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WMA · WFF District I · AL
Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area hunting
What the sources say about this wildlife management area in Lawrence County and 1 neighboring county, with the zone rules that reach it.
Photo: Toby Gray (CC0 1.0)
Getting to Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Borden TrailheadTrailhead · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Sipsey (River Picnic Area) TrailheadTrailhead · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Black Warrior WMA in numbers and names
The ADCNR WMA table puts Black Warrior WMA at 91,263 acres in Lawrence and Winston counties. Of the 3 public places with acreage we list in Lawrence County, it ranks 2nd by size. ADCNR manages it through its Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, in WFF District I. Program: ADCNR Wildlife Management Area system.
Per the WMA list it lies in Lawrence and Winston counties near Moulton. GIS counts 97,922 public acres in Lawrence County.
Listed game on Black Warrior WMA: Turkey, Waterfowl, Deer, Doves, Rabbits, Squirrels, Crows, Quail, Snipe, Woodcock, Raccoon, Opossum, Bobcat, Coyote, Feral hogs, Foxes, Furbearer trapping.
From the agency record (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division); checked November 1, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area
Black Warrior WMA permit requirements
| Requirement | Here |
|---|---|
| Hunting license | Required, 16+ |
| WMA license | $23.40 |
| AREA Permit | Free |
| Daily check-in | App or paper |
| Dog deer | Not allowed |
| Bait | Not allowed |
| Table type | Big and small game |
A $23.40 WMA license, the free AREA Permit map and a daily permit (or the Outdoor Alabama app check-in) are the paperwork for big game and waterfowl on Black Warrior WMA. Squirrel, rabbit and other small game on a WMA ride on the $14.30 Wildlife Heritage License, part of every resident hunting license. Statewide gate closures run May 1 through September 15 on most WMAs, with foot traffic still allowed. No dog deer hunting: that line is printed on the Black Warrior WMA AREA Permit. Area permits set WMA deer dates; the single bonus buck is validated at the WMA check station and not counted in the statewide limit. The kiosk takes the paper daily permit with your results at the end of each day; the app works too. Leave the feed at home; bait is illegal for hunting on Black Warrior WMA and every other public tract.
AREA Permit wording: All deer harvested on Oct. 31- Nov. 1, Nov. 7-8, Nov. 12-14, Nov. 19-21, Nov. 26-28, Dec. 3-5, Dec. 10-12, Dec. 17-19.
Sources: source, source, source, source (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources). Checked November 1, 2026.
Black Warrior WMA openers and closers
Today's status sits in the last column for each Black Warrior WMA row.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | WMA group | Mar 20, 2027 | Mar 20, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | WMA group | Mar 26, 2027 | Mar 26, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | WMA group | Mar 27, 2027 | May 3, 2027 |
WMA turkey hunting ends at 1 p.m. daily, and the Black Warrior WMA permit sets every other date.
From the ADCNR seasons and bag limits, the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest and the 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guide; checked November 1, 2026. All Alabama seasons.
Deer zone and dog rules near Black Warrior WMA
| Rule | Lawrence County | Winston County |
|---|---|---|
| Deer zone | C, D | C, D, A (map) |
| CWD zone | Outside | Outside |
| Turkey zone | 2 | 2 |
| Fall turkey | Closed | Closed |
| Dove zone | North | North |
| Dog deer | Stalk only | Stalk only |
| Waterfowl zone | Statewide | Statewide |
| Alligator area | None | None |
| Turkeys, 2025 | 76-136 | 209-296 |
| WFF district | I | I |
ADCNR names the county of Black Warrior WMA in Zone C and Zone D, but those zones cover only part of each named county. ADCNR gives no county list for Zones A and B. Shading on the ADCNR deer zone map puts Winston County in one or both. Use zone dates for land around Black Warrior WMA, the permit dates on it. Stalk hunting only, no deer dogs: Lawrence County and Winston County, at least in part. Alabama caps antlered deer at three a season and one a day; one buck needs a 4-point side. For 2025, Lawrence County sat in the 76-136 turkey class on the ADCNR map; deer totals by county do not exist publicly.
ADCNR deer zones, turkey zones, dove zones, dog deer rules, CWD rules and the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report; checked November 1, 2026.
Black Warrior WMA on the map with its neighbors
Point the truck southeast for 7.3 mi and you reach Bankhead Ranger District.
