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Alabama county guide · 2026-27
Escambia County Hunting
Where and when to hunt Escambia County in 2026-27: Zone B, turkey and dove zones, public land by kind, nearby WMAs and refuges, offices, shops and legal light times.
Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Escambia County WMAs, refuges and other public land
Inside the county line you can choose from 3 listed areas, with Conecuh Ranger District the biggest (85,366 acres). The agency and federal layers show 32,181 public acres, about 5.3% of Escambia County. Some 29,307 acres are USFS land in Conecuh National Forest.
| Name | Kind | Acres | Species | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conecuh Ranger District | Ranger district | 85,366 | deer, turkey | — |
| Little River State Forest SOA | SOA | 2,929 | deer, doves, turkey | draw hunts |
| Little River State Forest PDHA | Disabled hunting area | 1,137 | deer | disabled hunters, draw hunts |
Top areas by size in Escambia County
- Conecuh Ranger District (Ranger district, 85,366 acres) spreads into Covington County as well. Its species list covers deer and turkey.
- The SOA Little River State Forest Special Opportunity Area runs to 2,929 acres. The record names deer, doves, turkey and quail. Listed extras: draw hunts.
- Little River State Forest Physically Disabled Hunting Area covers 1,137 acres across Escambia County and Monroe County. The record names deer. Listed extras: disabled hunters, draw hunts.
USFS land in this county: Conecuh National Forest
Next-door public ground for Escambia County
- Splinter Hill Bog Complex (Forever Wild)30 miles (631 ac)
- Boggy Hollow WMA31 miles (7,000 ac)
- Perdido River WMA35 miles (17,337 ac)
- Blue Spring WMA37 miles (24,783 ac)
- Shiloh Hill PDHA40 miles (61 ac)
- Red Hills WMA44 miles (13,930 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 Escambia County
Escambia County deer zones explained
All of Escambia County reads as Zone B on the ADCNR deer zone map. Zone B membership is read from the ADCNR map, since the A/B line runs along highways and rivers.
When deer season runs in Escambia County
| Window | Zone B |
|---|---|
| Archery begins | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Youth gun hunt | Nov 13–Nov 16 |
| Muzzleloader days | Nov 16–Nov 20 |
| Gun deer from | Nov 21, 2026 |
| Dogs through | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Final day | Feb 10, 2027 |
The Zone B archery opener (October 15) is antlered-only until October 24. Statewide, a hunter may take 3 antlered deer a season, one a day, and one of the three must carry 4 or more points on one antler.
Dog deer rules in Escambia County
Escambia County is on neither the permit-only nor the stalk-only list, so dog deer hunting follows the regular dog dates on private land and open permit-public land.
Escambia County bait status
Private and leased land in Escambia County allows deer and hog baiting with the Bait Privilege License ($18.95 R, $65.25 NR). The bait license does not apply on any public 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.
Escambia County dates for deer, birds and small game
Dates come from ADCNR and the Digest: 49 rows for Escambia County, earliest first within each species.
| Quarry | Segment | Zone or area | Begins | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 South Zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 12, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 2 | Dove South Zone | Sep 13, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 3 | Dove South Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 4 | Dove South 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 sora | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Rails and sora | 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.
Birds and gators in Escambia County
Escambia County gobbler season
Gobbler dates for Escambia County come from Turkey Zone 1. The spring season here opens March 20 and closes May 3, 2027. Escambia County landed in the 209-296 class of the 2025 turkey harvest map, class 3 of 5. Statewide, Game Check counted 17,049 birds in 2025 against 18,263 in 2024.
Dove season in Escambia County
Dove dates for Escambia County follow the South Zone; on the first day of the season, shooting begins at noon.
| Split | Dates |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 12 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 13–Oct 25 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Escambia County waterfowl rules
No separate duck zone applies to Escambia County.
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.
