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WFF District II county page
St. Clair County Hunting
A county guide to St. Clair County, served by the WFF District II office in Jacksonville: deer zones, season table, turkey class, alligator and SOA hunts where they apply, and public land.
Photo: formulanone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hunting areas open to the public in St. Clair County
St. Clair 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 428 public acres here, close to 0.1% of the land area.
Public land just outside St. Clair County
- Fort McClellan Training Center – Clarke Range ComplexCalhoun County, 21 miles
- Talladega NFCleburne County and Clay County, 31 miles (394,869 ac)
- Mountain Longleaf NWRCalhoun County, 32 miles (9,070 ac)
- Talladega Ranger DistrictClay County and Talladega County, 33 miles (116,093 ac)
- Oak Mountain State Park SOAShelby County, 33 miles (3,695 ac)
- Hollins WMAClay County and Talladega County, 38 miles (28,802 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 St. Clair County
By the shading on ADCNR's map, St. Clair County is Zone A (about 80%) and Zone C (about 20%). Because Zone C is described by roads inside named counties, only part of St. Clair County lies in it. Because the A/B line follows roads, not county lines, confirm your stand location on the ADCNR zone map.
Deer season markers for St. Clair County
| Point | Zone A | Zone C |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
In the Zone C part, the daily limit is 1 unantlered and 1 antlered deer during either-sex dates. 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 St. Clair County?
Dog deer hunting is not restricted by county rule in St. Clair County.
St. Clair County baiting rules
On private or leased land in St. Clair 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.
St. Clair County season table for 2026-27
Statewide rows and the zone rows for St. Clair County are merged here, 65 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 | 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 | 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 St. Clair County
St. Clair County turkey facts
The turkey zone list puts St. Clair County under Zone 1. Gobblers may be hunted from March 20 to May 3, 2027 outside WMAs and ranger districts. Game Check reports from St. Clair County in 2025 fell in the 209-296 bird range on the ADCNR map, alongside 27 other counties. The state total was 17,049 birds in 2025, down from 18,263.
St. Clair County dove segments
ADCNR lists St. Clair County in the North Zone for doves, with a noon start on opening day.
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Waterfowl around St. Clair County
Alabama has one statewide duck zone, so St. Clair County follows the statewide waterfowl dates in the table above.
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.
St. Clair County contacts, towns and shops
The WFF District II office in Jacksonville covers St. Clair County; call (256) 435-5422. The shortest hop to an ADCNR office is Jacksonville, near 35 miles out. Visit Monday to Friday, 9 until 4; ask about CWD sampling when you call.
St. Clair County town guides
The Census lists 10 places in St. Clair County: 10 incorporated and 0 census-designated. Top three by 2024 population: Pell City (14,094), Moody (13,596) and Margaret (6,654). Population: 96,927 in 2024 (5.9% gain on 2020); land area 632 square miles plus 22 of water.
Trade listings for St. Clair County hunters
Businesses on file in St. Clair County: 2 processors and 4 gear shops. None of our taxidermists and guides and preserves are in St. Clair County; the list reaches into adjoining counties. Call ahead: directory listings change, and only the tagged rows come from ADCNR.
Rules next door to St. Clair County
| Neighbour | Deer zone | Turkey zone | Dove zone | Dog rule | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blount County | Zone C/Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 23 miles |
| Talladega County | Zone A | 3 | North | Permit only | 25 miles |
| Etowah County | Zone C/Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 28 miles |
| Calhoun County | Zone A/Zone E | 1 | North | No rule | 28 miles |
| Jefferson County | Zone A/Zone C | 1 | North | No rule | 36 miles |
| Shelby County | Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 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.
St. Clair County: ranges, lanes and trap fields
2 ranges are on file for St. Clair County, from ADCNR sites to gun clubs and indoor lanes.
Of ADCNR’s 12 public ranges, Etowah Public Shooting Range is closest, about 33 miles from the St. Clair County centre. Full page
St. Clair County shoot dates
| Date and shoot | Category | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2026 | NRL22 rimfire | Register |
| Dec 19, 2026 | NRL22 rimfire | Register |
| Jan 16, 2027 | NRL22 rimfire | Register |
| Feb 20, 2027 | NRL22 rimfire | Register |
| Mar 20, 2027 | NRL22 rimfire | Register |
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Legal hours in St. Clair 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 St. Clair County.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:49 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:23 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-fall | 6:28 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:46 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:50 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:35 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:24 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.
St. Clair County events and results
On November 1, 2026 the county held 2 upcoming dates, covering hunter education course.
Next up
| Date | Event | Location | Sign-up or details | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 2026 | Traditional Hunter Education Course | Springville: Springville Fire Station Storm Shelter | Register | Source |
| Dec 29, 2026 | Traditional Hunter Education Course | Ashville: Ashville Police Department | Register | Source |
St. Clair County, answered
At what hour can dove hunters start shooting on opening day in St. Clair County?
At noon; later days run from a half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Are state parks around St. Clair County open for deer hunting?
Generally no; only the two state park SOAs hold draw hunts.
What number rings the district office serving St. Clair County?
(256) 435-5422 in Jacksonville.
Does a 12-foot stand exempt a St. Clair County deer hunter from orange?
Yes; hunters in a stand 12 feet or higher are exempt.
Is a donated-venison processor listed near St. Clair County?
See the Hunters Helping the Hungry tags in the services band; The Trading Post Processing is nearest overall.
Is a county deer kill published for St. Clair County?
No; Alabama gives only a statewide deer statement.
What day does deer hunting wrap up in St. Clair County?
February 10, 2027, the last stalk-hunting day on private land in Zone A.
Does the stalk-only list include St. Clair County?
No, it is not on that list.
What was the 2025 turkey harvest class for St. Clair County?
209-296 birds reported through Game Check; ADCNR prints ranges, not exact county counts.
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.
St. Clair County reminders for 2026-27
Get written permission before hunting private land in St. Clair 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: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).