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Public ground · WMA unit
Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson County WMA), Alabama hunting
A 2026-27 guide to the Jackson County WMA unit in Jackson County (3,960 acres).
Photo: Tom Woodward (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson County WMA)
Parking, trailheads and gates near Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson County WMA)
- Co Rd 491 Hunter Point (Coon Creek)Boat ramp · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Hwy 46 (TN River)Boat ramp · 3.3 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.
Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA): licenses, check-in and limits
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Hunting license | Required, 16+ |
| WMA license | $23.40 |
| AREA Permit | Free |
| Daily check-in | App or paper |
| Dog deer | Not allowed |
| Bait | Not allowed |
Hunters 16 and older on Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA) carry a hunting license plus the $23.40 WMA license for deer, turkey or waterfowl, the free AREA Permit and a daily check-in. Non-waterfowl small game on WMAs falls under the Wildlife Heritage License ($14.30). Summer gate closures (May 1 to September 15) apply on most WMAs, so scouting then means walking. The AREA Permit rules out running deer with dogs on this ground. Read the permit for gun, archery and bonus-buck dates; one bonus buck per season is allowed and it is not part of the three-buck bag. Daily results are mandatory here, through the app or a daily permit left in the kiosk. No baiting: the ADCNR rule on public lands (WMA, SOA, USFWS, USFS, TVA, Corps) applies to Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA).
The permit adds: TURKEY: (Youth) March 20 (Daylight until 1 p.m.) Gobblers only. Decoys Allowed. (Physically Disabled) March 26 (Daylight until 1 p.m.) Gobblers only. Decoys Allowed.
Sources: source, source, source, source (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources). Checked November 1, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson County WMA)
Zones and county rules around Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)
| Topic | Jackson County |
|---|---|
| Deer zone | A (map) |
| CWD zone | Outside |
| Turkey zone | 1 |
| Fall turkey | Closed |
| Dove zone | North |
| Dog deer | Stalk only |
| Waterfowl zone | Statewide |
| Alligator area | None |
| Turkeys, 2025 | 445-612 |
| WFF district | II |
Zones A and B split along roads and rivers; for Jackson County use the ADCNR deer zone map to see which side you are on. Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA) keeps its own calendar, set by permit, whatever the zone dates say. Jackson County appears on the stalk-only list. Jackson County fell in the 445-612 class of 2025 reported gobblers. There is no county deer harvest figure from ADCNR.
ADCNR deer zones, turkey zones, dove zones, dog deer rules, CWD rules and the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report; checked November 1, 2026.
Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA) on paper
Jackson County holds the 3,960 acres of Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA) (the ADCNR WMA layer). Rank by size in Jackson County: 6th of 12. The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of ADCNR looks after it in WFF District II. The record files it under the ADCNR Wildlife Management Area system.
The county total for public land is 106,975 acres (Jackson County). The WMA table skips Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA); the layer and the Jackson County permit include it.
From the agency record (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division); checked November 1, 2026.
Other public land a short drive from Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)
Within 50 miles of Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA) there are 8 more public places, about 84,324 acres between them; Mud Creek PDHA waterfowl blind is closest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mud Creek PDHA waterfowl blind | PDHA blind | – | Jackson | 3.9 mi | west |
| Raccoon Creek (Jackson Co. WMA) | WMA unit | 8,507 | Jackson | 5.0 mi | north |
| Crow Creek Refuge (Jackson Co. WMA) | WMA unit | 3,346 | Jackson | 5.3 mi | north |
| Mud Creek (Jackson Co. WMA) | WMA unit | 8,003 | Jackson | 6.1 mi | west |
| Crow Creek (Jackson Co. WMA) | WMA unit | 2,069 | Jackson | 8.3 mi | northwest |
| Crow Creek SOA | SOA | 448 | Jackson | 12 mi | northwest |
| James D. Martin-Skyline WMA | WMA | 60,732 | Jackson | 18 mi | northwest |
| Forever Wild-Alabama Power PDHA | PDHA | 1,219 | Jackson | 19 mi | northwest |
Points: ADCNR WMA layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA) dates for 2026-27
Rows trimmed to the game and land type of Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA).
| Species | Window | Covers | Begins | Through | 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 |
Only the rows that ADCNR publishes for WMAs as a group are shown; read the Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA) permit for deer dates.
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.
Towns within reach of Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)
Pisgah, 5.9 mi off, is the closest town with a page here. Scottsboro is the largest of these towns, with 15,957 people in 2024. ADCNR handles Jackson County from Jacksonville; call (256) 435-5422.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pisgah | Jackson | 690 | 5.9 mi | southwest |
| Stevenson | Jackson | 1,975 | 8.1 mi | north |
| Hollywood | Jackson | 928 | 9.8 mi | west |
| Scottsboro | Jackson | 15,957 | 16 mi | southwest |
| Valley Head | DeKalb | 595 | 17 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.
Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson County WMA) hunters: public range and clubs
From Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson County WMA), 20 miles separates hunters from Skyline WMA Shooting Range, the closest ADCNR range. Other ranges within 30 miles fill the next cards.
From ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA) photo row
When shooting light starts in Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)
Deer, turkey and other resident game may be hunted from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset; ducks, geese and doves stop at sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:48 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:23 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:29 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:47 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:51 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:36 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:49 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:55 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.
Before you ask about Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)
Deer zone for Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
Jackson County falls in Zone A and/or B; the boundary is road-defined, so use the map. WMA, SOA and PDHA dates come from their own permits.
What license lets me hunt Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
For big game and ducks: hunting license, $23.40 WMA license, AREA Permit and the daily permit or app check-in.
Does the Bait Privilege License work on Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
Not allowed. The bait license covers private or leased land only.
May I run hounds for deer on Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
No; the permit bars dog deer hunting.
Which office handles Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
Management sits with Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Biologist: Austin LeCroy, (256) 437-2788.
What game is open on Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
Covered by the Jackson County AREA Permit; no separate species list on the WMA page table.
What public land is near Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
Nearest on our list: Mud Creek PDHA waterfowl blind, 3.9 mi. 9 more lie within 50 miles.
When is spring turkey season on Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
Mar 27, 2027 to May 3, 2027, daylight to 1 p.m. Gobblers only.
When does legal light start on Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
5:53 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. on November 21, 2026, for deer and other game.
What about hunter orange or pink on Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
During gun deer dates, 144 square inches of orange or fluorescent pink above the waist, or a full-size orange or pink cap.
What size is Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)?
The ADCNR WMA layer gives 3,960 acres.
Before the drive to Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA)
Report deer and turkey through Game Check (Outdoor Alabama app) within 48 hours, and carry your harvest record while hunting Coon Gulf Tract (Jackson Co. WMA).
Sources: source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Shannon McGee (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tom Woodward (CC BY-SA 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).