Random-draw hunts in Escambia County
1 SOA in Escambia County offers draw-only hunts with set dates, listed below.
Little River State Forest SOA
| Species | Hunt days |
|---|---|
| Antlers | At least 3 antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main antler |
| Deer | Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Oct. 15-18, Oct. 22-25, Oct. 29 – Nov. 1 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Dec. 3-6, Dec. 31 – Jan. 3, Jan. 14-17, Jan. 21-24, Jan. 28-31, Feb. 4-7 |
| Deer | Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Nov. 19-22 |
| Dove | Sept. 12, Oct. 3 |
| Turkey | April 2-4, April 9-11, April 16-18, April 23-25, April 30 – May 2 |
| Quail, Rabbit & Squirrel | Feb. 8-14, Feb 15-21 |
| 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
- Adult dove hunts (Prairie Glades, Blackwater, Little River SF, Portland Landing)September 1 to September 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.
Escambia County support: district staff, towns, trade
ADCNR manages Escambia County from its WFF District V office at 30571 Five Rivers Blvd., Spanish Fort. Spanish Fort has the closest ADCNR office, roughly 54 miles away. Expect the office open Monday to Friday, 9 to 4; it also accepts deer for CWD testing by arrangement.
Escambia County base towns
Inside Escambia County the Census counts 6 incorporated places and 0 unincorporated CDPs. By population, Atmore (8,310), Brewton (5,129) and East Brewton (2,251) lead. With 36,630 people on 945 square miles, density runs near 39 per square mile.
- Brewtonpop. 5,129 · seat
Escambia County meat, mounts and gear
Inside the county we list 1 processor, 1 taxidermist and 3 gear shops. We found no guides and preserves in the county; nearby counties fill the gap. Rows tagged Hunters Helping the Hungry or CWD sampling partner come from ADCNR lists; the rest come from business directories, so call before you drive.
Around Escambia County, county by county
| County | Deer | Turkey zone | Dove zone | Dogs | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conecuh County | Zone B | 1 | North | No rule | 24 miles |
| Monroe County | Zone B | 3 | North | Permit only | 34 miles |
| Covington County | Zone B | 3 | South | Permit only | 43 miles |
| Baldwin County | Zone B | 1 | South | Permit only | 47 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.
Escambia County ranges, clubs and shoots
The guide lists 1 range in Escambia County, including Conecuh Shooting Range, run by ADCNR.
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 Escambia County
Legal light for deer around Escambia County runs 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; for ducks it starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:50 a.m. | 6:18 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:18 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:21 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-month | 6:26 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:43 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:47 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:35 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:54 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:00 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.
Escambia County events and results
Inside the county lines: 4 upcoming dates (SOA deer (gun) draw, SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw, SOA small game draw and SOA turkey draw), checked November 1, 2026. 4 of them are SOA draw hunts, open only to hunters drawn by ADCNR.
Upcoming dates
| When | Listing | Venue | Next step | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19–22, 2026 | Little River State Forest SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 3–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Little River State Forest SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | Event details | Source | |
| Feb 8–21, 2027 | Little River State Forest SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA small game draw | Event details | Source | |
| Apr 2–May 2, 2027 | Little River State Forest SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | Event details | Source |
Quick Escambia County rule answers
How many processors does this page list around Escambia County?
This page shows 3 nearby: Buckstop Deer Processing, Carolina Custom Meats and Stockton Deer Processor.
How does Escambia 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 Escambia 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 Escambia County?
After January 15, 2027 on private land.
Roughly how many turkeys did Escambia County hunters check in 2025?
Somewhere from 209 to 296, the ADCNR class for the county.
Does the Mobile-Tensaw Delta duck rule touch Escambia County?
No; it covers parts of Baldwin and Mobile only.
About how many acres of public ground does Escambia County have?
Some 32,181 acres by GIS, across 3 listed areas.
Which Alabama district number is Escambia County in?
District V.
Can hunters go out on Sundays in Escambia County?
Yes; Alabama has had no Sunday hunting restriction since 2015.
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.
Loose ends for a Escambia County hunt
Carry your license and harvest record, log each deer or turkey before moving it and report it in Game Check within 48 hours.
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: Marion Doss (CC BY-SA 2.0).