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Online, by phone, at probate offices and license agents · license year Sept. 1 to Aug. 31
Alabama Hunting Licenses and Fees
All 73 license rows in the 2026-2027 Digest and the ADCNR license pages: resident and nonresident all game and small game licenses, trip licenses, the Bait Privilege and nighttime licenses, the WMA license, duck stamps, disabled and veteran licenses, lifetime licenses by age, alligator and crane permits and the packages, plus hunter education and Game Check.
Photo: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0)
Matching an Alabama license to the game you hunt
An all game license covers every legal species including deer and turkey; a small game license covers everything except deer and turkey. Hunting over bait, hunting hogs and coyotes at night, hunting a WMA for deer, turkey or ducks, and duck hunting each need their own add-on on top.
Alabama hunting licenses run on one license year: Sept. 1, 2026-Aug. 31, 2027 (duck stamps July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027; fur catcher Oct. 1, 2026-Sept. 30, 2027).
Resident status
Bona fide resident for 90 continuous days before purchase, or U.S. military stationed in Alabama; residency determined by the Alabama driver's license or non-driver ID (others prove residency at a probate office). Nonresidents with a valid out-of-state driver's license may not hold an Alabama non-driver ID.
Who needs a license
Residents 16-64 hunting land they do not own need a license; residents 65+ and all under 16 do not; resident landowners and immediate family (spouse, children, parents, brothers, sisters) on their own land, and resident tenants living on the land, do not. Nonresidents 16+ need licenses everywhere. Bait Privilege and Nighttime licenses: all ages, no exemptions. Duck stamps: residents 16-64, nonresidents 16+.
Harvest record for everyone
Deer/turkey harvest record (paper or app) required for every deer/turkey hunter regardless of license status.
Carry it with you
Licenses, stamps and harvest record (paper or digital) must be in possession while hunting. Lending, borrowing or using another's license is illegal (9-11-70, Class B misdemeanor).
Hunting a WMA
WMA hunters 16+ need a free WMA AREA Permit (app or paper), a daily permit/app check-in, plus the WMA license for deer, turkey and waterfowl.
License year and sales
Annual hunting licenses run Sept. 1-Aug. 31 (all expire Aug. 31, 2027); duck stamps July 1-June 30; fur catcher Oct. 1-Sept. 30. Sold online (myoutdooralabama.com), by phone 1-888-848-6887, at probate offices/license commissioners, ~320 agents and WFF offices.
How prices are set
Statutory fees (for example all game $23 + $1, small game $15 + $1, WMA $15 + $1, bait $14/$50 + $1, lifetime $300-$500) are adjusted under Code 9-11-68, giving the 2026-27 prices listed.
Social Security number
Social Security numbers are required for license purchases (state 30-3-194(a), federal 42 U.S.C. 666(a)(13)).
Sources: Digest, p. 38; ADCNR resident license page; ADCNR nonresident license page; ADCNR WMA page; Code of Ala. 9-11-68, last walked through November 1, 2026.
Resident and nonresident prices side by side
A resident all game license costs $35.30; a nonresident pays $411.45 for the year, so most visitors buy a trip license. The Bait Privilege and nighttime licenses carry no age or landowner exemption for anyone, and the WMA license costs the same $23.40 for residents and nonresidents.
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| All game, annual | $35.30 | $411.45 |
| All game, 10-day trip | Not sold | $253.95 |
| All game, 3-day trip | Not sold | $179.05 |
| Small game, annual | $23.40 | $134.10 |
| Small game, 10-day trip | Not sold | $81.70 |
| Small game, 3-day trip | Not sold | $59.10 |
| Bait Privilege License | $18.95 | $65.25 |
| Nighttime feral swine and coyote | $18.50 | $63.45 |
| WMA license | $23.40 | $23.40 |
| State duck stamp | $12.70 | $12.70 |
| Federal duck stamp | $30.00 | $30.00 |
ADCNR's nonresident license web page prints a slightly different annual all game price; this page uses the Digest figure, which the nonresident package price also adds up to.
Sources: Digest, p. 42; Digest, p. 43; ADCNR WMA page, last walked through November 1, 2026.
Every Alabama license and fee (73 rows)
73 rows in 7 tables, priced as ADCNR prints them for 2026-27. Long notes are trimmed; the linked Digest page or ADCNR page has the full wording.
