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Alabama county guide · 2026-27
Marshall County Hunting
Marshall County sits in Zone C 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, no listed public area inside its line and the ADCNR offices that serve it.
Photo: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0)
Marshall County WMAs, refuges and other public land
Public hunting ground is scarce in Marshall County: no area on our list falls inside the county. Mapped public land in the county adds up to roughly 13,988 acres (3.9% of its land). The TVA layer adds 12,952 acres of lake and river land. The 6,734 acres of state park land are not counted, since Alabama state parks are generally closed to hunting.
Across the Marshall County line
- Sauta Cave NWR270 acres in Jackson County; 24 miles off
- North Sauty Refuge (Jackson County WMA)5,009 acres in Jackson County; 24 miles off
- Wheeler NWR34,427 acres in Limestone County and Morgan County; 37 miles off
- Jackson County Waterfowl Areas and Refuges (Jackson County WMA)26,934 acres in Jackson County; 40 miles off
- Mud Creek (Jackson County WMA)8,003 acres in Jackson County; 40 miles off
- Little River Canyon National Preserve15,641 acres in DeKalb County and Cherokee County; 41 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 Marshall County
Marshall County deer zone and dog, bait rules
Deer zone lines cut through Marshall County: the ADCNR map shades Zone C (about 87%) and Zone A (about 12%) of the county. Marshall County appears by name in the Zone C description, which then draws the line along highways. 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.
Marshall County deer dates by zone
| Season point | Zone C | 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 |
Zone C hunters take no more than one doe a day. Three bucks a season, one per day, one with 4 or more points on a single antler: that is the statewide antlered limit.
Marshall County dog hunting status
No deer dogs anywhere in Marshall County: it is a stalk-only county.
Bait and feed in Marshall County
Bait is legal for deer and hogs in Marshall 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 Marshall County
Type a species to filter the 65 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 | Deer Zone C | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone C | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone C | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 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 | 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.
Marshall County small-zone rules for birds
Turkey hunting in Marshall County
Zone 1 is the turkey zone for Marshall County. Expect spring turkey from March 20 until May 3, 2027. The 2025 harvest class for Marshall County is 76-136 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 Marshall County
Doves in Marshall 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 |
Marshall County duck and goose notes
Duck, goose, coot and merganser dates in Marshall County are the statewide ones; there are no duck zones apart from the Mobile-Tensaw Delta rules.
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.
Marshall County support: district staff, towns, trade
Biologists and officers for Marshall County work out of Jacksonville, the WFF District II office. Nearest ADCNR office: Tanner, about 45 miles from the middle of Marshall County. The district staff work Monday to Friday from 9 to 4 and will sample a deer for CWD by appointment.
Towns in Marshall County
Marshall County has 8 incorporated towns and cities and 0 census-designated places. Leading towns by size are Albertville (23,392), Boaz (10,473) and Guntersville (9,242). About 102,156 residents (2024) live on 566 land square miles, 4.7% up since 2020.
- Guntersvillepop. 9,242 · seat
Marshall County meat, mounts and gear
In Marshall County itself we found 8 gear shops and 1 guide or preserve. The county has no listed processors and taxidermists. Tags mark ADCNR program partners; untagged rows are from Yellow Pages and store locators.
Counties bordering Marshall County
| County | Deer zones | Turkey | Doves | Deer dogs | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etowah County | Zone C/Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 24 miles |
| Blount County | Zone C/Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 27 miles |
| DeKalb County | Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 31 miles |
| Morgan County | Zone C/Zone D | 2 | North | Stalk only | 32 miles |
| Cullman County | Zone C/Zone A/Zone D | 1/2 | North | No rule | 34 miles |
| Madison County | Zone A | 2 | North | Stalk only | 34 miles |
| Jackson County | Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 37 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.
Marshall County ranges and shoot dates
Each Marshall County card gives the access rule and the source (6 ranges in all).
Etowah Public Shooting Range is the public shooting range nearest Marshall County, 27 miles away, with no range fee. Range page
Shoots coming up here
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Marshall 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 | 6:49 a.m. | 6:12 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:24 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-November | 6:29 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:47 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:51 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:36 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:51 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:56 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.
Quick Marshall County rule answers
Roughly how many turkeys did Marshall County hunters check in 2025?
Somewhere from 76 to 136, the ADCNR class for the county.
When do the deer dogs go back in the kennel for good in Marshall County?
After January 15, 2027 on private land in Zone C, where dogs are allowed at all.
About how many acres of public ground does Marshall County have?
Some 13,988 acres by GIS, across 0 listed areas.
Does the Mobile-Tensaw Delta duck rule touch Marshall County?
No; it covers parts of Baldwin and Mobile only.
Can hunters go out on Sundays in Marshall County?
Yes; Alabama has had no Sunday hunting restriction since 2015.
Which Alabama district number is Marshall County in?
District II.
How does Marshall County stack up against other counties for deer killed?
It cannot be compared; county deer harvest is not published.
How many processors does this page list around Marshall County?
This page shows 3 nearby: Rock Patch Deer Processing, Jenkins Deer Processing and Brothers Processing.
Which of the Alabama deer zones does the ADCNR map draw over Marshall County?
Zone C and Zone A; the A/B split follows roads, so the map rules near that line.
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.
Marshall County trip reminders
ADCNR can change dates after the Digest prints; recheck the season pages before a Marshall 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: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).