Home › Alabama › Counties › Dallas County
WFF District III county page
Dallas County Hunting
Dallas County sits in Zone B and Zone A for deer, Turkey Zone 1 and the dove North Zone. This guide lists every 2026-27 season date that reaches the county, 5 public areas inside its line and the ADCNR offices that serve it.
Photo: Civilengtiger (Public domain)
Open hunting ground inside Dallas County
Our Alabama land list has 5 hunting areas inside Dallas County; the largest is Oakmulgee Ranger District at 159,204 acres. Mapped public land in the county adds up to roughly 30,142 acres (4.8% of its land). National forest land (Talladega National Forest) makes up roughly 2,202 acres. The 989 acres of state park land are not counted, since Alabama state parks are generally closed to hunting.
| Area | Kind | Acreage | Game | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakmulgee Ranger District | Ranger district | 159,204 | deer, turkey | — |
| Portland Landing SOA | SOA | 9,940 | deer, turkey, doves | draw hunts |
| Charles F. Sykes – Cedar Creek SOA | SOA | 7,357 | deer, turkey, woodcock | draw hunts |
| Old Cahawba Prairie Tract (Forever Wild) | Forever Wild tract | 4,586 | deer, turkey, ducks | — |
| Alabama River Lakes (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) | Corps lake | — | — | — |
Dallas County areas worth a closer look
- The ranger district Oakmulgee Ranger District runs to 159,204 acres and crosses into Bibb County, Perry County and Hale County. Expect deer and turkey on its permit.
- Portland Landing Special Opportunity Area (SOA, 9,940 acres) lies wholly inside Dallas County. Hunters go there for deer, turkey, doves and quail. Look out for draw hunts.
- Charles F. Sykes – Cedar Creek Special Opportunity Area counts as an SOA with 7,357 acres on record. Hunters go there for deer, turkey, woodcock and quail. Look out for draw hunts.
- At 4,586 acres, Old Cahawba Prairie Tract (Forever Wild) gives Dallas County hunters another option. Its species list covers deer, turkey, ducks and hogs.
Across the Dallas County line
- Prairie Creek PDHA129 acres in Lowndes County; 20 miles off
- Lowndes WMA15,920 acres in Lowndes County; 21 miles off
- Pine Hills PDHA85 acres in Autauga County; 37 miles off
- Thigpen Hill SOA3,427 acres in Butler County; 37 miles off
- Charles D. Kelley-Autauga WMA10,463 acres in Autauga County; 39 miles off
- Marengo PDHA442 acres in Marengo County; 39 miles off
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 Dallas County
Dallas County deer zone and dog, bait rules
Deer zone lines cut through Dallas County: the ADCNR map shades Zone B (about 73%) and Zone A (about 27%) of the county. Zones A and B are not listed by county: the line follows highways and rivers, so near it check the ADCNR zone map before you hunt.
Dallas County deer dates by zone
| Season point | Zone B | Zone A |
|---|---|---|
| Archery opener | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Youth gun days | Nov 13–Nov 16 | Nov 13–Nov 16 |
| Muzzleloader season | Nov 16–Nov 20 | Nov 16–Nov 20 |
| Gun opener | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 |
| Last dog day | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Last day (stalk) | Feb 10, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 |
In Zone B the first ten days of archery, October 15 to October 24, are antlered bucks only. Three bucks a season, one per day, one with 4 or more points on a single antler: that is the statewide antlered limit.
Dallas County dog hunting status
No permit-only or stalk-only rule names Dallas County, so deer dogs may be used in the dog season.
Dallas County baiting rules
Bait is legal for deer and hogs in Dallas County only on private or leased land and only with a Bait Privilege License, which costs $18.95 for residents and $65.25 for nonresidents. Bait is never legal on WMAs, SOAs or federal land, including TVA and Corps ground.
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.
Every season that reaches Dallas County
Type a species to filter the 63 rows. WMA, SOA and national forest hunts follow their own permits.
| Species | Window | Reach | From | Through | Today? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 | 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 | |
| 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 | Rail and gallinule | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Rail and 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.
Dallas County small-zone rules for birds
Turkey hunting in Dallas County
Zone 1 is the turkey zone for Dallas County. Expect spring turkey from March 20 until May 3, 2027. The 2025 harvest class for Dallas County is 297-444 reported turkeys (ADCNR publishes ranges, not exact county counts). Alabama hunters reported 17,049 turkeys in 2025 and 18,263 a year earlier.
Dove shoots around Dallas County
Doves in Dallas County: North Zone segments, with shooting from noon to sunset on the opener.
| Segment | Dates |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Dallas County duck and goose notes
Duck, goose, coot and merganser dates in Dallas County are the statewide ones; there are no duck zones apart from the Mobile-Tensaw Delta rules.
Dallas County alligator area
Alligator hunting reaches Dallas County through the West Central area; permits come from a drawing. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
SOA draws in Dallas County
Draw hunts on 2 SOAs in Dallas County go to hunters picked at random, who get their own unit for 2-4 days.
