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The Tennessee Valley, the Bankhead National Forest and the northwest Alabama hills
Cullman County Hunting
Cullman County hunting at a glance: zone lines from the ADCNR map, the dates that apply on private and open permit-public land, no listed public area and the services close to Cullman.
Photo: formulanone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mapped public acres of Cullman County
None of the WMAs, SOAs, refuges or disabled hunting areas on our Alabama list lies inside Cullman County, so most hunting here is on private or leased land. A mere 1 acre of the county is public on the layers we used. About 66 acres are state park land, which is generally closed to hunting.
A short drive beyond Cullman County
- Lewis Smith PDHA20 miles out, 10 acres in Walker County
- Bankhead NF27 miles out, 182,014 acres in Lawrence County and Winston County
- Bankhead Ranger District27 miles out, 182,014 acres in Lawrence County and Winston County
- Black Warrior WMA32 miles out, 91,263 acres in Lawrence County and Winston County
- Wheeler NWR32 miles out, 34,427 acres in Limestone County and Morgan County
- Swan Creek WMA37 miles out, 8,870 acres in Limestone County
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 Cullman County
Cullman County deer zone, dates and county rules
A zone boundary crosses Cullman County, leaving Zone C (about 72%), Zone A (about 25%) and Zone D (about 4%) by map share. Zone C and Zone D name Cullman County in their descriptions, limited to the described boundary. No county list exists for Zones A and B; the boundary runs along highways and rivers, so check the official map near it.
Cullman County deer openers and closers
| Item | Zone C | Zone A | Zone D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery opens | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 |
| Youth season | Nov 13–Nov 16 | Nov 13–Nov 16 | Oct 30–Nov 2 |
| Muzzleloader window | Nov 16–Nov 20 | Nov 16–Nov 20 | Nov 2–Nov 6 |
| Gun deer opens | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Dogs end, private land | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 1, 2027 |
| Deer close | Feb 10, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 |
The D and E rows start sooner than the rest of the state, with bows from October 1 and guns from November 7. Zone C allows one unantlered deer a day (plus one antlered) on either-sex dates, half the doe limit of the other zones. The buck limit is three a season (one a day); one of those must have at least 4 points on an antler.
Cullman County and deer dogs
ADCNR puts no county dog restriction on Cullman County; the dog season rows above apply.
Bait and feed in Cullman County
The Bait Privilege License, $18.95 for residents and $65.25 for nonresidents, covers deer and hog bait on private land in Cullman County. Baiting is banned on every WMA, SOA and federal tract.
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.
2026-27 calendar for Cullman County
86 dated rows reach Cullman County; zone rows are already matched to the county, and the last column compares each with today.
| Animal | Season type | Where | Start | Finish | Right 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone C | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone C | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone C | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone D | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone D | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone D | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone D | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late archery, bucks only | Deer Zone D | 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 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey Zone 2 | Mar 20, 2027 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | Turkey Zone 2 | Mar 26, 2027 | Mar 26, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Turkey Zone 2 | Mar 27, 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 | Marsh birds | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Marsh birds | 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.
Cullman County bird seasons and zones
Spring turkey around Cullman County
The turkey zone list puts Cullman County under Zone 1 and 2. Split: Zone 2 north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman CR 437 and west of I-65; rest of Cullman Zone 1. Spring turkey dates: March 20 through May 3, 2027. ADCNR's 2025 turkey report shades Cullman County in the 76-136 class, meaning hunters reported between 76 and 136 birds through Game Check; 7 other counties share that class. Across Alabama, reported gobblers fell from 18,263 (2024) to 17,049 (2025).
Cullman County dove dates
Cullman County is a North Zone dove county; the opener is a noon start.
| Segment | From and to |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Cullman County duck hunting
For ducks and geese, Cullman County follows the statewide zone.
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.
Cullman County offices and local help
Cullman County belongs to WFF District I, run from the office in Tanner ((256) 353-2634). About 37 miles separates mid-county from the nearest ADCNR office in Tanner. Doors are open Monday to Friday between 9 and 4, with CWD sampling of deer offered if you ring first.
Cullman County communities
Of 14 Census places in Cullman County, 12 are incorporated. Cullman (20,239), Hanceville (3,346) and Good Hope (2,646) are the largest. Census Vintage 2024 puts Cullman County at 92,604 residents, 5.4% above the 2020 base.
- Cullmanpop. 20,239 · seat
Services near Cullman County
Cullman County listings: 3 processors, 1 taxidermist and 6 gear shops. For guides and preserves, look across the line. ADCNR lists supply the HHH processors and CWD partners; other listings are directory entries not checked as open.
Cullman County adjoining counties
| County | Deer | Turkey | Dove | Dogs | Centre to centre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blount County | Zone C/Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 20 miles |
| Morgan County | Zone C/Zone D | 2 | North | Stalk only | 22 miles |
| Winston County | Zone D/Zone A/Zone C | 2 | North | Stalk only | 28 miles |
| Marshall County | Zone C/Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 34 miles |
| Walker County | Zone A/Zone C | 1 | North | No rule | 34 miles |
| Lawrence County | Zone D/Zone C | 2 | North | Stalk only | 38 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.
Cullman County: ranges, lanes and trap fields
Cullman County has 7 listed ranges; Cullman Community Archery Park is the public ADCNR option.
| Facility | Place | What it offers | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilborn Outdoors archery range | Cullman County | archery | Access not stated |
Swan Creek WMA Range in Limestone County is the nearest state-run range, roughly 39 miles. Open it
Upcoming here
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 5-6, 2026 | Gun show | Source page |
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
First and last legal light in Cullman County
Deer, turkey and other resident game may be hunted from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset; ducks, geese and doves stop at sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:51 a.m. | 6:15 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:26 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Two weeks in | 6:31 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:49 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:53 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:38 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:23 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.
Cullman County hunting questions
Are teal and early geese hunted on the statewide dates in Cullman County?
Yes; teal and the September goose segment follow the statewide calendar.
From when to when can gobblers be hunted in Cullman County next spring?
March 20 to May 3, 2027 on private and open permit-public land.
How far is the closest ADCNR office from the middle of Cullman County?
The Tanner office lies about 37 miles from mid-county.
If Cullman County is full, what public land sits closest outside it?
Lewis Smith Physically Disabled Hunting Area, about 20 miles from the county centre.
Who would skin and grind a Cullman County deer?
Brickyard Meat Processing Inc, Brothers Processing and Chapel Valley Deer Processing top our distance list.
Are night hog hunts allowed in Cullman 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 Cullman County?
November 21, 2026 in Zone C; stalk hunting on private land lasts to February 10, 2027.
How many deer come out of Cullman County in a season?
ADCNR publishes no county deer harvest, so there is no figure.
Is Cullman County on either of the two dog deer lists?
Neither list names it.
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.
Before heading to Cullman County woods
Near a zone line in Cullman County, the ADCNR zone map decides which dates apply.
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).