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Alabama county guide · 2026-27
Tallapoosa County Hunting
Deer zone, dates, dogs and public ground for Tallapoosa County, a WFF District II county around Dadeville. Every rule and number on this page comes from ADCNR and the 2026-2027 Digest.
Photo: John Coley (CC BY 2.0)
Tallapoosa County WMAs, refuges and other public land
Chalk Hill Special Opportunity Area, 3,466 acres, tops the 3 public hunting areas we list for Tallapoosa County. Public ownership comes to around 4,324 acres, or 0.9% of the county. We list 1,380 state park acres separately; they are not hunting ground in general.
| Public area | Type | Size (ac) | Main game | Also |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalk Hill SOA | SOA | 3,466 | deer, turkey, quail | draw hunts |
| Martin CHA | Community hunting area | 400 | deer, turkey, ducks | no deer dogs |
| Coon Creek Tract (Forever Wild) | Forever Wild tract | 316 | deer, turkey, ducks | archery deer |
Tallapoosa County public land, the large blocks
- Chalk Hill Special Opportunity Area is an SOA of about 3,466 acres. Game listed for it includes deer, turkey, quail and rabbits. Listed extras: draw hunts.
- Martin Community Hunting Area covers 400 acres within Tallapoosa County. Expect deer, turkey, ducks and rabbits on its permit. Extra details: no deer dogs. The listed biologist answers at (334) 753-7051.
- At 316 acres, Coon Creek Tract (Forever Wild) gives Tallapoosa County hunters another option. Expect deer, turkey, ducks and hogs on its permit. Extra details: archery deer.
Close to Tallapoosa County, other counties
- Yates Lake WMAElmore County (5,616 ac), 17 miles
- Hollins WMAClay County and Talladega County (28,802 ac), 29 miles
- R. L. Harris PDHARandolph County (248 ac), 29 miles
- Tuskegee NFMacon County (11,347 ac), 29 miles
- Tuskegee Ranger DistrictMacon County (11,347 ac), 29 miles
- Macon State Forest PDHAMacon County (190 ac), 30 miles
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.
How Alabama deer rules fall in Tallapoosa County
Tallapoosa County falls in a single deer zone, Zone A, going by the ADCNR map. ADCNR publishes no county list for Zones A and B; its map is the authority.
Tallapoosa County deer calendar in brief
| Marker | Zone A |
|---|---|
| Bows from | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Under-16 gun hunt | Nov 13–Nov 16 |
| Primitive and air rifle | Nov 16–Nov 20 |
| First gun day | Nov 21, 2026 |
| Dog deer close | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Stalk season ends | Feb 10, 2027 |
Bucks: 3 per season and 1 per day statewide, including one with 4 or more points on one antler.
Tallapoosa County dog deer restrictions
The permit-only dog rule covers Tallapoosa County; open permit-public land there has no dog deer hunting.
Feeders and bait in Tallapoosa County
Hunting over feed in Tallapoosa County needs the Bait Privilege License at $18.95 (resident) or $65.25 (nonresident), on private or leased land only. None of the public areas above may be hunted 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.
All Tallapoosa County hunting dates
Turkey, dove and deer rows here are the ones for the zones that touch Tallapoosa County.
| Species | Hunt | Applies in | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, gallinules | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Rails, 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.
Tallapoosa County turkey, dove, duck and gator rules
Tallapoosa County turkey zone and harvest
For turkey, ADCNR places Tallapoosa County in Zone 1. Spring gobbler season on private and open permit-public land runs March 20 to May 3, 2027. In 2025, 209-296 turkeys were reported from Tallapoosa County, per the ADCNR class map; exact counts are not published. Statewide reports: 18,263 in 2024, 17,049 in 2025.
Tallapoosa County dove calendar
The dove North Zone covers Tallapoosa County, and each opening day starts at noon.
| Segment | Runs |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Sep 5 |
| Segment 2 | Sep 6–Oct 18 |
| Segment 3 | Nov 21–Nov 29 |
| Segment 4 | Dec 12–Jan 17 |
Tallapoosa County ducks, geese and coots
Tallapoosa County uses the statewide duck dates; only the Mobile-Tensaw Delta has its own hours.
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.
Tallapoosa County SOA hunt dates
Special Opportunity Area hunts in Tallapoosa County are limited-quota draws, and a drawn hunter brings guests to a private unit.