All game and small game hunting licenses (9 rows)
| License | Who | Residency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Game Hunting License | Age 16-64 | Resident | $35.30 | All legal game incl. deer and turkey; includes Wildlife Heritage License privileges. Hunter education (or "supervision required" status) if born … |
| Small Game Hunting License | Age 16-64 | Resident | $23.40 | All game except deer and turkey; includes Wildlife Heritage privileges. |
| All Game Hunting License (annual) | Age 16+ | Nonresident | $411.45 | All game incl. deer and turkey.95; Digest, waterfowl guide and package arithmetic give $411.45. |
| All Game Hunting License (10-day trip) | Age 16+ | Nonresident | $253.95 | All game incl. deer and turkey. |
| All Game Hunting License (3-day trip) | Age 16+ | Nonresident | $179.05 | All game incl. deer and turkey. |
| Small Game Hunting License (annual) | Age 16+ | Nonresident | $134.10 | All game except deer and turkey. |
| Small Game Hunting License (10-day trip) | Age 16+ | Nonresident | $81.70 | – |
| Small Game Hunting License (3-day trip) | Age 16+ | Nonresident | $59.10 | – |
| Nonresident College Student All Game / Small Game | Full-time students 17-23 at an Alabama institution | Nonresident | $35.30 / $23.40 | Resident prices for nonresident students (Code 9-11-73: age 17 to under 24). |
Add-on licenses, stamps and HIP (10 rows)
| License | Who | Residency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bait Privilege License | All ages | Resident | $18.95 | Required to hunt white-tailed deer or feral swine over bait on private/leased land; no exemptions (youth, seniors and landowners must buy it). |
| Nighttime Feral Swine and Coyote Hunting License | All ages | Resident | $18.50 | Required for the special nighttime season on private/leased land; no exemptions. Bait license also needed over bait. |
| Wildlife Heritage License | Any age | Resident | $14.30 | Small game (not waterfowl) on WMAs, bank fishing statewide, public fishing lakes, WFF shooting ranges; included in resident hunting and freshwater … |
| State Duck Stamp | Waterfowl hunters 16-64 (residents), 16+ (nonresidents) | Both | $12.70 | Residents 65+ exempt. |
| Federal Duck Stamp | Waterfowl hunters 16+ | Both | $30.00 | Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (signed) or E-Stamp. |
| Wildlife Management Area License | Age 16-64 | Resident | $23.40 | Required to hunt deer, turkey or waterfowl on WMAs, plus the free WMA AREA Permit and daily permit/app check-in. Residents under 16 or 65+ exempt. |
| Wildlife Management Area License | Age 16+ | Nonresident | $23.40 | Required for hunting on WMAs (plus free AREA Permit). |
| Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification | Migratory bird hunters | Both | Free | Required for doves, waterfowl, woodcock, rails, snipe, coots, gallinules, cranes; not required under 16 or 65+ in Alabama (ADCNR HIP page). |
| Bait Privilege License | All ages | Nonresident | $65.25 | Deer/feral swine over bait on private/leased land; no exemptions (nonresidents 15 and under must buy it). |
| Nighttime Feral Swine and Coyote Hunting License | All ages | Nonresident | $63.45 | No exemptions. |
Disabled and veteran licenses (5 rows)
| License | Who | Residency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nighttime Feral Swine/Coyote License (100% disabled) | 100% disabled hunting license holders | Resident | $1.10 | For holders of the 100% physically disabled or 100% disabled veteran hunting license. |
| Physically Disabled Hunting License (totally disabled) | Permanently disabled | Resident | $7.65 | Annual all game; issued by probate/license commissioner offices with proof of permanent disability benefits. |
| 50% Physically Disabled Military Veteran's Appreciation Hunting License | Veterans 50%+ disabled (VA) | Resident | $18.20 | All game. |
| 100% Physically Disabled Military Veteran's Appreciation Hunting License | Veterans 100% disabled (VA) | Resident | $3.65 | All game. |
| Physically Disabled Military Veteran's Appreciation 3-Day Hunting Event License | Sanctioned events | Both | $179.05 | Up to 10 veterans 50%+ disabled on one event license; event sanctioned by the DCNR Commissioner. |
Lifetime licenses and add-ons (29 rows)
| License | Who | Residency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident 64 Lifetime Licenses | Age 64 | Resident | Cost of the annual license | Lifetime hunting, freshwater, saltwater or WMA license for residents aged 64 at the annual license price. |