Charles F. Sykes – Cedar Creek SOA
| Hunt | Days |
|---|---|
| Buck rule | Main beam spread 16" (outside the ears) or 18" main beam (3x length of ear) |
| Deer | Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Oct. 15-18, Oct. 22-25 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only: Nov. 5-8, Dec. 10-13 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Dec. 3-6, Dec. 26-29, Jan. 5-8, Jan. 14-17, Jan. 21-24, Feb. 4-7 |
| Deer | Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Nov. 17-20 |
| Turkey | April 2-4, April 9-11, April 16-18, April 23-25, April 30 – May 2 |
| Woodcock & Quail | Jan. 2-3 |
| Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, & Raccoon | Feb. 11-14, Feb. 18-21 |
| 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 adult waterfowl (Crow Creek, Uchee Creek, Portland Landing) and Cedar Creek adult woodcock/quailOctober 13 to October 26, 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
Portland Landing SOA
| Hunt | Days |
|---|---|
| Buck rule | Main beam spread 16" (outside the ears) or 18" main beam (3x length of ear) |
| Deer | Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Oct. 15-18, Oct. 22-25 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only: Nov. 5-8, Dec. 10-13 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Dec. 3-6, Dec. 26-29, Jan. 5-8, Jan. 14-17, Jan. 21-24, Feb. 4-7 |
| Deer | Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Nov. 17-20 |
| Turkey | April 2-4, April 9-11, April 16-18, April 23-25, April 30 – May 2 |
| Dove | Regular – Sept. 12 |
| Quail, Rabbit & Squirrel | Regular – Feb. 11-14, Feb. 18-21 |
| Quail, Rabbit & Squirrel | Mar. 5-7 |
| Waterfowl/Woodcock | Jan. 2-3 |
| 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
- Adult dove hunts (Prairie Glades, Blackwater, Little River SF, Portland Landing)September 1 to September 14, 2026
- SOA adult waterfowl (Crow Creek, Uchee Creek, Portland Landing) and Cedar Creek adult woodcock/quailOctober 13 to October 26, 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
- SOA feral swine hunts (Portland Landing, Thigpen Hill)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.
Dallas County contacts, towns and shops
Biologists and officers for Dallas County work out of Northport, the WFF District III office. Nearest ADCNR office: Montgomery, about 48 miles from the middle of Dallas County. The district staff work Monday to Friday from 9 to 4 and will sample a deer for CWD by appointment.
Towns in Dallas County
Dallas County has 3 incorporated towns and cities and 1 census-designated place. Leading towns by size are Selma (16,312), Valley Grande (3,914) and Orrville (140). About 35,545 residents (2024) live on 979 land square miles, 7.6% down since 2020.
- Selmapop. 16,312 · seat
- Valley Grandepop. 3,914
- Selmont-West SelmontCDP
Trade listings for Dallas County hunters
In Dallas County itself we found 2 processors, 1 taxidermist, 1 gear shop and 2 guides and preserves. Tags mark ADCNR program partners; untagged rows are from Yellow Pages and store locators.
Counties bordering Dallas County
| County | Deer zones | Turkey | Doves | Deer dogs | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | Zone A/Zone B | 1 | North | Stalk only | 24 miles |
| Wilcox County | Zone B | 1 | North | Permit only | 26 miles |
| Lowndes County | Zone B | 1 | North | No rule | 30 miles |
| Autauga County | Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 31 miles |
| Marengo County | Zone B | 1 | North | Permit only | 40 miles |
| Chilton County | Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 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.
Dallas County sight-in spots and shoot dates
No range in Dallas County is on file, so the three nearest to the county centre follow.
Marengo Public Shooting Range is the public shooting range nearest Dallas County, 42 miles away, with no range fee. Range page
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Dallas County shooting light
Migratory birds run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset; game animals get the extra half hour after sunset, unless a night season applies.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and game | Ducks, geese, doves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:51 a.m. | 6:17 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:23 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-November | 6:28 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:45 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:50 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:36 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:54 a.m. | 6:59 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:59 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.
Dallas County hunts, classes and dinners
This county shows 13 upcoming dates; the kinds are SOA deer (gun) draw, SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw, SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw, SOA feral hog draw, SOA small game draw, SOA turkey draw, SOA waterfowl draw and SOA woodcock and quail draw. Drawn hunters alone may take part in the 13 Special Opportunity Area hunts listed.
Dates to come
Dallas County, answered
What number rings the district office serving Dallas County?
(205) 339-5716 in Northport.
Are state parks around Dallas County open for deer hunting?
Generally no; only the two state park SOAs hold draw hunts.
Is a donated-venison processor listed near Dallas County?
See the Hunters Helping the Hungry tags in the services band; Nichols Deer Processing is nearest overall.
Does a 12-foot stand exempt a Dallas County deer hunter from orange?
Yes; hunters in a stand 12 feet or higher are exempt.
What day does deer hunting wrap up in Dallas County?
February 10, 2027, the last stalk-hunting day on private land in Zone B.
Does Game Check data for Dallas County deer appear anywhere public?
Not by county; ADCNR publishes no county deer harvest.
What was the 2025 turkey harvest class for Dallas County?
297-444 birds reported through Game Check; ADCNR prints ranges, not exact county counts.
Does the stalk-only list include Dallas County?
No, it is not on that list.
At what hour can dove hunters start shooting on opening day in Dallas County?
At noon; later days run from a half hour before sunrise to sunset.
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.
Dallas County trip reminders
ADCNR can change dates after the Digest prints; recheck the season pages before a Dallas County hunt.
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: born1945 (CC BY 2.0).