Chalk Hill SOA
| Game | Draw dates |
|---|---|
| Legal buck | At least 3 antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main antler |
| Deer | Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Oct. 15-18, Oct. 22-25, Oct. 29-Nov. 1 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only: Nov. 5-8 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Dec. 10-13, Dec. 26-29, Jan. 7-10, Jan. 21-24, Feb. 4-7 |
| Deer | Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Nov. 17-20 |
| Turkey | April 2-4, April 9-11, April 16-18, April 23-25, April 30-May 2 |
| Quail, Rabbit & Squirrel | Feb. 8-14, Feb 15-21 |
| Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine, Raccoon, Opossum, & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
- SOA deer hunts (Cedar Creek, Little River SF, Portland Landing, Uchee Creek, Thigpen Hill, Blackwater River, Fred T. Stimpson, Upper State, Crow Creek, Chalk Hill, Shelby, Choctaw NWR)September 1 to September 14, 2026
Hunt dates and draw rules from the ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas page (2026-27); deadlines from the ADCNR draw schedule. Checked November 1, 2026.
Tallapoosa County support: district staff, towns, trade
For district questions, Tallapoosa County hunters reach Jacksonville at (256) 435-5422. Straight-line distance from the county centre to the closest ADCNR office (Montgomery) is about 44 miles. Office hours run Monday to Friday from 9 to 4 o'clock, and staff sample deer for CWD when you phone first.
Where to base a Tallapoosa County hunt
10 Census places sit in the county (7 incorporated, 3 CDPs). Biggest towns: Alexander City (14,439), Dadeville (2,934) and Camp Hill (965). Tallapoosa County spans 717 square miles and held 40,699 residents in 2024.
Tallapoosa County meat, mounts and gear
Our directory has 1 taxidermist and 1 gear shop inside Tallapoosa County. No processors and guides and preserves turned up inside the county, so the cards below include neighbours. In-county businesses come first, then those in adjoining counties, by straight-line distance.
Next to Tallapoosa County
| Adjoining | Deer zone | Turkey | Dove | Dog status | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chambers County | Zone A | 1 | North | Permit only | 24 miles |
| Coosa County | Zone A | 1 | North | Permit only | 26 miles |
| Elmore County | Zone A | 1 | North | Permit, stalk | 27 miles |
| Clay County | Zone A | 3 | North | No rule | 28 miles |
| Lee County | Zone A/Zone B | 1 | North | No rule | 32 miles |
| Macon County | Zone B/Zone A | 1 | North | Permit only | 33 miles |
| Randolph County | Zone A | 3 | North | Stalk only | 36 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.
Tallapoosa County sight-in spots and shoot dates
Within Tallapoosa County the guide finds 3 ranges; every card says who may shoot.
Without a club card, Tallapoosa County shooters can use Coosa County WMA Range in Coosa County, 32 miles away. Hours
Ranges from ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Tallapoosa County shooting hours on key dates
Mobile and Huntsville see sunrise many minutes apart in winter, so use the times worked out for Tallapoosa County.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:46 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:19 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | November 14 | 6:24 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:42 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:46 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:32 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:49 a.m. | 6:54 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:54 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.
Tallapoosa County events and results
Booked inside the county: 5 upcoming dates, namely SOA deer (gun) draw, SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw, SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw, SOA small game draw and SOA turkey draw. Count 5 limited-quota SOA hunts, by draw only.
Still ahead
| Dates | Event | Where | Link | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5–8, 2026 | Chalk Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only · SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 17–20, 2026 | Chalk Hill SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 10–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Chalk Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | Event details | Source | |
| Feb 8–21, 2027 | Chalk Hill SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA small game draw | Event details | Source | |
| Apr 2–May 2, 2027 | Chalk Hill SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | Event details | Source |
Quick Tallapoosa County rule answers
How many processors does this page list around Tallapoosa County?
This page shows 3 nearby: Big E Deer Processing, Darrell's Deer Processing and East Alabama Deer Processing.
Can hunters go out on Sundays in Tallapoosa County?
Yes; Alabama has had no Sunday hunting restriction since 2015.
Which of the Alabama deer zones does the ADCNR map draw over Tallapoosa County?
Zone A; the A/B split follows roads, so the map rules near that line.
How does Tallapoosa County stack up against other counties for deer killed?
It cannot be compared; county deer harvest is not published.
Roughly how many turkeys did Tallapoosa County hunters check in 2025?
Somewhere from 209 to 296, the ADCNR class for the county.
When do the deer dogs go back in the kennel for good in Tallapoosa County?
After January 15, 2027 on private land, where dogs are allowed at all.
About how many acres of public ground does Tallapoosa County have?
Some 4,324 acres by GIS, across 3 listed areas.
Does the Mobile-Tensaw Delta duck rule touch Tallapoosa County?
No; it covers parts of Baldwin and Mobile only.
Which Alabama district number is Tallapoosa County in?
District II.
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.
Tallapoosa County season reminders
Dates on this page cover 2026-27 only; a new Digest comes out each summer.
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: John Coley (CC BY 2.0).