Clarke County is among the six Zone 3 counties with fall turkey hunting, Nov 14–Nov 22 and Dec 12–Dec 27. ADCNR binned Clarke County at 297-444 gobblers reported in 2025, the 4th of five classes. For scale, the 2025 statewide Game Check total was 17,049.
Clarke County and the dove zones
Clarke 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 |
Clarke County waterfowl zone
Waterfowl seasons in Clarke County run on the single statewide calendar.
Clarke County gator season
The Southwest and West Central alligator management areas include Clarke County; hunters need a drawn Alligator Harvest Permit. Southwest: Private and public waters in Baldwin and Mobile north of I-10 and in Washington, Choctaw, Clarke and Monroe south of US 84. West Central: Monroe, Clarke and Choctaw north of US 84; Marengo west of AL 28 and south of US 80; Wilcox and Dallas (excluding Choctaw NWR).
| Area | Hunt | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest AMA | Alligator hunt 1 | Aug 13–Aug 16 |
| Southwest AMA | Alligator hunt 2 | Aug 20–Aug 23 |
| Southwest AMA | Alligator hunt 3 | Sep 10–Sep 13 |
| West Central AMA | Alligator hunt 1 | Aug 13–Aug 16 |
| West Central AMA | Alligator hunt 2 | Aug 20–Aug 23 |
| West Central AMA | Alligator hunt 3 | Sep 10–Sep 13 |
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; alligator areas from the 2026 alligator rules. Checked November 1, 2026.
Draw hunts on Clarke County SOAs
ADCNR runs random-draw hunts on 2 Special Opportunity Areas in Clarke County; the cost is a hunting license and WMA license before registering.
Fred T. Stimpson SOA
| Hunt | Dates |
|---|---|
| Antler limit | At least 3 antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main antler |
| Deer | Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Oct. 22-25, Jan. 7-10, Jan. 21-24, Jan. 28-31, Feb. 4-7 |
| Deer | Youth Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Nov. 14-15, Dec. 5-6, Dec. 26-27 |
| Turkey | April 2-4, April 9-11, April 16-18, April 23-25 |
| Rabbit & Squirrel | Youth – Oct. 10-11, Feb. 6-7 |
| Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
- SOA deer hunts (Cedar Creek, Little River SF, Portland Landing, Uchee Creek, Thigpen Hill, Blackwater River, Fred T. Stimpson, Upper State, Crow Creek, Chalk Hill, Shelby, Choctaw NWR)September 1 to September 14, 2026
- Fred T. Stimpson SOA youth small gameSeptember 1 to September 14, 2026
- SOA small game and turkey hunts (Cedar Creek, Portland Landing, Uchee Creek, Fred T. Stimpson, Upper State, Thigpen Hill, Blackwater River)December 1 to December 14, 2026
Upper State SOA
| Hunt | Dates |
|---|---|
| Antler limit | At least 3 antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main antler |
| Deer | Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Oct. 22-25, Nov. 19-22, Dec. 17-20, Jan. 14-17, Jan. 28-31, Feb. 4-7 |
| Turkey | April 2-4, April 16-18 |
| Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
- SOA deer hunts (Cedar Creek, Little River SF, Portland Landing, Uchee Creek, Thigpen Hill, Blackwater River, Fred T. Stimpson, Upper State, Crow Creek, Chalk Hill, Shelby, Choctaw NWR)September 1 to September 14, 2026
- SOA small game and turkey hunts (Cedar Creek, Portland Landing, Uchee Creek, Fred T. Stimpson, Upper State, Thigpen Hill, Blackwater River)December 1 to December 14, 2026
Hunt dates and draw rules from the ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas page (2026-27); deadlines from the ADCNR draw schedule. Checked November 1, 2026.
Clarke County support: district staff, towns, trade
Spanish Fort is home to the WFF District V staff who serve Clarke County. The nearest ADCNR office open to the public, WFF District 5 Office in Spanish Fort, is about 70 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.
Clarke County towns and places
Census records show 5 incorporated places and 3 CDPs inside Clarke County. The largest by 2024 estimate: Jackson (4,477), Thomasville (3,540) and Grove Hill (1,723). Population: 22,142 in 2024 (4.1% drop on 2020); land area 1,238 square miles plus 14 of water.
- Grove Hillpop. 1,723 · seat
- CarltonCDP
- RockvilleCDP
Clarke County meat, mounts and gear
The county has 2 taxidermists and 1 gear shop on our list. Missing inside the line: processors and guides and preserves. Phone first, especially in November; hours are not verified here.
Clarke County neighbours compared
| Next door | Deer | Turkey | Dove | Dogs | Apart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | Zone B | 3 | North | Permit only | 27 miles |
| Washington County | Zone B | 1 | North | No rule | 30 miles |
| Choctaw County | Zone B | 1 | North | Permit only | 33 miles |
| Wilcox County | Zone B | 1 | North | Permit only | 37 miles |
| Marengo County | Zone B | 1 | North | Permit only | 39 miles |
| Baldwin County | Zone B | 1 | South | Permit only | 71 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.
Clarke County ranges and shoot dates
Clarke County has no listed range; here are the closest three, with miles.
Nearest ADCNR shooting range: Upper Delta WMA Shooting Range in Baldwin County, about 38 miles from the Clarke 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 Clarke County
The times below use the solar formula for Clarke 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 | 6:53 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:24 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-Nov. | 6:30 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:47 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:51 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:38 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:57 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:02 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.
Clarke County events and results
County total as of November 1, 2026: 7 upcoming dates. Entry to the 4 SOA hunts comes through the ADCNR random draw.
Scheduled
| Held | Event | Where held | Action | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | 12th Annual Pine City Classic NWTF Turkey Calling Contest · turkey calling contest | Jackson | Event details | Source |
| Nov 14–Dec 27, 2026 | Fred T. Stimpson SOA youth deer hunt · SOA youth draw | Event details | Source | |
| Oct 22–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Upper State SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (archery) draw | Event details | Source | |
| Oct 22–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Fred T. Stimpson SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (archery) draw | Event details | Source | |
| Oct 10–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Fred T. Stimpson SOA youth rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA youth draw | Event details | Source | |
| Apr 2–25, 2027 | Fred T. Stimpson SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | Register | Source | |
| Apr 2–18, 2027 | Upper State SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | Register | Source |
Quick Clarke County rule answers
Roughly how many turkeys did Clarke County hunters check in 2025?
Somewhere from 297 to 444, the ADCNR class for the county.
Does the Mobile-Tensaw Delta duck rule touch Clarke County?
No; it covers parts of Baldwin and Mobile only.
About how many acres of public ground does Clarke County have?
Some 7,308 acres by GIS, across 5 listed areas.
Which Alabama district number is Clarke County in?
District V.
Can hunters go out on Sundays in Clarke County?
Yes; Alabama has had no Sunday hunting restriction since 2015.
How many processors does this page list around Clarke County?
This page shows 3 nearby: Douglas Deer Processing, Deer Processing Company and Stockton Deer Processor.
How does Clarke County stack up against other counties for deer killed?
It cannot be compared; county deer harvest is not published.
Which of the Alabama deer zones does the ADCNR map draw over Clarke County?
Zone B; the A/B split follows roads, so the map rules near that line.
When do the deer dogs go back in the kennel for good in Clarke County?
After January 15, 2027 on private land.
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 Clarke 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: James St. John (CC BY 2.0).