Home › Alabama › Events › SOA Draw Hunts
Heart of Dixie calendar
Alabama Special Opportunity Area draw hunts for adults
Only SOA draw hunts with a public listing appear (48 upcoming dates), so each row can be checked at its source.
Photo: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain)
SOA draw hunts to come in Alabama
The event name opens the host listing; the button handles tickets, registration or the details page.
Jump to a month: Nov 2026 · Dec 2026 · Jan 2027 · Feb 2027 · Mar 2027 · Apr 2027
November 2026 (17 dates)
| Calendar | Name | Hosted by | Where held | Key details | Go | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22–Nov 8, 2026 | Blackwater River SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (archery) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 5–8 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 5–Dec 13, 2026 | Cedar Creek SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only · SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 5–8 2 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 5–8, 2026 | Chalk Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only · SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 5–8 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Oct 15–Nov 22, 2026 | Crow Creek SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (archery) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 5–8 2 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 5–Dec 13, 2026 | Portland Landing SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only · SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 5–8 2 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 5–8, 2026 | Thigpen Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only · SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 5–8 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 5–8, 2026 | Uchee Creek SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only · SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 5–8 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 17–20, 2026 | Cedar Creek SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 17–20 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 17–20, 2026 | Chalk Hill SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 17–20 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 17–20, 2026 | Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapon – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 17–20 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 17–20, 2026 | Portland Landing SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 17–20 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 17–20, 2026 | Uchee Creek SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 17–20 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 19–22, 2026 | Blackwater River SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 19–22 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 19–22, 2026 | Little River State Forest SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 19–22 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 19–22, 2026 | Shelby SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 19–22 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 19–22, 2026 | Thigpen Hill SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 19–22 draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Oct 22–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Upper State SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (archery) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Nov 19–22 5 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source |
December 2026 (10 dates)
| Calendar | Name | Hosted by | Where held | Key details | Go | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 3–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Blackwater River SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Dec 3–6 6 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 3–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Cedar Creek SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Dec 3–6 6 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 3–20, 2026 | Crow Creek SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Dec 3–6 2 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 3–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Little River State Forest SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Dec 3–6 6 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 3–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Portland Landing SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Dec 3–6 6 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 3–Jan 31 (2026-27) | Uchee Creek SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Dec 3–6 5 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 10–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Chalk Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Dec 10–13 5 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 12–Jan 10 (2026-27) | Uchee Creek SOA waterfowl hunt · SOA waterfowl draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Dec 12–13 2 periods left draw closed Oct 26 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 17–Jan 31 (2026-27) | Shelby SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Dec 17–20 3 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 17–Jan 31 (2026-27) | Thigpen Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Dec 17–20 5 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source |
January 2027 (4 dates)
| Calendar | Name | Hosted by | Where held | Key details | Go | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2–3, 2027 | Cedar Creek SOA woodcock & quail hunt · SOA woodcock and quail draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Jan 2–3 draw closed Oct 26 | Event details | Source | |
| Jan 2–31, 2027 | Crow Creek SOA waterfowl hunt · SOA waterfowl draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Jan 2–3 5 periods left draw closed Oct 26 | Event details | Source | |
| Jan 2–3, 2027 | Portland Landing SOA waterfowl/woodcock hunt · SOA waterfowl draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Jan 2–3 draw closed Oct 26 | Event details | Source | |
