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Thigpen Hill Special Opportunity Area, Alabama hunting
A 2026-27 guide to the special opportunity area in Butler County (3,427 acres).
Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress) (Public domain)
Getting to Thigpen Hill Special Opportunity Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Thigpen Hill Special Opportunity Area
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 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.
Thigpen Hill SOA: hunt dates and draw rules
Access to Thigpen Hill SOA comes by drawing only, and the hunts are limited in number. Applicants must already hold a hunting license and a WMA license, plus the free Conservation ID number. The payoff of the draw: a 300-400 acre unit for you and a guest, two to four days long. For bucks on Thigpen Hill SOA, the SOA page sets this restriction: at least 3 antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main antler.
| Species | Days |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Oct. 15-18, Oct. 22-25 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only: Nov. 5-8 |
| Deer | Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Dec. 17-20, Dec. 31-Jan. 3, Jan. 14-17, Jan. 21-24, Jan. 28-31 |
| Deer | Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Nov. 19-22 |
| Quail, Rabbit & Squirrel | Feb. 10-14, Feb 15-21 |
| Quail, Rabbit & Squirrel | Feb. 25-28, April 1-4, April 8-11, April 15-18, April 22-25, April 29-May 2 |
| Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
Drawings that include Thigpen Hill SOA
| Drawing | Opens | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| SOA deer hunts | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 |
| SOA small game and turkey hunts | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 |
| SOA feral swine hunts | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 |
Results timing: Opens 8 a.m., closes 1 p.m.; results Sept. 15, 2 p.m.
No baiting: the ADCNR rule on public lands (WMA, SOA, USFWS, USFS, TVA, Corps) applies to Thigpen Hill SOA.
Sources: ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas, ADCNR draw deadlines. Checked November 1, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Thigpen Hill Special Opportunity Area
Zones and county rules around Thigpen Hill SOA
| Topic | Butler County |
|---|---|
| Deer zone | B (map) |
| CWD zone | Outside |
| Turkey zone | 1 |
| Fall turkey | Closed |
| Dove zone | North |
| Dog deer | Stalk only |
| Waterfowl zone | Statewide |
| Alligator area | None |
| Turkeys, 2025 | 209-296 |
| WFF district | V |
Zones A and B split along roads and rivers; for Butler County use the ADCNR deer zone map to see which side you are on. Thigpen Hill SOA keeps its own calendar, set by permit, whatever the zone dates say. Butler County appears on the stalk-only list. Statewide, a hunter may take three antlered bucks a season, one a day, and one of the three must have at least 4 points on one antler. Butler County fell in the 209-296 class of 2025 reported gobblers. There is no county deer harvest figure from ADCNR.
ADCNR deer zones, turkey zones, dove zones, dog deer rules, CWD rules and the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report; checked November 1, 2026.
Thigpen Hill SOA on paper
Butler County holds the 3,427 acres of Thigpen Hill SOA (the ADCNR SOA map layer). The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of ADCNR looks after it in WFF District V. The record files it under the ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas (limited quota draw hunts). The county total for public land is 4,546 acres (Butler County).
Game listed for Thigpen Hill SOA: Deer, Quail, Rabbits, Squirrels, Bobcat, Coyote, Feral hogs, Foxes.
From the agency record (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division); checked November 1, 2026.
Other public land a short drive from Thigpen Hill SOA
Within 50 miles of Thigpen Hill SOA there are 8 more public places, about 38,629 acres between them; Prairie Creek PDHA is closest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Creek PDHA | PDHA | 129 | Lowndes | 27 mi | north |
| Prairie Glades SOA | SOA | 167 | Montgomery | 28 mi | northeast |
| Cedar Creek SOA | SOA | 7,357 | Dallas | 29 mi | northwest |
| Lowndes WMA | WMA | 15,920 | Lowndes | 30 mi | north |
| Portland Landing SOA | SOA | 9,940 | Dallas | 31 mi | west |
| Dozier PDHA | PDHA | 530 | Crenshaw, Covington | 37 mi | southeast |
| Old Cahawba Prairie Tract (Forever Wild) (4,586 acres) | Forever Wild tract | 4,586 | Dallas | 37 mi | northwest |
| Alabama River Lakes (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Wilcox, Dallas | 39 mi | west |
Points: ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns within reach of Thigpen Hill SOA
Greenville, 7.3 mi off, is the closest town with a page here. ADCNR handles Butler County from Spanish Fort; call (251) 626-5153.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | Butler | 6,983 | 7.3 mi | south |
| Fort Deposit | Lowndes | 1,122 | 7.3 mi | northeast |
| Hayneville | Lowndes | 747 | 18 mi | north |
| White Hall | Lowndes | 751 | 25 mi | north |
| Luverne | Crenshaw | 2,678 | 29 mi | southeast |
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.
