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Deer Zone A · 2026-27
Hale County Hunting
Where and when to hunt Hale County in 2026-27: Zone A, turkey and dove zones, public land by kind, nearby WMAs and refuges, offices, shops and legal light times.
Photo: Altairisfar (Jeffrey Reed) (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Hunting areas open to the public in Hale County
Inside the county line you can choose from 5 listed areas, with Oakmulgee Ranger District the biggest (159,204 acres). The agency and federal layers show 32,684 public acres, about 7.9% of Hale County. Some 28,379 acres are USFS land in Talladega National Forest.
| Name | Kind | Acres | Species | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakmulgee Ranger District | Ranger district | 159,204 | deer, turkey | — |
| Oakmulgee WMA | WMA | 44,500 | turkey, ducks, quail | 5 dove fields, no deer dogs |
| David K. Nelson WMA | WMA | 8,308 | turkey, ducks, deer | 1 dove field, no deer dogs |
| M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area | Field trial area | 443 | deer | draw hunts |
| Black Warrior and Tombigbee Lakes (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) | Corps lake | — | — | — |
Top areas by size in Hale County
- Oakmulgee Ranger District (Ranger district, 159,204 acres) spreads into Bibb County, Perry County and Chilton County as well. Its species list covers deer and turkey.
- The WMA Oakmulgee Wildlife Management Area runs to 44,500 acres and crosses into Bibb County, Perry County and Tuscaloosa County. The record names turkey, ducks, quail and deer. Listed extras: 5 dove fields, no deer dogs. Contact on the area map: Biologist, (334) 430-6301.
- The WMA David K. Nelson Wildlife Management Area runs to 8,308 acres and crosses into Sumter County, Marengo County and Greene County. The record names turkey, ducks, deer and doves. Listed extras: 1 dove field, no deer dogs.
- M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area counts as a field trial area with 443 acres on record. Expect deer on its permit. Also flagged: draw hunts.
USFS land in this county: Talladega National Forest
Next-door public ground for Hale County
- Marengo PDHA29 miles (442 ac)
- Sipsey River Swamp South Zone (Forever Wild)33 miles (3,418 ac)
- Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)39 miles
- Cahaba River NWR40 miles (4,774 ac)
- William R. Ireland, Sr.-Cahaba River WMA40 miles (35,559 ac)
- Old Cahawba Prairie Tract (Forever Wild)41 miles (4,586 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 Hale County
Hale County deer zones explained
All of Hale County reads as Zone A on the ADCNR deer zone map. Zone A membership is read from the ADCNR map, since the A/B line runs along highways and rivers.
When deer season runs in Hale County
| Window | Zone A |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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 Hale County
Stalk hunting only (no dogs) applies in Hale County in this area: Talladega NF block.
Hale County bait status
Private and leased land in Hale 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.
Hale County dates for deer, birds and small game
Dates come from ADCNR and the Digest: 48 rows for Hale County, earliest first within each species.
| Quarry | Segment | Zone or area | Begins | Ends | Open 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 | |
| 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 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 Hale County
Hale County gobbler season
Gobbler dates for Hale County come from Turkey Zone 1. The spring season here opens March 20 and closes May 3, 2027. Hale County landed in the 137-208 class of the 2025 turkey harvest map, class 2 of 5. Statewide, Game Check counted 17,049 birds in 2025 against 18,263 in 2024.
Dove season in Hale County
Dove dates for Hale County follow the North Zone; on the first day of the season, shooting begins at noon.
| Split | Dates |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Hale County waterfowl rules
No separate duck zone applies to Hale 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.
Hale County district office and businesses
ADCNR manages Hale County from its WFF District III office at 8211 McFarland Blvd., Northport. Northport has the closest ADCNR office, roughly 33 miles away. Expect the office open Monday to Friday, 9 to 4; it also accepts deer for CWD testing by arrangement.
Hale County base towns
Inside Hale County the Census counts 4 incorporated places and 0 unincorporated CDPs. By population, Moundville (3,614), Greensboro (2,187) and Akron (233) lead. With 15,116 people on 644 square miles, density runs near 23 per square mile.
- Greensboropop. 2,187 · seat
- Moundvillepop. 3,614
Where Hale County hunters shop
Inside the county we list 1 processor and 1 taxidermist. We found no gear shops and 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 Hale County, county by county
| County | Deer | Turkey zone | Dove zone | Dogs | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | Zone A/Zone B | 1 | North | Stalk only | 21 miles |
| Greene County | Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 21 miles |
| Bibb County | Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 34 miles |
| Marengo County | Zone B | 1 | North | Permit only | 36 miles |
| Tuscaloosa County | Zone A | 1 | 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.
Hale County ranges, clubs and shoots
The guide lists 1 range in Hale County, including South Sandy 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 Hale County
Legal light for deer around Hale 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 | 6:53 a.m. | 6:19 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:19 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:26 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-month | 6:31 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:49 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:53 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:39 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:56 a.m. | 7:01 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:01 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.
Hale County events and results
Inside the county lines: 30 upcoming dates and 4 published results (Field Trial Area youth deer hunt, Field Trial Area youth duck hunt, american Field championship and trapping workshop), checked November 1, 2026.
Upcoming dates
The calendar carries the other 10.
Judged events
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9, 2026 | National Free-For-All Championship 2026 | Bandit's Hill Avenger (winner, National Free-for-all Championship) | Source |
| Jan 9, 2026 | National Derby Championship 2026 | Ts Beyond The Pines (winner, National Derby Championship) Como White Lightning (runner-up) | Source |
| Jan 11, 2025 | National Free-for-All Championship 2025 | Haney's All In (winner, First stake) | Source |
| Jan 9, 2025 | National Derby Championship 2025 | Erins War Eagle (winner, National Derby Championship) Southern Pioneer (runner-up) | Source |
Hale County questions and short answers
What share of Hale County is public hunting land?
About 7.9% by GIS measure.
Who will sample a Hale County deer for chronic wasting disease?
WFF district offices take deer for sampling; phone first.
How much orange does a deer hunter in Hale County have to show?
144 square inches of hunter orange or fluorescent pink above the waist, or a full-size orange or pink cap, on gun deer dates.
Where might a Hale County hunter leave a deer for processing?
Stump Hollow Deer Processing heads the distance list.
Where would I find deer harvest numbers for Hale County?
There are none official: ADCNR gives no county deer harvest.
Do zone lines split Hale County for deer?
No, the whole county reads as Zone A.
How is dog deer hunting treated in Hale County?
Stalk only, so no dogs.
When does spring gobbler hunting stop each day on WMAs near Hale County?
At 1 p.m. on WMAs and national forest ranger districts.
Could a drawn hunter take an alligator in Hale County?
No; no alligator management area takes 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.
Loose ends for a Hale 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: Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0).