Alabama › Hunting seasons › Deer zones › Alabama Deer Zone A
Deer zones
Alabama Deer Zone A
Zone A for 2026-27: Oct 15 to Feb 10; boundary, counties, every season row and public land.
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain)
Deer Zone A overview
Deer dates in Zone A run Oct 15 to Feb 10. The zone takes in north and central Alabama outside Zones C, D, E and the CMZ.
Where Zone A runs
Those areas with the following boundaries: beginning at the intersection of the Alabama/Mississippi state line and US Hwy. 80 (Sumter County), east along US Hwy. 80 to the US Hwy. 80 Bypass in Selma (Dallas County); east along US Hwy 80 Bypass to the Alabama River; east along the Alabama River to I-65; south along I-65 to the intersection with I-85; north along I-85 to AL Hwy. 169 (Exit 60 – Lee County); south along AL Hwy. 169 to AL Hwy. 1/US Hwy. 431; south along AL Hwy. 1/US Hwy. 431 to AL Hwy. 26; west along AL Hwy. 26 to Russell County Road 65; south along Russell County Road 65 to Russell County Road 4; west along Russell County Road 4 to Russell County Road 49; south along Russell County Road 49 to US Hwy. 82; east along US Hwy. 82 to the Chattahoochee River; south along the Chattahoochee River to AL Hwy.10; west along AL Hwy. 10 to Henry County Road 57; south along Henry County Road 57 to Henry County Road 99; south along Henry County Road 99 to US Hwy. 431; south along US Hwy. 431 to Ross Clark Circle (bypass around Dothan); east along Ross Clark Circle to US Hwy. 231; south along US Hwy. 231 to the Alabama/Florida state line; east along the Alabama/ Florida state line to the Chattahoochee River; north along the Chattahoochee River to US Hwy. 82; west along US Hwy. 82 to US Hwy. 431; north along US Hwy. 431 to US Hwy. 280; east along US Hwy. 280 to Alabama/ Georgia state line; north along Alabama/ Georgia state line to I-20; west along I-20 to AL Hwy. 21; north along AL Hwy. 21 to US Hwy. 278; east along US Hwy 278 to the Alabama/ Georgia state line; north along the Alabama/ Georgia state line to the Alabama/Tennessee state line; west along the Alabama/Tennessee state line to the Lauderdale County/Limestone County line; south along the Lauderdale County/Limestone County line to the Tennessee River; west along the Tennessee River to the Colbert County/ Lawrence County line; south along the Colbert County/ Lawrence County line to the Colbert County/ Franklin County line; south along the Franklin County/Lawrence County line to the Winston County line; west along the Franklin County/Winston County line continuing along the Franklin County/Marion County line to the Alabama/Mississippi state line; south along the Alabama/Mississippi state line ending at US Hwy. 80 (Sumter County). Excludes Zones C, D, and E descriptions below.
From the ADCNR deer season page and the Digest zone map, checked November 1, 2026.
Zone A dates and limits
Each Zone A row lists its own opening and closing day.
| Species | Season | Zone or area | Opens | Closes | Days | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Zone A | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | 119 | Either sex |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Zone A | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | 4 | Either sex |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Zone A | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | 5 | Either sex |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | 82 | Either sex |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | 21 | Antlered bucks only |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Zone A | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 23 | Either sex |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Zone A | Jan 4, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | 38 | Antlered bucks only |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | 56 | Either sex |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | 21 | Antlered bucks only |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Zone A | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 23 | Either sex |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Zone A | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | 12 | Antlered bucks only |
| Feral hogs | Night season | Deer Zone A | Feb 11, 2027 | Not set | No limit | |
| Coyote | Night season | Deer Zone A | Feb 11, 2027 | Not set | No limit |
- Bucks: 1 per day; 3 per hunter for all seasons combined. One of the three must have at least 4 points (1 in. or longer) on one antler; main beam tip counts. Barbour County: every antlered buck must have 3+ points on one side (except on statewide youth days).
- Doe limit: Zones A, B, D, E and CMZ: 2 unantlered, or 1 unantlered + 1 antlered, per day during unantlered (either-sex) gun, muzzleloader/air rifle, archery and youth dates. Zone C: 1 unantlered + 1 antlered per day. No season limit stated for unantlered deer.
From the Digest deer tables and the ADCNR deer page, checked November 1, 2026.
Zone A county list
ADCNR does not list counties for Zone A; the 41 below were placed from shading on the zone map, with the share of each county shown.
Of the Zone A counties, 7 allow dog deer hunting only by permit and 21 are stalk only in whole or part.
Counties from regs.json zones.deer_zones (map shading or zone text) and dog lists from the Digest dog deer page, checked November 1, 2026.
Public deer areas in Zone A
Public land in counties mostly shaded Zone A: 26 areas; WMA dates come from each AREA Permit.
From lands.json, checked November 1, 2026.
Hunting hours across Zone A
Times for Clay County; places at the far edge of Zone A can differ by several minutes.
| Date | Zone date | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and game | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:47 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun opener | 6:20 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:43 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Last deer day | 6:33 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
Hours rule from the Digest; sunrise and sunset computed (NOAA solar formula, Central Time); checked November 1, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Zone A questions
What is the first deer day in Zone A?
Archery Oct 15, 2026, gun Nov 21, 2026, final day Feb 10, 2027.
Do Zone A bucks need 4 points?
The statewide 3-buck limit applies.
Is Zone A drawn by county lines?
By roads and rivers; the text begins: Those areas with the following boundaries: beginning at the intersection of the Alabama/Mississippi state line and US Hwy. 80 (Sumter County), east.
Which part of Alabama is Zone A?
41 counties shaded on the ADCNR map, led by Clay, Fayette, Walker and Coosa; the boundary roads decide.
When does Zone A dog hunting end?
The last day is Jan 15, 2027.
What unantlered limit applies in Zone A?
Expect 2 unantlered, or 1 unantlered and 1 antlered, a day on either-sex dates.
Can I shoot does on public land in Zone A?
Nov 21 to Dec 11; Jan 4 to Feb 10: antlered bucks only there.
When does the Zone A night season open?
The night season opens Feb 11, 2027.