| Optional Senior Lifetime Hunting, Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing | Seniors | Resident | $35.00 | Listed on the resident license page. |
| Lifetime Hunting License | Age Under 2 | Resident | $450.40 | Residents only; prices rise each Sept. 1. |
| Lifetime Hunting & Freshwater Fishing License | Age Under 2 | Resident | $675.20 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting & Saltwater Fishing License | Age Under 2 | Resident | $825.05 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting, Freshwater & Saltwater Fishing License | Age Under 2 | Resident | $1,049.85 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting License | Age 2-11 | Resident | $600.40 | Residents only; prices rise each Sept. 1. |
| Lifetime Hunting & Freshwater Fishing License | Age 2-11 | Resident | $750.10 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting & Saltwater Fishing License | Age 2-11 | Resident | $1,049.85 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting, Freshwater & Saltwater Fishing License | Age 2-11 | Resident | $1,199.80 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting License | Age 12-49 | Resident | $750.10 | Residents only; prices rise each Sept. 1. |
| Lifetime Hunting & Freshwater Fishing License | Age 12-49 | Resident | $1,049.85 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting & Saltwater Fishing License | Age 12-49 | Resident | $1,274.70 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting, Freshwater & Saltwater Fishing License | Age 12-49 | Resident | $1,574.40 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting License | Age 50+ | Resident | $450.40 | Residents only; prices rise each Sept. 1. |
| Lifetime Hunting & Freshwater Fishing License | Age 50+ | Resident | $675.20 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting & Saltwater Fishing License | Age 50+ | Resident | $825.05 | – |
| Lifetime Hunting, Freshwater & Saltwater Fishing License | Age 50+ | Resident | $1,049.85 | – |
| Lifetime State Duck Stamp add-on | Age Under 2 | Resident | $198.70 | – |
| Lifetime State Duck Stamp add-on | Age 2-11 | Resident | $251.30 | – |
| Lifetime State Duck Stamp add-on | Age 12-49 | Resident | $304.15 | – |
| Lifetime State Duck Stamp add-on | Age 50+ | Resident | $198.70 | – |
| Lifetime Wildlife Heritage add-on | Age Under 2 | Resident | $300.50 | – |
| Lifetime Wildlife Heritage add-on | Age 2-11 | Resident | $300.50 | – |
| Lifetime Wildlife Heritage add-on | Age 12-49 | Resident | $300.00 | – |
| Lifetime Wildlife Heritage add-on | Age 50+ | Resident | $300.00 | – |
| Military Veteran's Appreciation Lifetime Hunting (40%+ disabled) | 49 and under / 50 and over | Resident | $74.75 / $37.35 | Plus one-time $1.20 issuance fee. |
| Military Veteran's Appreciation Lifetime Hunting (100% disabled) | 49 and under / 50 and over | Resident | $56.10 / $31.15 | Plus one-time $1.20 issuance fee. |
| Physically Disabled Lifetime Hunting (100% disabled) | 49 and under / 50 and over | Resident | $50.00 / $30.00 | New; on sale Oct. 1, 2026; plus one-time $1.00 issuance fee. |
Alligator and sandhill crane permits (5 rows)
| License | Who | Residency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alligator Harvest Permit | Drawn applicants 16+ with AL hunting license | Resident | $250.00 | One alligator; up to 2 possession tags. |
| Alligator Bonus Management Harvest Permit | Resident permit holders | Resident | $125.00 | One bonus alligator max 6 feet; not for Lake Eufaula AMA. |
| Alligator Harvest Permit | Drawn applicants 16+ with AL NR hunting license | Nonresident | $1,000.00 | – |
| Alligator Bonus Management Harvest Permit | NR permit holders | Nonresident | $500.00 | Max 6 feet; not Lake Eufaula. |
| Selected Sandhill Crane Harvest Permit | Drawn residents/AL lifetime holders 16+ | Resident | $20.00 plus processing fee | 750 permits, 3 tags each; free to apply. |
Packages and the collectible card (7 rows)
| License | Who | Residency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Access Hunting Package | Package | Resident | $90.35 | All Game + WMA + Bait Privilege + State Duck Stamp (no federal stamp, HIP or nighttime license). |
| All Access Hunting Package | Package | Nonresident | $512.80 | Same privileges at nonresident prices. |
| Hog Wild Hunting Package | Package | Resident | $60.85 | Small Game + Bait Privilege + Nighttime Feral Swine and Coyote. |
