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WFF District IV county · 2026-27
Houston County Hunting
A county guide to Houston County, served by the WFF District IV office in Enterprise: deer zones, season table, turkey class, alligator and SOA hunts where they apply, and public land.
Photo: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0)
Land a Houston County hunter can walk onto
Houston County has no listed public hunting area of its own; hunters here mostly use private leases or drive to the areas below. GIS layers map about 391 public acres here, close to 0.1% of the land area.
Public land just outside Houston County
- Fort NovoselDale County and Coffee County, 32 miles (57,036 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 rules that apply in Houston County
By the shading on ADCNR's map, Houston County is Zone B (about 69%) and Zone A (about 31%). Because the A/B line follows roads, not county lines, confirm your stand location on the ADCNR zone map.
Deer season markers for Houston County
| Point | Zone B | Zone A |
|---|---|---|
| Bow season starts | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Youth days | Nov 13–Nov 16 | Nov 13–Nov 16 |
| Air rifle, muzzleloader | Nov 16–Nov 20 | Nov 16–Nov 20 |
| Gun season opens | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 |
| Dog hunting closes | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Season closes | Feb 10, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 |
Antlerless deer wait until October 25 in the Zone B part of the county. Each hunter gets three antlered bucks per season in Alabama, no more than one a day, with at least one showing 4+ points on one side.
Can you run deer dogs in Houston County?
ADCNR bans dog deer hunting across Houston County.
Hunting over bait in Houston County
On private or leased land in Houston County, deer and feral hogs may be hunted over bait only with the Bait Privilege License ($18.95 resident, $65.25 nonresident). Public areas in the county are closed to hunting over bait.
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.
Houston County season table for 2026-27
Statewide rows and the zone rows for Houston County are merged here, 61 in all.
| Game | Method | Covers | Opening day | Closing day | 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, 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 | |
| Alligator | Alligator season | Southeast gator area | Aug 8, 2026 | Sep 7, 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 | Rails, sora, gallinule | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Rails, sora, 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.
Turkey, doves and waterfowl in Houston County
Houston County turkey facts
Houston County hunts turkeys under Zone 1 dates. Gobblers may be hunted from March 20 to May 3, 2027 outside WMAs and ranger districts. Game Check reports from Houston County in 2025 fell in the 76-136 bird range on the ADCNR map, alongside 7 other counties. The state total was 17,049 birds in 2025, down from 18,263.
Houston County dove segments
ADCNR lists Houston County in the South Zone for doves, with a noon start on opening day.
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 12 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 13–Oct 25 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Waterfowl around Houston County
Alabama has one statewide duck zone, so Houston County follows the statewide waterfowl dates in the table above.
Alligator hunts in Houston County
Houston County lies in the Southeast Alligator Management Area, where alligators are hunted only by permit holders drawn in the yearly drawing. Southeast: Private and public waters in Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Russell, excluding public state waters of Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and navigable tributaries.
| Area | Hunt | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast AMA | Alligator season | Aug 8–Sep 7 |
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.
Offices, towns and shops around Houston County
The WFF District IV office in Enterprise covers Houston County; call (334) 347-9467. The shortest hop to an ADCNR office is Enterprise, near 31 miles out. Visit Monday to Friday, 9 until 4; ask about CWD sampling when you call.
Houston County town guides
The Census lists 12 places in Houston County: 12 incorporated and 0 census-designated. Top three by 2024 population: Dothan (71,650), Ashford (2,397) and Taylor (2,337). The county counted 109,366 people in 2024, 2.0% more than in 2020, on 580 square miles of land.
- Dothanpop. 71,650 · seat
Houston County processors, taxidermists and shops
Businesses on file in Houston County: 3 taxidermists, 15 gear shops and 1 guide or preserve. None of our processors are in Houston County; the list reaches into adjoining counties. Call ahead: directory listings change, and only the tagged rows come from ADCNR.
Rules next door to Houston County
| Neighbour | Deer zone | Turkey zone | Dove zone | Dog rule | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry County | Zone B | 1 | South | Permit only | 25 miles |
| Dale County | Zone B | 1 | South | Stalk only | 26 miles |
| Geneva County | Zone B | 1 | South | Permit only | 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.
Houston County: ranges, lanes and trap fields
3 ranges are on file for Houston County, from ADCNR sites to gun clubs and indoor lanes.
Of ADCNR’s 12 public ranges, Barbour County WMA Shooting Range is closest, about 58 miles from the Houston County centre. Full page
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Legal hours in Houston County
ADCNR prints one sunrise and sunset table for downtown Birmingham and warns that other places can differ by 10 minutes or more, so the times below are worked out for Houston County.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:43 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:13 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 5:43 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 5:43 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-fall | 6:18 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 5:48 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 5:48 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:35 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:40 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:28 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:47 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:52 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.
What Houston County hunters keep asking
Could a black bear be taken legally in Houston County?
No; there is no open bear season anywhere in Alabama.
Which deer processors on this page sit closest to Houston County?
B & B Deer Processing and Me Deer Processing, nearest first; call before you drop off a deer.
Why does this page show turkey numbers but no deer numbers for Houston County?
ADCNR maps turkey harvest by county class but publishes no county deer harvest.
Does Houston County get the early D/E deer dates or the later ones?
The later dates: Zone B and Zone A opens archery on October 15.
Can a deer dog be used on public tracts around Houston County?
Only if the area permit says so; many WMAs prohibit dog deer hunting.
Which turkey zone number applies across Houston County?
Zone 1.
Does Houston County have a random-draw SOA hunt?
No; no Special Opportunity Area lies in the county.
Which public tract in Houston County covers the most acres?
No listed area with acres lies in the county.
Which WFF district office looks after Houston County?
WFF District IV, based in Enterprise.
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.
Houston County reminders for 2026-27
Get written permission before hunting private land in Houston County.
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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).