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bankhead Ranger District | Ranger district | 182,014 | Lawrence, Winston | 7.3 mi | southeast |
| Bankhead National Forest | National forest | 182,014 | Lawrence, Winston | 7.3 mi | southeast |
| Mallard-Fox Creek WMA | WMA | 1,742 | Lawrence, Morgan | 29 mi | northeast |
| Swan Creek WMA | WMA | 8,870 | Limestone | 32 mi | northeast |
| Lewis Smith PDHA | PDHA | 9.7 | Walker | 33 mi | southeast |
| Wheeler NWR | Wildlife refuge | 34,427 | Limestone, Morgan | 35 mi | northeast |
| Seven-Mile Island WMA | WMA | 4,685 | Lauderdale | 36 mi | northwest |
| Key Cave NWR | Wildlife refuge | 1,079 | Lauderdale | 38 mi | northwest |
Points: ADCNR WMA layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Black Warrior WMA duck season
Alabama runs one statewide duck zone, so the 2026-27 dates below apply to Black Warrior WMA unless its own permit narrows them.
| Species | Season | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teal | Special teal season | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 |
| Ducks | Ducks | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 |
| Ducks | Ducks | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 |
| Geese | Geese, segment 1 | Sep 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
| Geese | Geese, segment 2 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 |
| Geese | Geese, segment 3 | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 |
| Geese | Geese, segment 4 | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Coots | Coot season | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 |
| Coots | Coot season | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Mergansers | Merganser season | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 |
| Mergansers | Merganser season | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guide; checked November 1, 2026.
Towns and ADCNR offices near Black Warrior WMA
Double Springs sits 12 mi from Black Warrior WMA in a straight line. Population leader in the list: Haleyville, 4,313. For permits and questions, the Tanner district office ((256) 353-2634) covers Lawrence County.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Springs | Winston | 1,121 | 12 mi | south |
| Moulton | Lawrence | 3,408 | 13 mi | northeast |
| Addison | Winston | 676 | 14 mi | southeast |
| Haleyville | Winston | 4,313 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Arley | Winston | 333 | 20 mi | southeast |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024); offices and businesses from services.json (ADCNR offices and business listings, chain stores left out); straight-line miles. Checked November 1, 2026.
First and last legal light in Black Warrior WMA
Migratory birds run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset; game animals get the extra half hour after sunset, unless a night season applies.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:54 a.m. | 6:16 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:16 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:28 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:34 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:52 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:56 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:41 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:55 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:00 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.
Landscape and game photos for Black Warrior WMA
Public and club ranges for Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area hunters
Drive about 33 miles from Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area to reach Swan Creek WMA Range, the nearest public bench. Ranges within 30 miles take the remaining cards.
From ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Black Warrior WMA: short answers
Shooting hours near Black Warrior WMA?
About 5:58 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. for game on November 21, 2026; ducks stop at sunset.
Must I wear orange on Black Warrior WMA?
Orange or pink, 144 square inches above the waist or a full cap, while gun deer hunting is open.
Is Black Warrior WMA a big tract?
91,263 acres; the number comes from the ADCNR WMA table.
How do I place Black Warrior WMA on a map?
It sits in Lawrence and Winston counties (WFF District I). Double Springs is the closest town with a page here, about 12 mi away.
Which deer zone rules apply around Black Warrior WMA?
Zone C and Zone D, by the ADCNR county list; the A/B split in Winston County runs along highways and rivers; read the ADCNR map. Managed-area permits set their own dates.
Which licenses or permits does Black Warrior WMA require?
Hunting license, WMA license ($23.40), free area map permit, and a check-in each day you hunt.
Can I use corn on Black Warrior WMA?
No baiting on public land in Alabama.
Can I hunt deer with dogs on Black Warrior WMA?
No dogs for deer, per the AREA Permit.
Which office handles Black Warrior WMA?
It is managed by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. The listed biologist is Kevin Pugh at (256) 431-4711.
What species does Black Warrior WMA offer?
Turkey, waterfowl, deer, doves, rabbits, squirrels, crows, quail, snipe, woodcock, raccoon, opossum, bobcat, coyote, feral hogs, foxes and furbearer trapping.
What is the nearest other public land to Black Warrior WMA?
Bankhead Ranger District, about 7.3 mi southeast. 9 more lie within 50 miles.
Black Warrior WMA trip checklist
Confirm dates, permits and the deer zone for Black Warrior WMA before the drive.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Yellowstone National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Dorothy Jenkins (CC BY-SA 2.0); Josh Henderson (CC BY-SA 2.0).