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WFF District II county · 2026-27
Clay County Hunting
Deer zone, dates, dogs and public ground for Clay County, a WFF District II county around Ashland. Every rule and number on this page comes from ADCNR and the 2026-2027 Digest.
Photo: Derek Morrison (CC BY 2.0)
Land a Clay County hunter can walk onto
Shoal Creek Ranger District, 119,572 acres, tops the 3 public hunting areas we list for Clay County. Public ownership comes to around 68,011 acres, or 17.6% of the county. The Forest Service share, Talladega National Forest, is near 67,012 acres. We list 1,457 state park acres separately; they are not hunting ground in general.
| Public area | Type | Size (ac) | Main game | Also |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoal Creek Ranger District | Ranger district | 119,572 | deer, turkey | — |
| Talladega Ranger District | Ranger district | 116,093 | deer, turkey | — |
| Hollins WMA | WMA | 28,802 | turkey, ducks, deer | 2 dove fields, no deer dogs |
Clay County public land, the large blocks
- Shoal Creek Ranger District is a ranger district of about 119,572 acres that also reaches Cleburne County, Calhoun County and Cherokee County. Game listed for it includes deer and turkey.
- Talladega Ranger District covers 116,093 acres across Clay County, Talladega County and Cleburne County. Expect deer and turkey on its permit.
- At 28,802 acres, Hollins Wildlife Management Area gives Clay County hunters another option, shared with Talladega County. Expect turkey, ducks, deer and doves on its permit. Extra details: 2 dove fields, no deer dogs. Questions go to the biologist, (334) 753-7051.
Forest Service land here: Talladega National Forest
Close to Clay County, other counties
- R. L. Harris PDHARandolph County (248 ac), 13 miles
- Martin CHATallapoosa County (400 ac), 23 miles
- Mountain Longleaf NWRCalhoun County (9,070 ac), 31 miles
- Fort McClellan Training Center – Clarke Range ComplexCalhoun County, 31 miles
- Big Oak PDHACleburne County (1,839 ac), 36 miles
- Choccolocco WMACleburne County (56,838 ac), 37 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.
How Alabama deer rules fall in Clay County
Clay County falls in a single deer zone, Zone A, going by the ADCNR map. ADCNR publishes no county list for Zones A and B; its map is the authority.
Clay County deer calendar in brief
| Marker | Zone A |
|---|---|
| Bows from | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Under-16 gun hunt | Nov 13–Nov 16 |
| Primitive and air rifle | Nov 16–Nov 20 |
| First gun day | Nov 21, 2026 |
| Dog deer close | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Stalk season ends | Feb 10, 2027 |
Bucks: 3 per season and 1 per day statewide, including one with 4 or more points on one antler.
Clay County dog deer restrictions
Clay County has no county dog deer restriction in the Digest.
Clay County baiting rules
Hunting over feed in Clay 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 Clay County hunting dates
Turkey, dove and deer rows here are the ones for the zones that touch Clay 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Clay County turkey, dove, duck and gator rules
Clay County turkey zone and harvest
For turkey, ADCNR places Clay County in Zone 3. Spring gobbler season on private and open permit-public land runs March 20 to May 3, 2027. Fall segments run Nov 14–Nov 22 and Dec 12–Dec 27 in Clay County. In 2025, 137-208 turkeys were reported from Clay County, per the ADCNR class map; exact counts are not published. Statewide reports: 18,263 in 2024, 17,049 in 2025.
Clay County dove calendar
The dove North Zone covers Clay 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 |
Clay County ducks, geese and coots
Clay 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.
Offices, towns and shops around Clay County
For district questions, Clay County hunters reach Jacksonville at (256) 435-5422. Straight-line distance from the county centre to the closest ADCNR office (Jacksonville) is about 42 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 Clay County hunt
5 Census places sit in the county (2 incorporated, 3 CDPs). Biggest towns: Lineville (2,486) and Ashland (1,945). Clay County spans 604 square miles and held 14,239 residents in 2024.
Where Clay County hunters shop
Our directory has 1 gear shop inside Clay County. No processors, taxidermists and 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 Clay County
| Adjoining | Deer zone | Turkey | Dove | Dog status | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talladega County | Zone A | 3 | North | Permit only | 19 miles |
| Randolph County | Zone A | 3 | North | Stalk only | 23 miles |
| Tallapoosa County | Zone A | 1 | North | Permit only | 28 miles |
| Coosa County | Zone A | 1 | North | Permit only | 32 miles |
| Cleburne County | Zone E/Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk 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.
Clay County ranges, clubs and shoots
Sheppard Branch Range is the nearest listed range to Clay County, 17 miles from its centre.
Without a club card, Clay County shooters can use Coosa County WMA Range in Coosa County, 37 miles away. Hours
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Clay County shooting hours on key dates
Mobile and Huntsville see sunrise many minutes apart in winter, so use the times worked out for Clay 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 | 6:20 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | November 14 | 6:25 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:43 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:47 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:57 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.
What Clay County hunters keep asking
Which public tract in Clay County covers the most acres?
Shoal Creek Ranger District, about 119,572 acres.
Does Clay County have a random-draw SOA hunt?
No; no Special Opportunity Area lies in the county.
Could a black bear be taken legally in Clay County?
No; there is no open bear season anywhere in Alabama.
Which WFF district office looks after Clay County?
WFF District II, based in Jacksonville.
Why does this page show turkey numbers but no deer numbers for Clay County?
ADCNR maps turkey harvest by county class but publishes no county deer harvest.
Which deer processors on this page sit closest to Clay County?
East Alabama Deer Processing, nearest first; call before you drop off a deer.
Can a deer dog be used on public tracts around Clay County?
Only if the area permit says so; many WMAs prohibit dog deer hunting.
Does Clay County get the early D/E deer dates or the later ones?
The later dates: Zone A opens archery on October 15.
Which turkey zone number applies across Clay County?
Zone 3.
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.
Clay 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: Russ (CC BY 2.0).