Home › Alabama › Public land › Federal land
Federal land
Alabama federal hunting land
4 national forests in 6 ranger districts, 8 national wildlife refuges, Little River Canyon National Preserve and 2 military sites.
Photo: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0)
National forests and ranger districts
The National Forests in Alabama provides hunters with exceptional hunting opportunities for small game, turkey and deer. All Alabama hunting laws apply on national forest land, which hunts as open-permit public land outside the WMAs inside it. Federal rules add no shooting within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, no permanent stands or limb cutting, no food plots and motor vehicles only on designated routes. Deer are stalk hunted one a day; dog deer hunting is limited to Calhoun, Clay and Talladega counties (Talladega by permit).
| Forest or district | County | NFS acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bankhead National Forest | Lawrence, Winston | 182,014 |
| Conecuh National Forest | Covington, Escambia | 85,366 |
| Talladega National Forest | Cleburne, Clay… | 394,869 |
| Tuskegee National Forest | Macon | 11,347 |
| Bankhead Ranger District | Lawrence, Winston | 182,014 |
| Conecuh Ranger District | Covington, Escambia | 85,366 |
| Oakmulgee Ranger District | Bibb, Perry… | 159,204 |
| Shoal Creek Ranger District | Cleburne, Calhoun… | 119,572 |
| Talladega Ranger District | Clay, Talladega… | 116,093 |
| Tuskegee Ranger District | Macon | 11,347 |
National Forests in Alabama hunting, USFS EDW statistics. Checked November 1, 2026.
National wildlife refuges with hunting
50 CFR 32.20 lists nine Alabama refuges. Eight allow hunting on designated areas under Alabama seasons plus refuge conditions, such as permits or signed brochures, shot size limits and archery or flintlock rules for deer. Bon Secour is fishing only.
| Refuge | County | Acres | CFR categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cahaba River NWR | Bibb | 4,774 | Upland game, Big game |
| Choctaw NWR | Choctaw | 3,917 | Migratory game bird, Upland game, Big game |
| Eufaula NWR (Alabama portion) | Barbour, Russell | 7,631 | Migratory game bird, Upland game, Big game |
| Grand Bay NWR (Alabama portion) | Mobile | 2,610 | Migratory game bird, Upland game, Big game |
| Key Cave NWR | Lauderdale | 1,079 | Migratory game bird, Upland game, Big game |
| Mountain Longleaf NWR | Calhoun | 9,070 | Migratory game bird, Upland game, Big game |
| Sauta Cave NWR | Jackson | 270 | Upland game |
| Wheeler NWR | Limestone, Morgan… | 34,427 | Upland game, Big game |
50 CFR 32.20. Checked November 1, 2026.
Preserve and military land
Little River Canyon National Preserve opens its Backcountry Area to hunting as Little River WMA. Fort Novosel has controlled public access through iSportsman and follows Zone B open-permit public land deer dates. The Fort McClellan Training Center Clarke Range Complex hosts a one-day hunt for disabled hunters. Redstone Arsenal hunting is restricted to eligible groups and is not covered.
| Site | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Canyon National Preserve in DeKalb County | DeKalb, Cherokee | 15,641 |
| Clarke Range Complex at Fort McClellan | Calhoun | – |
| Fort Novosel | Dale, Coffee | 57,036 |
Federal land questions
Do I need a permit for national forest hunting?
A hunting license; inside a WMA on the forest, the WMA license and AREA Permit too.
Can I use dogs for deer on the national forests?
Only on USFS land in Calhoun, Clay and Talladega (Talladega by permit), Thursday to Sunday.
Which refuges allow deer hunting?
The CFR big game categories cover Cahaba River NWR, Choctaw NWR, Eufaula NWR (Alabama portion), Grand Bay NWR (Alabama portion), Key Cave NWR, Mountain Longleaf NWR and Wheeler NWR.
Can I hunt Bon Secour refuge?
No, it is listed for fishing only.
Can the public hunt Fort Novosel?
Yes, with controlled access: state license, hunter education, a post permit through iSportsman and check-in.
When does turkey season end on the forests?
May 3, 2027, with hunting to 1 p.m. daily.