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Cleburne County · Ranger district
Shoal Creek Ranger District hunting
Hunting access on public ground across Cleburne County and 3 other counties, about 119,572 acres.
Photo: Derek Morrison (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Shoal Creek Ranger District
Parking, trailheads and gates near Shoal Creek Ranger District
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 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.
Shoal Creek Ranger District forest rules
Shoal Creek Ranger District follows the open-permit public land seasons outside its WMAs, and the Forest Service adds its own rules. Forest Service land allows stalk hunting for deer at one per day; dog hunting is limited to set counties. Three counties allow dog deer hunting on national forest land: Calhoun, Clay and Talladega, the last by permit only. For the Talladega permit, ADCNR says: Individual permit (free application online or at District II office, Jacksonville). Spring gobbler hunting here: Mar 20, 2027 to May 3, 2027, quitting at 1 p.m. Wilderness covers 8,947 acres here. Hunting deer or hogs over bait is a private-land privilege in Alabama and does not extend to Shoal Creek Ranger District.
Shoal Creek Ranger District: Forest Service rules
- No discharge within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, across or on a Forest road or into a cave
- No permanent tree stands or cutting limbs
- No food plots
- Motor vehicles only on designated routes (no ATV/UTV game retrieval)
- Leashed dogs may be used to trail wounded deer
| County | Acres |
|---|---|
| Cleburne County | 91,339 |
| Calhoun County | 21,573 |
| Clay County | 4,432 |
| Cherokee County | 2,229 |
Connected ground: Talladega National Forest, Choccolocco WMA.
Sources: National Forests in Alabama hunting and shooting, ADCNR deer season and USFS EDW statistics. Checked November 1, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Shoal Creek Ranger District
The Shoal Creek Ranger District file
Size on record: 119,572 acres, per Forest Service land statistics; the ground lies in Cleburne, Calhoun and 2 other counties. Its mapped polygon measures 177,689 acres in GIS, a different number from the published size. Day to day, USDA Forest Service, National Forests in Alabama manages it, in WFF District II. It is part of the National Forest System.
100,340 acres of Cleburne County are mapped as public land.
The record names this game: Deer, Turkey, Small game.
From the agency record (USDA Forest Service, National Forests in Alabama); checked November 1, 2026.
Shoal Creek Ranger District: the county rules that apply
| Zone or rule | Cleburne County | Calhoun County | Clay County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer zone | E, A (map) | E, A (map) | A (map) |
| CWD zone | Outside | Outside | Outside |
| Turkey zone | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Fall turkey | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Dove zone | North | North | North |
| Dog deer | Stalk only | Allowed | Allowed |
| Waterfowl zone | Statewide | Statewide | Statewide |
| Alligator area | None | None | None |
| Turkeys, 2025 | 209-296 | 297-444 | 137-208 |
| WFF district | II | II | II |
Zone E is listed for the county around Shoal Creek Ranger District; the boundary runs on highways and rivers. The A/B boundary through Cleburne County, Calhoun County and Clay County follows US 80, the Alabama River, I-65, I-85 and other roads, so the ADCNR deer zone map is the reference. Cleburne County is stalk-only for deer (in part or in whole). The season limit is three antlered deer (one per day), and one must show 4 or more points on one antler. Turkey reports for Cleburne County in 2025: 209-296 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 Shoal Creek Ranger District is open to hunt
2026-27 windows that reach Shoal Creek Ranger District, with an open-or-closed badge.
| Quarry | Season | Where | Opening | Closing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | USFS group | Mar 13, 2027 | Mar 13, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | USFS group | Mar 19, 2027 | Mar 19, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | USFS group | Mar 20, 2027 | May 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone A | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone A | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone A | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone A | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone A | Jan 4, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone E | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone E | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone E | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone E | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone E | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late archery, bucks only | Deer Zone E | Jan 16, 2027 | Jan 27, 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 |
National forest turkey dates replace the county turkey rows here.
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.
