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WFF District I county page
Morgan County Hunting
Morgan County hunting at a glance: zone lines from the ADCNR map, the dates that apply on private and open permit-public land, 2 public areas and the services close to Decatur.
Photo: Shannon McGee (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Open hunting ground inside Morgan County
We count 2 public hunting areas in Morgan County; Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge covers the most ground at 34,427 acres. Roughly 9,748 acres (2.6%) of the county are public on the GIS layers. About 6,088 acres are TVA retained land along the reservoirs.
| Area | Program | Acres | Game | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler NWR | Refuge | 34,427 | deer, squirrels, rabbits | — |
| Mallard-Fox Creek WMA | WMA | 1,742 | turkey, ducks, deer | 1 dove field, blind rules |
Where most Morgan County public land sits
- At 34,427 acres, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge gives Morgan County hunters its biggest block, shared with Limestone County and Madison County. Hunters go there for deer, squirrels, rabbits and quail.
- Mallard-Fox Creek Wildlife Management Area counts as a WMA with 1,742 acres on record. Game listed for it includes turkey, ducks, deer and doves. Notes on the record: 1 dove field, blind rules. The area permit lists Biologist at (256) 278-0681.
A short drive beyond Morgan County
- Swan Creek WMA17 miles out, 8,870 acres in Limestone County
- Bankhead Ranger District32 miles out, 182,014 acres in Lawrence County and Winston County
- Bankhead NF32 miles out, 182,014 acres in Lawrence County and Winston County
- Black Warrior WMA32 miles out, 91,263 acres in Lawrence County and Winston County
- Blowing Springs Cave Tract (Forever Wild)39 miles out, 60 acres in Lauderdale County
- Lewis Smith PDHA40 miles out, 10 acres in Walker County
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.
Morgan County deer zone, dates and county rules
A zone boundary crosses Morgan County, leaving Zone C (about 83%) and Zone D (about 16%) by map share. Zone C and Zone D name Morgan County in their descriptions, limited to the described boundary.
Morgan County deer openers and closers
| Item | Zone C | Zone D |
|---|---|---|
| Archery opens | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 |
| Youth season | Nov 13–Nov 16 | Oct 30–Nov 2 |
| Muzzleloader window | Nov 16–Nov 20 | Nov 2–Nov 6 |
| Gun deer opens | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Dogs end, private land | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 1, 2027 |
| Deer close | Feb 10, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 |
The D and E rows start sooner than the rest of the state, with bows from October 1 and guns from November 7. Zone C allows one unantlered deer a day (plus one antlered) on either-sex dates, half the doe limit of the other zones. The buck limit is three a season (one a day); one of those must have at least 4 points on an antler.
Morgan County and deer dogs
Morgan County is listed as stalk-only for deer.
Morgan County bait status
The Bait Privilege License, $18.95 for residents and $65.25 for nonresidents, covers deer and hog bait on private land in Morgan County. Baiting is banned on every WMA, SOA and federal tract.
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.
2026-27 calendar for Morgan County
72 dated rows reach Morgan County; zone rows are already matched to the county, and the last column compares each with today.
| Animal | Season type | Where | Start | Finish | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone D | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone D | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone D | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone D | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late archery, bucks only | Deer Zone D | Jan 16, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey Zone 2 | Mar 20, 2027 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | Turkey Zone 2 | Mar 26, 2027 | Mar 26, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Turkey Zone 2 | Mar 27, 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 | Marsh birds | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Marsh birds | 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.
Morgan County bird seasons and zones
Spring turkey around Morgan County
For turkey, ADCNR places Morgan County in Zone 2. Spring turkey dates: March 27 through May 3, 2027. ADCNR's 2025 turkey report shades Morgan County in the 76-136 class, meaning hunters reported between 76 and 136 birds through Game Check; 7 other counties share that class. Across Alabama, reported gobblers fell from 18,263 (2024) to 17,049 (2025).
Morgan County dove dates
Morgan County is a North Zone dove county; the opener is a noon start.
| Segment | From and to |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Morgan County duck hunting
For ducks and geese, Morgan County follows the statewide zone.
Morgan County and the crane zone
Morgan County produced 197 sandhill cranes in 2024-25 (1,482 hours afield). Permits are drawn; the zone is North of I-20 from the Georgia line to I-65, east of I-65 to I-22, north of I-22 to the Mississippi line; rest of state closed.
| Segment | Dates |
|---|---|
| Crane season | Nov 27–Jan 3 |
| Crane season | Jan 11–Jan 25 |
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; cranes from the 2024-25 sandhill crane report. Checked November 1, 2026.
Offices, towns and shops around Morgan County
Morgan County belongs to WFF District I, run from the office in Tanner ((256) 353-2634). About 16 miles separates mid-county from the nearest ADCNR office in Tanner. Doors are open Monday to Friday between 9 and 4, with CWD sampling of deer offered if you ring first.
Morgan County communities
Of 7 Census places in Morgan County, 7 are incorporated. Decatur (57,974), Hartselle (16,201) and Priceville (3,872) are the largest. Census Vintage 2024 puts Morgan County at 126,084 residents, 2.1% above the 2020 base.
- Decaturpop. 57,974 · seat
- Pricevillepop. 3,872
Trade listings for Morgan County hunters
Morgan County listings: 1 taxidermist and 6 gear shops. For processors and guides and preserves, look across the line. ADCNR lists supply the HHH processors and CWD partners; other listings are directory entries not checked as open.
Morgan County adjoining counties
| County | Deer | Turkey | Dove | Dogs | Centre to centre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cullman County | Zone C/Zone A/Zone D | 1/2 | North | No rule | 22 miles |
| Limestone County | Zone A | 2 | North | Stalk only | 26 miles |
| Madison County | Zone A | 2 | North | Stalk only | 27 miles |
| Lawrence County | Zone D/Zone C | 2 | North | Stalk only | 28 miles |
| Marshall County | Zone C/Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 32 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.
Morgan County ranges and shoot dates
Morgan County has 2 listed ranges; Decatur Community Archery Park is the public ADCNR option.
Swan Creek WMA Range in Limestone County is the nearest state-run range, roughly 18 miles. Open it
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 Morgan County
Deer, turkey and other resident game may be hunted from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset; ducks, geese and doves stop at sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:52 a.m. | 6:14 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:14 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:26 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Two weeks in | 6:32 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:50 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:54 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:39 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:58 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.
Morgan County, answered
Does a 12-foot stand exempt a Morgan County deer hunter from orange?
Yes; hunters in a stand 12 feet or higher are exempt.
What number rings the district office serving Morgan County?
(256) 353-2634 in Tanner.
Does Game Check data for Morgan County deer appear anywhere public?
Not by county; ADCNR publishes no county deer harvest.
Is a donated-venison processor listed near Morgan County?
See the Hunters Helping the Hungry tags in the services band; Chapel Valley Deer Processing is nearest overall.
Does the stalk-only list include Morgan County?
Yes, county-wide.
What day does deer hunting wrap up in Morgan County?
February 10, 2027, the last stalk-hunting day on private land in Zone C.
At what hour can dove hunters start shooting on opening day in Morgan County?
At noon; later days run from a half hour before sunrise to sunset.
What was the 2025 turkey harvest class for Morgan County?
76-136 birds reported through Game Check; ADCNR prints ranges, not exact county counts.
Are state parks around Morgan County open for deer hunting?
Generally no; only the two state park SOAs hold draw hunts.
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.
Before heading to Morgan County woods
Near a zone line in Morgan County, the ADCNR zone map decides which dates apply.
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: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0).