Home › Alabama › Counties › Talladega County
Deer Zone A · 2026-27
Talladega County Hunting
Plan a season in Talladega County: ADCNR deer Zone A, dated openers and closers, dog deer status, the 2025 turkey harvest class, about 46,892 mapped public acres and help near Talladega.
Photo: Benny Mazur (CC BY 2.0)
Hunting areas open to the public in Talladega County
Talladega County holds 2 listed places where some hunting is allowed, led by Talladega Ranger District (116,093 acres). By GIS measure about 9.9% of Talladega County, some 46,892 acres, is public ground. About 46,761 acres belong to Talladega National Forest. State park acreage (94) is shown with an asterisk: it sits outside the hunting total.
| Area | Kind | Acres | Game | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talladega Ranger District | Ranger district | 116,093 | deer, turkey | — |
| Hollins WMA | WMA | 28,802 | turkey, ducks, deer | 2 dove fields, no deer dogs |
Main hunting areas of Talladega County
- Talladega Ranger District counts as a ranger district with 116,093 acres on record. The record names deer and turkey.
- At 28,802 acres, Hollins Wildlife Management Area gives Talladega County hunters another option, shared with Clay County. ADCNR lists turkey, ducks, deer and doves among its game. The record adds 2 dove fields, no deer dogs. Phone for the area: (334) 753-7051.
National forest land in the county: Talladega National Forest
Nearby areas for Talladega County hunters
- Fort McClellan Training Center – Clarke Range Complex27 miles from mid-county
- Oak Mountain State Park SOA30 miles from mid-county (3,695 ac)
- Shelby SOA32 miles from mid-county (1,198 ac)
- R. L. Harris PDHA32 miles from mid-county (248 ac)
- Mountain Longleaf NWR34 miles from mid-county (9,070 ac)
- Martin CHA36 miles from mid-county (400 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 Talladega County
Deer hunting rules for Talladega County
Zone A covers Talladega County on ADCNR's map; no second zone shows up inside the county. This reading comes from map shading, not a county list, because ADCNR draws the A/B line along roads.
Key deer dates for Talladega County
| Date type | Zone A |
|---|---|
| First archery day | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Youth deer days | Nov 13–Nov 16 |
| Muzzleloader, air rifle | Nov 16–Nov 20 |
| Rifle season starts | Nov 21, 2026 |
| Dog season ends | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Closing day | Feb 10, 2027 |
Alabama caps antlered deer at 3 per season and 1 per day, and one buck must have 4+ points on one antler.
Deer dogs and Talladega County
Deer dogs need a department permit in Talladega County where the text applies: inside Talladega National Forest. The Talladega National Forest dog deer permit is new this season: each hunter needs one, and every dog must carry a GPS collar.
Talladega County and the Bait Privilege License
A Bait Privilege License ($18.95 / $65.25) is needed to hunt deer or hogs over bait on private land in Talladega County; it is required at every age. Public land stays bait-free: WMAs, SOAs, national forests, refuges, TVA and Corps 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.
Talladega County openers and closers by species
The 50 rows below cover private, leased and open permit-public land in Talladega County.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | 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 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall, first segment | Turkey Zone 3 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall, second segment | Turkey Zone 3 | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey Zone 3 | Mar 13, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | Turkey Zone 3 | Mar 19, 2027 | Mar 19, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Turkey Zone 3 | 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 gallinules | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Rails and gallinules | 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.
Bird and alligator hunting in Talladega County
Turkey in Talladega County
Talladega County is in Turkey Zone 3. The 2027 spring opener is March 20; the last day is May 3. Talladega County is among the six Zone 3 counties with fall turkey hunting, Nov 14–Nov 22 and Dec 12–Dec 27. ADCNR binned Talladega County at 209-296 gobblers reported in 2025, the 3rd of five classes. For scale, the 2025 statewide Game Check total was 17,049.
Talladega County and the dove zones
Talladega County hunts doves under the North Zone dates; opening day shooting runs from noon to sunset.
| Part | Window |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Talladega County waterfowl zone
Waterfowl seasons in Talladega County run on the single statewide calendar.
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.
Talladega County district office and businesses
Jacksonville is home to the WFF District II staff who serve Talladega County. The nearest ADCNR office open to the public, WFF District 2 Office in Jacksonville, is about 42 miles from mid-county in a straight line. District offices keep hours Monday to Friday, 9 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon, and take deer for CWD sampling; call ahead.
Talladega County towns and places
Census records show 9 incorporated places and 2 CDPs inside Talladega County. The largest by 2024 estimate: Talladega (14,693), Sylacauga (12,123) and Lincoln (7,790). Population: 81,375 in 2024 (0.9% drop on 2020); land area 737 square miles plus 24 of water.
Where Talladega County hunters shop
The county has 3 taxidermists and 1 gear shop on our list. Missing inside the line: processors and guides and preserves. Phone first, especially in November; hours are not verified here.
Talladega County neighbours compared
| Next door | Deer | Turkey | Dove | Dogs | Apart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | Zone A | 3 | North | No rule | 19 miles |
| St. Clair County | Zone A/Zone C | 1 | North | No rule | 25 miles |
| Shelby County | Zone A | 1 | North | No rule | 29 miles |
| Coosa County | Zone A | 1 | North | Permit only | 31 miles |
| Calhoun County | Zone A/Zone E | 1 | North | No rule | 34 miles |
| Cleburne County | Zone E/Zone A | 1 | North | Stalk only | 43 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.
Talladega County ranges and shoot dates
Each Talladega County card gives the access rule and the source (6 ranges in all).
Nearest ADCNR shooting range: Coosa County WMA Range in Coosa County, about 33 miles from the Talladega County centre. Details
Shoots in the county
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 7-15, 2026 | CMP match | Entry |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Steel Challenge | Entry |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Steel Challenge | Entry |
| Mar 15-21, 2027 | CMP match | Entry |
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
When shooting light starts in Talladega County
The times below use the solar formula for Talladega County rather than the Birmingham table in the Digest, which can be off by several minutes this far from Birmingham.
| Day | Marker | Sun up | Sun down | Game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:48 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:21 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Mid-Nov. | 6:27 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:44 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:48 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:34 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:50 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:20 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.
Talladega County events and results
County total as of November 1, 2026: 2 upcoming dates.
Scheduled
| Held | Event | Where held | Action | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 | Alabama Deer Management & Herd Health Field Talks seminar · Field Talks deer seminar | Eastaboga: Eastaboga Baptist Church | Register | Source |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Traditional Hunter Education Course | Childersburg: Red Eagle Skeet & Trap Club | Register | Source |
Talladega County questions and short answers
Who will sample a Talladega County deer for chronic wasting disease?
WFF district offices take deer for sampling; phone first.
How much orange does a deer hunter in Talladega 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 Talladega County hunter leave a deer for processing?
Allen's Deer Processing & Custom heads the distance list.
Where would I find deer harvest numbers for Talladega County?
There are none official: ADCNR gives no county deer harvest.
Do zone lines split Talladega County for deer?
No, the whole county reads as Zone A.
How is dog deer hunting treated in Talladega County?
Permit-only.
When does spring gobbler hunting stop each day on WMAs near Talladega County?
At 1 p.m. on WMAs and national forest ranger districts.
Could a drawn hunter take an alligator in Talladega County?
No; no alligator management area takes in the county.
What share of Talladega County is public hunting land?
About 9.9% by GIS measure.
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.
Final details for a Talladega County outing
Rules here are for the 2026-27 license year; where this page and ADCNR differ, ADCNR wins.
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: Birding for Climate (Public domain).