| Hog Wild Hunting Package | Package | Nonresident | $262.80 | – |
| All Access Sportsman's Package | Package | Resident | $148.70 | All Game, WMA, Bait, State Duck Stamp, Freshwater, Saltwater, Angler Registry, Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement, HIP. |
| All Access Sportsman's Package | Package (all other states) | Nonresident | $657.80 | LA, MS and FL residents pay different (reciprocal) totals: $652.00, $665.02, $639.20. |
| Collectible license card | Optional | Both | +$7.00 (annual license); +$5 hard card with packages | Six designs for 2026-27. |
Fur catcher, preserve, H.E.L.P. number and senior options (8 rows)
| License | Who | Residency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Check H.E.L.P. Number | License-exempt residents | Resident | No charge | Hunter's Exempt License Privilege number for license-exempt residents to Game Check deer/turkey; not needed with any other annual privilege. |
| Fur Catcher's License | Trappers | Resident | $28.70 | 90 days residency proof. |
| Fur Catcher's License | Trappers | Nonresident | Varies | Same as the nonresident license fee in the applicant's home state (call 334-242-3465). |
| Commercial Fowl Hunting Preserve License (7-day) | Preserve hunters | Resident | $10.00 | $8 plus $2 issuance; pen-raised fowl on a licensed preserve only, in lieu of a hunting license. |
| Commercial Fowl Hunting Preserve License (7-day) | Preserve hunters | Nonresident | $10.00 | $8 plus $2 issuance. |
| DCNR Registration Privilege | Any | Resident | No charge | Listed on the resident license page. |
| Optional 65+ annual licenses | Age 65+ | Resident | Cost of the annual license | Optional purchase for exempt seniors who want to contribute (hunting, fishing, WMA, state duck stamp). |
| Game Check H.E.L.P. Number | Nonresidents 15 and under | Nonresident | No charge | For recording deer/turkey harvest. |
Sources: Digest, p. 39; Digest, p. 42; Digest, p. 43; Digest, p. 48; ADCNR alligator season page; ADCNR resident license page; ADCNR nonresident license page; ADCNR package prices; ADCNR sandhill crane page, last walked through November 1, 2026.
Harvest record first, Game Check within 48 hours
Alabama uses no physical deer or turkey tags. Every deer and turkey hunter, licensed or license-exempt, records the animal on a paper harvest record or in the Outdoor AL app before moving it, then reports it through Game Check within 48 hours or before handing it to anyone else.
| What | Alabama rule |
|---|---|
| How it works | Every deer and turkey hunter, licensed or exempt, must carry a harvest record (paper or the Outdoor AL app), record each deer/turkey before moving or field dressing it, and report it through Game Check within 48 hours or before transferring possession; confirmation number goes on the paper record. |
| Ways to report | Outdoor AL app (records offline, completes when signal returns); online at myoutdooralabama.com / outdooralabama.com/gamecheck; phone 1-800-888-7690. |
| Deer details | Date, county, public or private land, antler point count (antlered or unantlered), license number/CID/H.E.L.P. number. |
| Turkey details | Date, county, land type, age (jake or adult), beard length, each spur length. |
| Giving game away | Anyone receiving a deer/turkey (whole or part) inside Alabama needs written documentation: harvester's name, CID, Game Check confirmation number and harvest date (or the DCNR Transfer of Possession Certificate). Not required when transferred outside Alabama, but Game Check still is. Out-of-state deer/turkey are not reported in Alabama Game Check. |
| One record only | It is unlawful to use or possess more than one harvest record. |
| Bobcat and otter | Bobcat and otter pelts tagged by WFF within 14 days (or left with a taxidermist/fur dealer with a tag report). |
| Migratory birds | HIP certification for all migratory bird hunters; sandhill crane permit holders fill in the permit before moving a bird and must return the post-season survey by Feb. 10, 2027. |
| WMA check-in | WMA hunters check in/out through the Outdoor AL app or paper daily permit; bonus bucks validated at check stations. |
| Conservation ID | The 6-character Conservation ID (CID) is used for Game Check and license renewals; the new MyOutdoorAlabama system (Tyler Technologies/OneOutdoor) launched summer 2026. |
Sources: Regulation Book, PDF p. 150; ADCNR Game Check page; ADCNR transfer of possession page; Digest, p. 16, last walked through November 1, 2026.
