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Forever Wild tract · WFF District V
Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) hunting guide
Where, when and how to hunt the Forever Wild nature preserve and recreation area in Baldwin County.
Photo: Bart Everson (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)
Parking, trailheads and gates near Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 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.
Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild): permit map and limits
No WMA license is named for Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild): the Forever Wild page lists a hunting license and the free permit map, with county seasons. Forever Wild lists 5 tracts here, the largest 899 acres (FW 54 – Lillian Swamp – West Tract Addition). Map year: 2025-2026, the latest posted when read. Bait is off the table on Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild): ADCNR bans hunting with the aid of bait on all public land, WMAs, SOAs and federal tracts included.
| Name | Acres | Since |
|---|---|---|
| FW 54 – Lillian Swamp – West Tract Addition | 899 | September 12, 2006 |
| FW 29 – Lillian Swamp South Addition | 240 | August 19, 2003 |
| FW 31 – Lillian Swamp – Caney Bayou Tract | 311 | November 8, 2003 |
| FW 122 – Lillian Swamp Wetlands Addition | 638 | August 21, 2015 |
| FW 221 – Lillian Swamp – Blackwater Addition | 173 | September 17, 2024 |
Sources: Forever Wild permit map, Forever Wild hunting regulations. Checked November 1, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)
County rule table for Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)
| Rule | Baldwin County |
|---|---|
| Deer zone | B (map) |
| CWD zone | Outside |
| Turkey zone | 1 |
| Fall turkey | Closed |
| Dove zone | South |
| Dog deer | Permit only |
| Waterfowl zone | Delta zone or statewide |
| Alligator area | Southwest |
| Turkeys, 2025 | 297-444 |
| WFF district | V |
Whether ground in Baldwin County is Zone A or B depends on a road-defined line: read the ADCNR deer zone map. Dog deer hunting in Baldwin County needs a Department permit (in some cases only part of the county). Waterfowl inside the Mobile-Tensaw Delta zone (Baldwin and Mobile) is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and ends at 1 p.m. the rest of the week. Three bucks per season, no more than one a day, with at least one carrying 4+ points on one antler. Game Check put Baldwin County at 297-444 turkeys in 2025, a binned range. ADCNR gives deer harvest only statewide.
ADCNR deer zones, turkey zones, dove zones, dog deer rules, CWD rules and the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report; checked November 1, 2026.
Who runs Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) and how big it is
Expect about 2,262 acres of hunting ground at Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild), Baldwin County. Baldwin County has 6 records with acreage here; Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) is number 5. State Lands Division (Forever Wild Land Trust) staff of ADCNR run it as part of WFF District V. It belongs to the Forever Wild Land Trust tracts with hunting provisions (Nature Preserves and Recreation Areas).
All mapped public land in Baldwin County adds up to 107,622 acres in GIS.
Species the source gives for Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild): Deer, Turkey, Waterfowl, Small game, Feral hogs.
From the agency record (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division (Forever Wild Land Trust)); checked November 1, 2026.
Distances from Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) to other public land
Should Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) be crowded, Blackwater River SOA lies 1.9 mi northwest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River SOA | SOA | 3,436 | Baldwin | 1.9 mi | northwest |
| Perdido River WMA | WMA | 17,337 | Baldwin | 17 mi | north |
| Mobile-Tensaw Delta and W.L. Holland WMAs | WMA | 51,040 | Baldwin, Mobile | 41 mi | northwest |
| Splinter Hill Bog Complex (Forever Wild) | Forever Wild tract | 631 | Baldwin | 42 mi | north |
| Upper Delta WMA | WMA | 42,451 | Baldwin, Mobile | 46 mi | northwest |
Points: ADCNR Forever Wild Tracts layer (tracts whose PMapLink is this permit map) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Dated windows on Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)
Only rows that fit Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) are kept.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, bucks only | Deer Zone B | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone B | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone B | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone B | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone B | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone B | Jan 4, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey Zone 1 | Mar 13, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | Turkey Zone 1 | Mar 19, 2027 | Mar 19, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Turkey Zone 1 | Mar 20, 2027 | May 3, 2027 | |
| Feral hogs | Feral swine | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbits | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrels | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Teal | Special teal season | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Statewide | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 1 | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 2 | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 3 | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 4 | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Coots | Coot season | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Coots | Coot season | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mergansers | Merganser season | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Mergansers | Merganser season | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
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.
Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) duck season
There are no duck zones in Alabama apart from the Delta rule; Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) uses the statewide dates shown. Mind the Delta rule: no Monday or Tuesday duck hunting, and stop at 1 p.m.
| Game | Segment | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Where Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) hunters resupply
Closest town: Lillian, roughly 2.5 mi away. With 201,367 people, Mobile is the biggest nearby town. Spanish Fort houses the WFF office that serves Baldwin County ((251) 626-5153).
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lillian | Baldwin | – | 2.5 mi | southeast |
| Gulf Shores | Baldwin | 17,431 | 20 mi | southwest |
| Spanish Fort | Baldwin | 11,118 | 32 mi | northwest |
| Bay Minette | Baldwin | 8,505 | 37 mi | northwest |
| Mobile | Mobile | 201,367 | 42 mi | west |
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.
Public and club ranges for Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) hunters
From Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild), Upper Delta WMA Shooting Range is the closest state-run range (53 miles). Nearby clubs and parks fill the other cards.
From ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Dates tied to Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) and its surroundings
Near this ground on November 1, 2026: 4 upcoming dates. The 4 SOA hunts here are for drawn hunters only.
Next up
| Held | Event | Away | Where held | Action | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22–Nov 8, 2026 | Blackwater River SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (archery) draw | 2 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 19–22, 2026 | Blackwater River SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | 2 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 3–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Blackwater River SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | 2 | Event details | Source | |
| Feb 15–28, 2027 | Blackwater River SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA small game draw | 2 | Register | Source |
Photos near and like Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)
First and last legal light in Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)
The times below use the solar formula for Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) rather than the Birmingham table in the Digest, which can be off by several minutes this far from Birmingham.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and game | Ducks, geese, doves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:52 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:22 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 5:52 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 5:52 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:27 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:44 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:49 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:37 a.m. | 5:34 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 6:04 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:56 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:02 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.
Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild): short answers
How early can I shoot on Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)?
Game animals: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; on November 21, 2026 that is 5:52 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. at the Baldwin County centre.
What part of Alabama is Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) in?
Baldwin County, inside WFF District V. Lillian is the closest town with a page here, about 2.5 mi away.
How large is Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)?
Roughly 2,262 acres, per the Forever Wild tract layer.
Which licenses or permits does Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) require?
License and permit map (free); county rules.
What zone is Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) for deer?
Baldwin County is shaded A or B on the ADCNR map, a road-defined line.
Is dog deer hunting allowed at Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)?
Baldwin County rule: permit only; confirm on the area rules.
Is hunting near bait allowed at Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)?
No, the privilege is for private land.
Which game is listed for Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)?
Listed game: deer, turkey, waterfowl, small game and feral hogs.
Who looks after Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)?
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division (Forever Wild Land Trust) manages it.
Spring turkey dates at Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)?
Mar 20, 2027 to May 3, 2027 (Zone 1).
Where else can I hunt near Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)?
The closest is Blackwater River SOA at 1.9 mi. 4 more lie within 50 miles.
Heading to Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild)?
Report violations on Lillian Swamp Complex (Forever Wild) to Operation Game Watch at 1-800-272-4263.
Sources: source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Melissa Johnson (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0); Jay (CC BY 2.0).