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Hunting programs
Alabama hunting programs on public land
Community hunting areas, WMA dove fields, the Forever Wild field trial area, limited-quota dog deer hunts and the ADCNR programs that support public land hunters.
Photo: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0)
Community hunting areas
Community hunting areas are rows of the ADCNR WMA table and use the same WMA license, AREA Permit and daily check-in. Martin CHA (Tallapoosa County, with Alabama Power) and Riverton CHA (Colbert County) are both in the spring turkey group that opens with the Bankhead Ranger District.
| Area | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Martin CHA | Tallapoosa | 400 |
| Riverton CHA | Colbert | 5,285 |
Limited-quota WMA hunts
Three WMAs run limited-quota drawings of their own: the Swan Creek dewatering unit hunt location drawing, and youth and adult dog deer hunts on Geneva State Forest and Blue Spring WMAs.
ADCNR programs public land hunters use
| Program | What it does | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hunters helping the hungry | Donate field-dressed deer at participating processors at no charge; processors are paid $2/lb by the Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources Foundation; about 824,668 lb of venison donated since 1999. | source |
| Wildlife heritage license | $14.30 conservation license (3-to-1 federal match) covering WMA small game, bank fishing, PFLs and ranges. | source |
| Physically disabled hunting trail | Network of accessible hunting, shooting and fishing sites; hunting by application and reservation. | source |
| Operation gamewatch | Report violations and live-deer transport: 1-800-272-4263 (GAMEWATCH). | source |
| Outdoor alabama app | Official app for Game Check, electronic harvest record and WMA check-in. | source |
| Cwd sampling permit | Extra antlered deer for CMZ samples on mandatory dates (max 2). | source |
| Dmap | Alabama Cooperative Deer Management Assistance Program (since 1984): WFF biologists help landowners/clubs (100+ cooperators, 200,000+ acres) with deer plans and harvest strategies (220-2-.73). | source |
| Forever wild | Forever Wild Land Trust (34th year): almost 295,000 acres conserved, 92% contributing to 26 WMAs, CHAs and SOAs. | source |
| Turkey surveys | Avid Turkey Hunter Survey (log 10+ days; 2026 entries due May 15, 2026) and the summer Wild Turkey Brood Survey. | source |
Other ADCNR drawings for public land hunters
Several drawings sit beside the public land system: the dog deer and Swan Creek drawings above, first-come youth dove hunts on cooperating fields, sandhill crane permits for the north Alabama crane zone and alligator harvest permits for the five alligator management areas.
| Drawing | Opens | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva State Forest and Blue Spring WMA youth and adult dog deer hunts | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Swan Creek Dewatering Unit hunt locations | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 |
| Sandhill crane permits | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 |
| Youth dove hunts (first come, first served) | Aug 17, 2026 | Rolling |
| Alligator harvest permits (2026) | Jun 2, 2026 | Jul 14, 2026 |
ADCNR quota hunts. Checked November 1, 2026.
Hunting program questions
What is a community hunting area?
A small public area on the WMA table, hunted with the WMA license and AREA Permit.
Where can I donate venison in Alabama?
Hunters Helping the Hungry takes field-dressed deer at participating processors at no charge.
How do I report a violation?
Operation Game Watch, 1-800-272-4263.
What does the Wildlife Heritage License cover?
Small game (not waterfowl) on WMAs, bank fishing, public fishing lakes and WFF ranges, for $14.30.
Are there dog deer draws on WMAs?
Yes, on Geneva State Forest and Blue Spring WMAs, applied for September 1-14, 2026.
What does the CWD Sampling Permit give a hunter?
An extra antlered deer for CMZ samples on mandatory dates, up to two.