| Oct 22–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Fred T. Stimpson SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (archery) draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Jan 7–10 4 periods left draw closed Sep 14 | Event details | Source |
February 2027 (9 dates)
| Calendar | Name | Hosted by | Where held | Key details | Go | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 8–21, 2027 | Chalk Hill SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA small game draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Feb 8–14 2 periods left | Event details | Source | |
| Feb 8–21, 2027 | Little River State Forest SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA small game draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Feb 8–14 2 periods left | Event details | Source | |
| Feb 8–21, 2027 | Uchee Creek SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA small game draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Feb 8–14 2 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source | |
| Feb 10–21, 2027 | Thigpen Hill SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA small game draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Feb 10–14 2 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source | |
| Feb 11–21, 2027 | Cedar Creek SOA quail, rabbit, squirrel, & raccoon hunt · SOA small game draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Feb 11–14 2 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source | |
| Feb 11–21, 2027 | Portland Landing SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt: Regular · SOA small game draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Feb 11–14 2 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source | |
| Feb 11–21, 2027 | Shelby SOA rabbit, squirrel, & raccoon hunt · SOA small game draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Feb 11–14 2 periods left | Event details | Source | |
| Feb 15–28, 2027 | Blackwater River SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA small game draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Feb 15–21 2 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source | |
| Feb 25–May 2, 2027 | Thigpen Hill SOA feral swine (gun) hunt · SOA feral hog draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Feb 25–28 6 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source |
March 2027 (1 date)
| Calendar | Name | Hosted by | Where held | Key details | Go | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 5–7, 2027 | Portland Landing SOA feral swine (gun) hunt · SOA feral hog draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Mar 5–7 draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source |
April 2027 (7 dates)
| Calendar | Name | Hosted by | Where held | Key details | Go | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2–May 2, 2027 | Cedar Creek SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Apr 2–4 5 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source | |
| Apr 2–May 2, 2027 | Chalk Hill SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Apr 2–4 5 periods left | Event details | Source | |
| Apr 2–25, 2027 | Fred T. Stimpson SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Apr 2–4 4 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source | |
| Apr 2–May 2, 2027 | Little River State Forest SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Apr 2–4 5 periods left | Event details | Source | |
| Apr 2–May 2, 2027 | Portland Landing SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Apr 2–4 5 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source | |
| Apr 2–May 2, 2027 | Uchee Creek SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Apr 2–4 5 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source | |
| Apr 2–18, 2027 | Upper State SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | ADCNR SOA program | next Apr 2–4 2 periods left draw Dec 1–14 | Register | Source |
Read November 1, 2026. Hunter education seats fill and draws close, so open the source first.
Counting Alabama SOA draw hunts
48 dates to come; past ones leave the list because they print no winners. Every row traces back to ADCNR SOA program.
By game: deer 27, small game 8, turkey 7, waterfowl 3, feral hog 2 and woodcock and quail 1. Dallas County hosts 13, at the top of the county list. By ADCNR wildlife district: 18 in WFF District V, 16 in WFF District III, 8 in WFF District II and 6 in WFF District IV. The schedule opens with Blackwater River SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice, Oct 22–Nov 8, 2026.
Every Alabama Special Opportunity Area with hunts ahead
Each SOA name opens its land page with acreage, location and access notes.
| SOA | County page | Quarry | Listed | Next up | Antler limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River SOA | Baldwin | deer, small game | 4 | Nov 5–8 | 3 points (1 in.) on a beam | 3 drawn; 1 draw ahead |
| Thigpen Hill SOA | Butler | deer, feral hog, small game | 5 | Nov 5–8 | 3 points (1 in.) on a beam | 3 drawn; 2 draw ahead |
| Choctaw NWR SOA | Choctaw | deer | 1 | Nov 17–20 | None | 1 drawn |
| Fred T. Stimpson SOA | Clarke | deer, turkey | 2 | Jan 7–10 | 3 points (1 in.) on a beam | 1 drawn; 1 draw ahead |
| Upper State SOA | Clarke | deer, turkey | 2 | Nov 19–22 | 3 points (1 in.) on a beam | 1 drawn; 1 draw ahead |
| Cedar Creek SOA | Dallas | deer, small game, turkey, woodcock and quail | 6 | Nov 5–8 | 16 in. spread or 18 in. beam | 4 drawn; 2 draw ahead |
| Portland Landing SOA | Dallas | deer, feral hog, small game, turkey, waterfowl | 7 | Nov 5–8 | 16 in. spread or 18 in. beam | 4 drawn; 3 draw ahead |
| Little River SOA | Escambia | deer, small game, turkey | 4 | Nov 19–22 | 3 points (1 in.) on a beam | 2 drawn; 2 see ADCNR |
| Crow Creek SOA | Jackson | deer, waterfowl | 3 | Nov 5–8 | None | 3 drawn |
| Uchee Creek SOA | Russell | deer, small game, turkey, waterfowl | 6 | Nov 5–8 | 16 in. spread or 18 in. beam | 4 drawn; 2 draw ahead |
| Shelby SOA | Shelby | deer, small game | 3 | Nov 19–22 | 3 points (1 in.) on a beam | 2 drawn; 1 see ADCNR |
| Chalk Hill SOA | Tallapoosa | deer, small game, turkey | 5 | Nov 5–8 | 3 points (1 in.) on a beam | 3 drawn; 2 see ADCNR |
ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas (hunt periods and antler rules for 2026-27) and the ADCNR draw dates, checked November 1, 2026.
