Home › Alabama › Public land › Coosa WMA
Coosa County · WMA
Coosa Wildlife Management Area hunting
Hunting access on public ground in Coosa County, about 17,486 acres.
Photo: Bill Sutton (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Coosa Wildlife Management Area
Hunting rules on Coosa WMA
| Need | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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 |
For deer, turkey or ducks on Coosa WMA, add the WMA license ($23.40) to your hunting license, then check in by app or daily permit every hunt day. Small game other than waterfowl is covered by the Wildlife Heritage License ($14.30), which resident hunting licenses already include. Most WMA gates close from May 1 to September 15; walking in stays legal. The AREA Permit marks Coosa WMA as no dog deer hunting. Deer days on a WMA come from its permit, including bonus-buck dates that add one buck a season beyond the usual three. Check out with your results every day, by app or by paper slip at the kiosk. Hunting deer or hogs over bait is a private-land privilege in Alabama and does not extend to Coosa WMA.
Sources: source, source, source, source (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources). Checked November 1, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Coosa Wildlife Management Area
The Coosa WMA file
Size on record: 17,486 acres, per the ADCNR WMA table; the ground lies in Coosa County. ADCNR, through the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, manages it (WFF District II). It is part of the ADCNR Wildlife Management Area system. Look for it in Coosa County near Rockford.
ADCNR runs it in cooperation with Agriculture LLC and Molpus Woodlands. 19,195 acres of Coosa County are mapped as public land.
The record names this game: Turkey, Deer, Waterfowl, Doves, Rabbits, Squirrels, Crows, Quail, Woodcock, Snipe, Raccoon, Opossum, Bobcat, Coyote, Feral hogs, Foxes, Furbearer trapping.
- Wild turkey
- White-tailed deer
- Ducks
- Canada goose
- Mourning dove
- Rabbits
- Squirrels
- Crows
- Bobwhite quail
- Woodcock
From the agency record (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division); checked November 1, 2026.
Coosa WMA: the county rules that apply
| Zone or rule | Coosa County |
|---|---|
| Deer zone | A (map) |
| CWD zone | Outside |
| Turkey zone | 1 |
| Fall turkey | Closed |
| Dove zone | North |
| Dog deer | Permit only |
| Waterfowl zone | Statewide |
| Alligator area | None |
| Turkeys, 2025 | 297-444 |
| WFF district | II |
The A/B boundary through Coosa County follows US 80, the Alabama River, I-65, I-85 and other roads, so the ADCNR deer zone map is the reference. The permit for Coosa WMA overrides the zone calendar for deer. In Coosa County deer dogs need a permit; no dogs on open-permit public land there. The season limit is three antlered deer (one per day), and one must show 4 or more points on one antler. Turkey reports for Coosa County in 2025: 297-444 birds (ADCNR class). Deer harvest by county is not released.
ADCNR deer zones, turkey zones, dove zones, dog deer rules, CWD rules and the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report; checked November 1, 2026.
When Coosa WMA is open to hunt
2026-27 windows that reach Coosa WMA, with an open-or-closed badge.
| Quarry | Season | Where | Opening | Closing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | WMA group | Mar 13, 2027 | Mar 13, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | WMA group | Mar 19, 2027 | Mar 19, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | WMA group | Mar 20, 2027 | May 3, 2027 |
The AREA Permit carries the Coosa WMA deer and small game calendar; this table covers the group turkey 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.
Coosa WMA waterfowl dates
Coosa WMA follows the single statewide waterfowl calendar.
| Species | Segment | Open | Close |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Coosa WMA on the map with its neighbors
Rows run from nearest to farthest, beginning with Pine Hills PDHA (19 mi, southwest).
| Neighbor | Category | Acreage | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Hills PDHA | PDHA | 85 | Autauga | 19 mi | southwest |
| Jordan PDHA | PDHA | 198 | Elmore | 20 mi | southeast |
| Charles D. Kelley-Autauga WMA | WMA | 10,463 | Autauga | 20 mi | south |
| Shelby SOA | SOA | 1,198 | Shelby | 22 mi | northwest |
| Hollins WMA | WMA | 28,802 | Clay, Talladega | 28 mi | northeast |
| Yates Lake WMA | WMA | 5,616 | Elmore | 33 mi | southeast |
| Martin CHA | Community hunting area | 400 | Tallapoosa | 34 mi | east |
| Chalk Hill SOA | SOA | 3,466 | Tallapoosa | 35 mi | southeast |
Points: ADCNR WMA layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Supplies and help around Coosa WMA
The nearest town page is Rockford, 11 mi from Coosa WMA. Clanton (9,228 residents) has the most services, 13 mi away. The WFF district office for this county is at 4101 Hwy. 21 North, Jacksonville.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | Coosa | 349 | 11 mi | east |
| Weogufka | Coosa | – | 12 mi | northeast |
| Clanton | Chilton | 9,228 | 13 mi | west |
| Shelby | Shelby | – | 19 mi | northwest |
| Pine Level | Autauga | – | 21 mi | south |
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.
Coosa WMA shooting hours on key dates
ADCNR prints one sunrise and sunset table for downtown Birmingham and warns that other places can differ by 10 minutes or more, so the times below are worked out for Coosa WMA.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:48 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:21 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:26 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:43 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:48 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:34 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:50 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:56 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 Coosa WMA



Coosa Wildlife Management Area range and nearby clubs
Sight in on the area itself at Coosa County WMA Range, one of ADCNR’s 12 public ranges.
From ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Coosa WMA questions and answers
Deer zone for Coosa WMA?
Coosa County also has Zone A or B ground, and that line follows roads and rivers, so check the ADCNR zone map. Area permits override zone dates on managed areas.
Does Coosa WMA allow dog hunting for deer?
Not here. No dog deer hunting per the permit.
Bait and feeders on Coosa WMA?
No. ADCNR bans hunting with bait on WMAs, SOAs and federal land.
Which animals may be hunted on Coosa WMA?
The record lists turkey, deer, waterfowl, doves, rabbits, squirrels, crows, quail, woodcock, snipe, raccoon, opossum, bobcat, coyote, feral hogs, foxes and furbearer trapping.
Who manages Coosa WMA?
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Call (334) 753-7051 (Joshua Guthrie, biologist).
When can I hunt gobblers on Coosa WMA?
Season: Mar 20, 2027 to May 3, 2027, daylight to 1 p.m.
Is there other public hunting land close to Coosa WMA?
Pine Hills PDHA sits 19 mi away. 9 more lie within 50 miles.
Hunter orange rules for Coosa WMA?
Yes in gun deer season: 144 sq. in. above the waist or a full-size cap, orange or pink.
What time can I start hunting Coosa WMA?
For deer on November 21, 2026: 5:51 a.m. until 5:12 p.m..
How do I place Coosa WMA on a map?
Coosa WMA lies in Coosa County, in WFF District II. Rockford is the closest town with a page here, about 11 mi away.
Is Coosa WMA a big tract?
The figure on file is 17,486 acres (the ADCNR WMA table).
Coosa WMA: last-minute checks
Signs on the ground outrank any web page; look for posted safety zones and closed areas on Coosa WMA.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: formulanone (CC BY-SA 2.0); Bill Sutton (CC BY 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).