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County seat Fort Payne
DeKalb County Hunting
Plan a season in DeKalb County: ADCNR deer Zone A, dated openers and closers, dog deer status, the 2025 turkey harvest class, about 7,552 mapped public acres and help near Fort Payne.
Photo: Shannon McGee (CC BY-SA 2.0)
DeKalb County public ground and acreage
DeKalb County holds 2 listed places where some hunting is allowed, led by Little River Canyon National Preserve (15,641 acres). By GIS measure about 1.5% of DeKalb County, some 7,552 acres, is public ground. State park acreage (1,824) is shown with an asterisk: it sits outside the hunting total.
| Area | Kind | Acres | Game | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little River Canyon National Preserve | National preserve | 15,641 | — | — |
| Little River WMA | WMA | 13,100 | turkey, ducks, deer | no deer dogs |
Main hunting areas of DeKalb County
- Little River Canyon National Preserve counts as a national preserve with 15,641 acres on record.
- At 13,100 acres, Little River Wildlife Management Area gives DeKalb County hunters another option, shared with Cherokee County. ADCNR lists turkey, ducks, deer and doves among its game. The record adds no deer dogs. Phone for the area: (256) 846-3004.
Nearby areas for DeKalb County hunters
- Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson County WMA)21 miles from mid-county (3,960 ac)
- North Sauty Refuge (Jackson County WMA)21 miles from mid-county (5,009 ac)
- Sauta Cave NWR21 miles from mid-county (270 ac)
- Jackson County Waterfowl Areas and Refuges (Jackson County WMA)22 miles from mid-county (26,934 ac)
- Mud Creek (Jackson County WMA)22 miles from mid-county (8,003 ac)
- Mud Creek (Wannville) Dewatering Unit Physically Disabled Waterfowl Hunting Blind22 miles from mid-county (0 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 hunting rules for DeKalb County
Zone A covers DeKalb 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 DeKalb County
| Date type | Zone A |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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 DeKalb County
The stalk-only list names DeKalb County.
DeKalb 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 DeKalb 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.
DeKalb County openers and closers by species
The 48 rows below cover private, leased and open permit-public land in DeKalb County.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | 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 | |
| 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 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 DeKalb County
Turkey in DeKalb County
DeKalb County is in Turkey Zone 1. The 2027 spring opener is March 20; the last day is May 3. ADCNR binned DeKalb County at 209-296 gobblers reported in 2025, the 3rd of five classes. For scale, the 2025 statewide Game Check total was 17,049.
DeKalb County and the dove zones
DeKalb 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 |
DeKalb County waterfowl zone
Waterfowl seasons in DeKalb County run on the single statewide calendar.
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 DeKalb County
Jacksonville is home to the WFF District II staff who serve DeKalb County. The nearest ADCNR office open to the public, WFF District 2 Office in Jacksonville, is about 41 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.
DeKalb County towns and places
Census records show 16 incorporated places and 0 CDPs inside DeKalb County. The largest by 2024 estimate: Fort Payne (15,017), Rainsville (5,931) and Henagar (2,322). Population: 73,122 in 2024 (2.1% gain on 2020); land area 777 square miles.
- Fort Paynepop. 15,017 · seat
- Valley Headpop. 595
DeKalb County hunting businesses
The county has 1 processor, 2 taxidermists and 5 gear shops on our list. Missing inside the line: guides and preserves. Phone first, especially in November; hours are not verified here.
DeKalb County neighbours compared
| Next door | Deer | Turkey | Dove | Dogs | Apart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 23 miles |
| Cherokee County | Zone A/Zone E | 1 | North | Stalk only | 28 miles |
| Marshall County | Zone C/Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 31 miles |
| Etowah County | Zone C/Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 31 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.
DeKalb County ranges and shoot dates
DeKalb County has no listed range; here are the closest three, with miles.
Nearest ADCNR shooting range: Etowah Public Shooting Range in Etowah County, about 27 miles from the DeKalb County centre. Details
Shoots in the county
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 7-8, 2026 | Gun show | Host page |
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
When shooting light starts in DeKalb County
The times below use the solar formula for DeKalb 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 | 6:47 a.m. | 6:10 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:22 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 5:52 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 5:52 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-Nov. | 6:28 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:46 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:49 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:34 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:20 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.
DeKalb County FAQ
Where do people in DeKalb 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 DeKalb 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 DeKalb County?
Live 2 Hunt Tax & Deer Processing.
What was last season's deer total in DeKalb County?
Unpublished; ADCNR releases no county deer figures.
What buck limit do hunters in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County need an ADCNR permit?
No county permit requirement applies here.
Are turkey decoys legal from the first day of spring in DeKalb County?
Yes. For 2026-27 decoys may be used all spring.
Do special duck hours apply anywhere in DeKalb County?
No; statewide waterfowl dates and hours apply.
Does any national forest acreage fall in DeKalb County?
No; none is mapped in the county.
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 DeKalb 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: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).