Every SOA deer hunt on the list is a stalk hunt.
Alabama SOA draw hunts by miles from you
The six closest are shown; the table above has the rest.
Straight-line miles to the area, the town, or the county centre when that is all the host gave.
Where Alabama SOA draw hunts are held
A hall, SOA or grounds used more than once gets one row and a count.
When Alabama SOA draw hunts happen
November, October and December come out ahead in the month count.
The chart counts 59 dated rows of this kind in the research, run or not, by first day.
Add a date to the Alabama SOA draw hunts list
A myeventscenter page, an NWTF event finder entry, an outdooralabama.com listing, a club Facebook post or a flyer all count as proof. When the link backs the date up, it is filed under its county and kind.
Related to Alabama SOA draw hunts
Match each date with the season it belongs to, the license it needs and the public land nearest the venue.
Questions on Alabama SOA draw hunts
What does ADCNR require hunters to wear on SOAs?
On WMAs (including CHAs, SOAs, PDHAs and refuges) everyone hunting or trapping any species must wear 144 sq. in. of orange/pink or a full-size orange/pink hat at all times; only migratory bird hunters are exempt (220-2-.55(1)(y)). ADCNR hunter orange
How many Alabama SOA draw hunts made it onto this page?
48 in total, each still ahead.
Where and when is the next Alabama SOA draw hunt?
Blackwater River SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice, Oct 22–Nov 8, 2026, Blackwater River Special Opportunity Area, Baldwin County. (next Nov 5–8; draw closed Sep 14.)
Which clubs or offices hold Alabama SOA draw hunts?
Every date here comes from ADCNR SOA program.
Where do Alabama SOA draw hunts cluster?
The counties with the most rows: Dallas County (13), Russell County (6), Tallapoosa County (5), Butler County (5) and Baldwin County (4). Split across the WFF districts, that is 18 in WFF District V, 16 in WFF District III, 8 in WFF District II and 6 in WFF District IV.
In which month do Alabama SOA draw hunts peak?
November leads, with 14 of 59 dated rows.
Do Alabama SOA draw hunt listings show prices?
SOA draw hunts carry no separate fee in the rows here; the cost is an Alabama hunting license plus a WMA license bought before registering.
How are places at Alabama SOA draw hunts claimed?
Registration stays with the organizer, linked from every row.
Is a hunting license needed for Alabama SOA draw hunts?
A hunting license and a WMA license, both bought before registering for the draw.
Is the Alabama SOA draw hunt information recent?
November 1, 2026 is the check date on each row; a host can still move a date after that.
How do I enter an Alabama SOA draw?
Limited-quota draw; cost = Alabama hunting license + WMA license before registering (plus HIP/stamps for migratory birds). Selected hunter and guests get a dedicated unit for 2-4 days. The SOA small game and turkey hunts (Cedar Creek, Portland Landing, Uchee Creek, Fred T. Stimpson, Upper State, Thigpen Hill, Blackwater River) draw opens Dec 1, 2026 and closes Dec 14, 2026. The SOA feral swine hunts (Portland Landing, Thigpen Hill) draw opens Dec 1, 2026 and closes Dec 14, 2026. ADCNR SOAs
Is there a minimum buck size on Alabama Special Opportunity Areas?
It depends on the area. Cedar Creek, Portland Landing and Uchee Creek need a main-beam spread of 16 inches (outside the ears) or an 18-inch main beam; Thigpen Hill, Little River State Forest, Blackwater River, Fred T. Stimpson, Upper State, Shelby and Chalk Hill need at least 3 points of 1 inch or longer on one main beam; Choctaw NWR and Crow Creek have no antler restriction. SOA hunt rules
Other photos on this page: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); the real Kam75 (CC BY-SA 2.0).