Hunter education and the supervision route
Hunter education is required of license buyers born on or after August 1, 1977. Anyone who has not taken it can still buy a supervision-required license under the Wildlife Heritage Act of 2007 and hunt within 30 feet of a licensed adult of 21 or older.
| Topic | Alabama rule |
|---|---|
| Who must be certified | Everyone buying a hunting license who was born on or after Aug. 1, 1977 (the Digest p. 52 says "born after"). |
| Hunting while uncertified | Wildlife Heritage Act of 2007 "supervision required" license: hunt within 30 feet and normal voice control of a properly licensed hunter 21+ who does not hold a supervision-required license. |
| Who is exempt | APOST-certified law enforcement officers employed in Alabama, active-duty U.S. military, and Alabama residents in the Alabama National Guard. |
| The course | Free in-person course (8+ hours plus written exam, age 10+) or approved online courses (NRA free; others $19.99-$49.95, about 8 hours). Accepted in all states/provinces; Alabama accepts all other states' cards. |
| Contact | Hunter Education Office 1-800-245-2740; duplicate cards online. |
Sources: ADCNR hunter education page; Digest, p. 38; Digest, p. 52, last walked through November 1, 2026.
Lifetime licenses by age
Lifetime licenses are for residents and are priced by age at purchase: cheapest under 2 and from 50, dearest from 12 to 49, and ADCNR raises the prices each September 1. Disabled veterans and, from October 1, 2026, residents who are 100 percent physically disabled get lifetime hunting licenses at a fraction of the price.
| Age at purchase | Hunting | Hunting and freshwater | Hunting and saltwater | All three | State duck stamp add-on | Wildlife Heritage add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | $450.40 | $675.20 | $825.05 | $1,049.85 | $198.70 | $300.50 |
| 2-11 | $600.40 | $750.10 | $1,049.85 | $1,199.80 | $251.30 | $300.50 |
| 12-49 | $750.10 | $1,049.85 | $1,274.70 | $1,574.40 | $304.15 | $300.00 |
| 50+ | $450.40 | $675.20 | $825.05 | $1,049.85 | $198.70 | $300.00 |
| Lifetime license | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Optional Senior Lifetime Hunting, Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing | $35.00 | Listed on the resident license page. |
| Military Veteran's Appreciation Lifetime Hunting (40%+ disabled) | $74.75 / $37.35 | Plus one-time $1.20 issuance fee. |
| Military Veteran's Appreciation Lifetime Hunting (100% disabled) | $56.10 / $31.15 | Plus one-time $1.20 issuance fee. |
| Physically Disabled Lifetime Hunting (100% disabled) | $50.00 / $30.00 | New; on sale Oct. 1, 2026; plus one-time $1.00 issuance fee. |
Sources: Digest, p. 48; ADCNR nonresident license page, last walked through November 1, 2026.
Alabama license questions
How much is an Alabama hunting license?
$35.30 for a resident all game license and $23.40 for resident small game, for ages 16 to 64. Nonresidents pay $411.45 for an annual all game license or $134.10 for small game.
Does an Alabama landowner need a license on family land?
Not if you are a resident landowner, or the spouse, child, parent, brother or sister of one, hunting that land; resident tenants living on the land are exempt too. The Bait Privilege and nighttime licenses still apply.
Who is exempt from buying an Alabama hunting license?
Residents 65 and older and everyone under 16. They still keep a harvest record and use a free H.E.L.P. number for Game Check.
What does the Bait Privilege License cost?
$18.95 for residents and $65.25 for nonresidents, with no exemptions for age or land ownership.
Which licenses does a duck hunter need?
A hunting license unless exempt, HIP certification, the state duck stamp ($12.70) and from age 16 the federal duck stamp ($30.00); on WMAs the WMA license too.
What is a trip license?
A nonresident all game license good for 10 days ($253.95) or 3 days ($179.05), with small game versions at $81.70 and $59.10.
Which Alabama license buyers must show a hunter education card?
Everyone buying a hunting license who was born on or after Aug. 1, 1977 (the Digest p. 52 says "born after").
What are the ways to Game Check a deer in Alabama?
Outdoor AL app (records offline, completes when signal returns); online at myoutdooralabama.com / outdooralabama.com/gamecheck; phone 1-800-888-7690.
Can a nonresident college student pay resident prices?
Resident prices for nonresident students (Code 9-11-73: age 17 to under 24). The prices are $35.30 / $23.40.
What is in the All Access Hunting Package?
All Game + WMA + Bait Privilege + State Duck Stamp (no federal stamp, HIP or nighttime license). It costs $90.35 for residents and $512.80 for nonresidents.
The Code of Alabama decides
Each fee, date and count on this page traces to an ADCNR page, a Digest page, the Regulation Book or a Code of Alabama section, reopened on November 1, 2026. When two ADCNR sources give different numbers, the page names the one it uses.
Other photos on this page: peanutian (CC BY-SA 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); Josh Henderson (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).