Shooting ranges in reach of Thigpen Hill Special Opportunity Area
The Reserve at Lakeside Farms, 26 miles away, is the nearest range to Thigpen Hill Special Opportunity Area; check its access rule first.
From ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Dates tied to Thigpen Hill Special Opportunity Area and its surroundings
Checked November 1, 2026, the 10-mile ring holds 5 upcoming dates, covering SOA deer (gun) draw, SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw, SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw, SOA feral hog draw and SOA small game draw. Entry to the 5 SOA hunts comes through the ADCNR random draw.
Still ahead
| When | Listing | How far | Venue | Next step | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5–8, 2026 | Thigpen Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only · SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw | On site | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 19–22, 2026 | Thigpen Hill SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | On site | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 17–Jan 31 (2026-27) | Thigpen Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | On site | Event details | Source | |
| Feb 10–21, 2027 | Thigpen Hill SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA small game draw | On site | Register | Source | |
| Feb 25–May 2, 2027 | Thigpen Hill SOA feral swine (gun) hunt · SOA feral hog draw | On site | Register | Source |
Thigpen Hill SOA photo row
When shooting light starts in Thigpen Hill SOA
Deer, turkey and other resident game may be hunted from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset; ducks, geese and doves stop at sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:49 a.m. | 6:16 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:16 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:20 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:25 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:42 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:47 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:34 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:52 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:58 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.
Before you ask about Thigpen Hill SOA
What about hunter orange or pink on Thigpen Hill SOA?
During gun deer dates, 144 square inches of orange or fluorescent pink above the waist, or a full-size orange or pink cap.
Is there other public hunting land close to Thigpen Hill SOA?
Nearest on our list: Prairie Creek PDHA, 27 mi. 9 more lie within 50 miles.
When does legal light start on Thigpen Hill SOA?
5:50 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. on November 21, 2026, for deer and other game.
When is the draw deadline for Thigpen Hill SOA?
Sep 1, 2026 to Sep 14, 2026, the soa deer hunts round. There are 2 further rounds.
Is Thigpen Hill SOA a big tract?
The ADCNR SOA map layer gives 3,427 acres.
How do I place Thigpen Hill SOA on a map?
WFF District V covers it: Butler County. Greenville is the closest town with a page here, about 7.3 mi away.
Is Thigpen Hill SOA in Zone A, B, C, D or E?
Butler County falls in Zone A and/or B; the boundary is road-defined, so use the map. WMA, SOA and PDHA dates come from their own permits.
What license lets me hunt Thigpen Hill SOA?
You must be drawn. Hold a hunting license and WMA license before registering, and get a free Conservation ID.
Does the Bait Privilege License work on Thigpen Hill SOA?
Not allowed. The bait license covers private or leased land only.
May I run hounds for deer on Thigpen Hill SOA?
No dog hunts are listed for this area.
Which office handles Thigpen Hill SOA?
Management sits with Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Nearest ADCNR desk: Montgomery.
Thigpen Hill SOA: last-minute checks
Report deer and turkey through Game Check (Outdoor Alabama app) within 48 hours, and carry your harvest record while hunting Thigpen Hill SOA.
Sources: source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Photographer 192 (CC BY-SA 2.0); Rivers Langley; SaveRivers (CC BY-SA 3.0); Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren (CC BY 2.0).