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Alabama special opportunity area
Charles F. Sykes – Cedar Creek Special Opportunity Area hunting guide
Public special opportunity area in Dallas County, 7,357 acres, WFF District III.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Charles F. Sykes – Cedar Creek Special Opportunity Area
Draw dates at Cedar Creek SOA
There is no walk-in hunting on Cedar Creek SOA. ADCNR fills each hunt date by random drawing from online applications. Hunting license, WMA license, Conservation ID: all three come before the application. Winners hunt their own unit (300 to 400 acres) with a guest, for 2 to 4 days. A buck counts on Cedar Creek SOA only if it meets this rule: main beam spread 16" (outside the ears) or 18" main beam (3x length of ear).
| Game | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Oct. 15-18, Oct. 22-25 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only: Nov. 5-8, Dec. 10-13 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Dec. 3-6, Dec. 26-29, Jan. 5-8, Jan. 14-17, 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 |
| Woodcock & Quail | Jan. 2-3 |
| Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, & Raccoon | Feb. 11-14, Feb. 18-21 |
| Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
Cedar Creek SOA: draw calendar
| Category | Opens | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| SOA deer hunts | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 |
| SOA adult waterfowl | Oct 13, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 |
| SOA small game and turkey hunts | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 |
About the first drawing: Opens 8 a.m., closes 1 p.m.; results Sept. 15, 2 p.m.
The Bait Privilege License covers private or leased land only, so no hunting over bait on Cedar Creek SOA.
Sources: ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas, ADCNR draw deadlines. Checked November 1, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Charles F. Sykes – Cedar Creek Special Opportunity Area
Cedar Creek SOA: the record behind the page
Cedar Creek SOA covers 7,357 acres in Dallas County, the figure given by the ADCNR SOA map layer. Sorted by acres, Cedar Creek SOA comes 3rd of 4 in Dallas County. It is ADCNR ground, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, WFF District III. ADCNR and its partners list it under the ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas (limited quota draw hunts).
Dallas County holds 30,142 acres of public land on the GIS layers.
Hunted on Cedar Creek SOA, per the source: Deer, Turkey, Woodcock, Quail, Rabbits, Squirrels, Raccoon, Bobcat, Coyote, Feral hogs, Foxes.
From the agency record (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division); checked November 1, 2026.
Cedar Creek SOA zones, dogs and harvest class
| County rule | Dallas County |
|---|---|
| Deer zone | B/A (map) |
| CWD zone | Outside |
| Turkey zone | 1 |
| Fall turkey | Closed |
| Dove zone | North |
| Dog deer | Allowed |
| Waterfowl zone | Statewide |
| Alligator area | West Central |
| Turkeys, 2025 | 297-444 |
| WFF district | III |
For A or B status in Dallas County, go by the ADCNR deer zone map; the line runs on highways and rivers. On Cedar Creek SOA itself, the area permit or draw schedule sets the deer days, so zone dates are background here. Buck limit: 3 a season, 1 a day; one of them must have 4 points or more on one side. 2025 turkey class for Dallas County: 297-444. Alabama publishes no deer harvest by county.
ADCNR deer zones, turkey zones, dove zones, dog deer rules, CWD rules and the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report; checked November 1, 2026.
Cedar Creek SOA and the closest public tracts
Cedar Creek SOA is pinned with its 8 nearest public neighbors; Portland Landing SOA heads the table.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Landing SOA | SOA | 9,940 | Dallas | 7.9 mi | southwest |
| Old Cahawba Prairie Tract (Forever Wild) (4,586 acres) | Forever Wild tract | 4,586 | Dallas | 9.6 mi | northwest |
| Alabama River Lakes (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Wilcox, Dallas | 17 mi | southwest |
| Prairie Creek PDHA | PDHA | 129 | Lowndes | 20 mi | northeast |
| Lowndes WMA | WMA | 15,920 | Lowndes | 22 mi | northeast |
| Thigpen Hill SOA | SOA | 3,427 | Butler | 29 mi | southeast |
| Red Hills WMA | WMA | 13,930 | Monroe | 36 mi | southwest |
| Prairie Glades SOA | SOA | 167 | Montgomery | 38 mi | east |
Points: ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Cedar Creek SOA: nearest towns, offices and shops
For fuel and a meal, Selmont-West Selmont is 14 mi out. Selma counted 16,312 people in 2024, the most of the five. Dallas County is served by the ADCNR WFF office in Northport, (205) 339-5716.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selmont-West Selmont | Dallas | – | 14 mi | north |
| Boykin | Wilcox | – | 15 mi | southwest |
| Selma | Dallas | 16,312 | 16 mi | north |
| Camden | Wilcox | 1,695 | 18 mi | southwest |
| Valley Grande | Dallas | 3,914 | 21 mi | north |
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.
Dates tied to Charles F. Sykes – Cedar Creek Special Opportunity Area and its surroundings
This property or a spot within about 10 miles hosts 13 upcoming dates (SOA deer (gun) draw, SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw, SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw, SOA feral hog draw, SOA small game draw, SOA turkey draw, SOA waterfowl draw and SOA woodcock and quail draw). Checked November 1, 2026. SOA hunts (13) admit only hunters picked in the ADCNR draw.
Dates to come
Legal hours in Cedar Creek SOA
Mobile and Huntsville see sunrise many minutes apart in winter, so use the times worked out for Cedar Creek SOA.
| Day | Marker | Sun up | Sun down | Game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:51 a.m. | 6:17 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:23 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:28 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:45 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:50 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:36 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:54 a.m. | 6:59 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:59 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.
Alabama views around Cedar Creek SOA
Before Charles F. Sykes – Cedar Creek Special Opportunity Area: public and club ranges
Marengo Public Shooting Range (public, license needed) is 46 miles from Charles F. Sykes – Cedar Creek Special Opportunity Area.
From ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Cedar Creek SOA answers from the sources
Is Cedar Creek SOA a big tract?
7,357 acres, from the ADCNR SOA map layer.
Where exactly does Cedar Creek SOA lie?
Look in Dallas County; ADCNR places those counties in WFF District III. Selmont-West Selmont is the closest town with a page here, about 14 mi away.
Which Alabama deer zone covers Cedar Creek SOA?
For Dallas County, Zone A versus B depends on which side of the highway line you stand. Permit areas keep their own calendar.
What paperwork covers Cedar Creek SOA?
Apply in the drawing with a hunting license and WMA license in hand.
Is baiting legal on Cedar Creek SOA?
No. Bait hunting is legal only on private or leased land with the Bait Privilege License, never on public land.
Are deer dogs legal on Cedar Creek SOA?
The listed hunts are stalk, primitive weapon or archery hunts.
Which office handles Cedar Creek SOA?
Manager: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Closest WFF office: Montgomery, 47 mi.
What species does Cedar Creek SOA offer?
Sources name deer, turkey, woodcock, quail, rabbits, squirrels, raccoon, bobcat, coyote, feral hogs and foxes.
Do I need hunter orange on Cedar Creek SOA?
Gun deer dates require it: 144 square inches above the waist, or a full-size cap; pink counts.
Which tract is closest to Cedar Creek SOA?
Portland Landing SOA (7.9 mi away). 9 more lie within 50 miles.
When is shooting light at Cedar Creek SOA?
On November 21, 2026, about 5:53 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. for deer (Dallas County centre).
Cedar Creek SOA trip checklist
Permits, closures and draw notices on Cedar Creek SOA can change; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
Sources: source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Civilengtiger (Public domain); Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); peanutian (CC BY-SA 2.0).