Shoal Creek Ranger District on the map with its neighbors
Rows run from nearest to farthest, beginning with Choccolocco WMA (2.9 mi, northeast).
| Neighbor | Category | Acreage | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choccolocco WMA | WMA | 56,838 | Cleburne | 2.9 mi | northeast |
| Big Oak PDHA | PDHA | 1,839 | Cleburne | 4.4 mi | east |
| Mountain Longleaf NWR | Wildlife refuge | 9,070 | Calhoun | 7.4 mi | west |
| Clarke Range Complex at Fort McClellan | Military land | – | Calhoun | 19 mi | west |
| Indian Mountain Complex (Forever Wild) (1,127 acres) | Forever Wild tract | 1,127 | Cherokee | 24 mi | northeast |
| R. L. Harris PDHA | PDHA | 248 | Randolph | 32 mi | south |
| Talladega Ranger District | Ranger district | 116,093 | Clay, Talladega | 35 mi | southwest |
| Hollins WMA | WMA | 28,802 | Clay, Talladega | 46 mi | southwest |
Points: USFS EDW Ranger Districts layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Supplies and help around Shoal Creek Ranger District
The nearest town page is White Plains, 4.6 mi from Shoal Creek Ranger District. Jacksonville (14,651 residents) has the most services, 9.8 mi away. The WFF district office for this county is at 4101 Hwy. 21 North, Jacksonville.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Plains | Calhoun | – | 4.6 mi | northwest |
| Heflin | Cleburne | 3,557 | 5.9 mi | southeast |
| Choccolocco | Calhoun | – | 6.2 mi | southwest |
| Nances Creek | Calhoun | – | 9.7 mi | north |
| Jacksonville | Calhoun | 14,651 | 9.8 mi | northwest |
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.
Dates tied to Shoal Creek Ranger District and its surroundings
Kinds close by: Learn to Hunt workshop. Count: 1 upcoming date.
Upcoming dates
| Date | Event | Miles away | Location | Sign-up or details | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2027 | Let's Talk Turkey Hunting (ADCNR Learn to Hunt workshop) | 3 | Choccolocco WMA near Piedmont | Register | Source |
Shoal Creek Ranger District 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 Shoal Creek Ranger District.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:46 a.m. | 6:10 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:19 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:25 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:42 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:46 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:32 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:47 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:53 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 Shoal Creek Ranger District
Public and club ranges for Shoal Creek Ranger District hunters
Etowah County has the ADCNR range nearest Shoal Creek Ranger District: Etowah Public Shooting Range (31 miles). Two more ranges follow.
From ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Shoal Creek Ranger District questions and answers
Is there other public hunting land close to Shoal Creek Ranger District?
Choccolocco WMA sits 2.9 mi away. 9 more lie within 50 miles.
Hunter orange rules for Shoal Creek Ranger District?
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 Shoal Creek Ranger District?
For deer on November 21, 2026: 5:49 a.m. until 5:07 p.m..
How do I place Shoal Creek Ranger District on a map?
Shoal Creek Ranger District lies in Cleburne, Calhoun and 2 other counties, in WFF District II. White Plains is the closest town with a page here, about 4.6 mi away.
Is Shoal Creek Ranger District a big tract?
The figure on file is 119,572 acres (Forest Service land statistics).
Which permits apply on Shoal Creek Ranger District?
An Alabama hunting license; WMA rules apply only inside the WMAs on the forest.
Deer zone for Shoal Creek Ranger District?
Named zone: Zone E; Cleburne County, Calhoun County, Clay County and Cherokee County also has Zone A or B ground, and that line follows roads and rivers, so check the ADCNR zone map.
Does Shoal Creek Ranger District allow dog hunting for deer?
Only on USFS land in Calhoun, Clay and Talladega (Talladega by permit), Thursday through Sunday; elsewhere stalk only.
Bait and feeders on Shoal Creek Ranger District?
No. ADCNR bans hunting with bait on WMAs, SOAs and federal land.
Which animals may be hunted on Shoal Creek Ranger District?
The record lists deer, turkey and small game.
Which office handles Shoal Creek Ranger District?
It is managed by USDA Forest Service, National Forests in Alabama. Try the Jacksonville ADCNR office.
Shoal Creek Ranger District: last-minute checks
Signs on the ground outrank any web page; look for posted safety zones and closed areas on Shoal Creek Ranger District.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. National Archives (NARA) (Public domain); André Natta (CC BY 2.0); US Forest Service – Southern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).