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Alabama national forest
Hunting Tuskegee National Forest
Where, when and how to hunt the national forest in Macon County.
Photo: US Forest Service – Southern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Tuskegee National Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Tuskegee National Forest
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.8 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.
How Tuskegee National Forest is hunted
On Tuskegee National Forest, Alabama law and the open-permit public land dates apply, and USFS rules limit stands, plots and vehicles. Expect stalk-only deer hunting and a one-a-day limit on national forest land. Gobblers on Tuskegee National Forest: Mar 20, 2027 through May 3, 2027, hunting stops at 1 p.m. Bait is off the table on Tuskegee National Forest: ADCNR bans hunting with the aid of bait on all public land, WMAs, SOAs and federal tracts included.
What USFS bans on Tuskegee National Forest
- 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 | Forest acres |
|---|---|
| Macon County | 11,347 |
Also on this site: Tuskegee Ranger District.
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 Tuskegee National Forest
County rule table for Tuskegee National Forest
| Rule | Macon County |
|---|---|
| Deer zone | B/A (map) |
| CWD zone | Outside |
| Turkey zone | 1 |
| Fall turkey | Closed |
| Dove zone | North |
| Dog deer | Permit only |
| Waterfowl zone | Statewide |
| Alligator area | None |
| Turkeys, 2025 | 137-208 |
| WFF district | IV |
Whether ground in Macon County is Zone A or B depends on a road-defined line: read the ADCNR deer zone map. Dog deer hunting in Macon County needs a Department permit (in some cases only part of the county). Three bucks per season, no more than one a day, with at least one carrying 4+ points on one antler. Game Check put Macon County at 137-208 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 Tuskegee National Forest and how big it is
Expect about 11,347 acres of hunting ground at Tuskegee National Forest, Macon County. Manager: USDA Forest Service, National Forests in Alabama. Its county sits in WFF District IV. ADCNR and its partners list it under the National Forest System. All mapped public land in Macon County adds up to 11,307 acres in GIS.
The National Forests in Alabama provides hunters with exceptional hunting opportunities for small game, turkey and deer.
Species the source gives for Tuskegee National Forest: Deer, Turkey, Small game.
From the agency record (USDA Forest Service, National Forests in Alabama); checked November 1, 2026.
Distances from Tuskegee National Forest to other public land
Should Tuskegee National Forest be crowded, Macon State Forest PDHA lies 3.6 mi east.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon State Forest PDHA | PDHA | 190 | Macon | 3.6 mi | east |
| Coon Creek Tract (Forever Wild) (316 acres) | Forever Wild tract | 316 | Tallapoosa | 18 mi | northwest |
| Chalk Hill SOA | SOA | 3,466 | Tallapoosa | 19 mi | northwest |
| Uchee Creek SOA | SOA | 4,734 | Russell | 21 mi | east |
| Yates Lake WMA | WMA | 5,616 | Elmore | 21 mi | northwest |
| Martin CHA | Community hunting area | 400 | Tallapoosa | 35 mi | north |
| Barbour WMA | WMA | 28,214 | Barbour, Bullock | 35 mi | south |
| Jordan PDHA | PDHA | 198 | Elmore | 39 mi | west |
Points: USFS EDW Proclaimed Forest Boundaries (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Dated windows on Tuskegee National Forest
Only rows that fit Tuskegee National Forest are kept.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | 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, 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 | |
| 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 |
Forest turkey hunting stops at 1 p.m.; the first rows are the forest group dates.
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.
Where Tuskegee National Forest hunters resupply
Closest town: Tuskegee, roughly 5.5 mi away. With 83,757 people, Auburn is the biggest nearby town. Enterprise houses the WFF office that serves Macon County ((334) 347-9467).
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuskegee | Macon | 8,653 | 5.5 mi | southwest |
| Notasulga | Macon | 871 | 6.9 mi | northwest |
| Auburn | Lee | 83,757 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Reeltown | Tallapoosa | – | 14 mi | northwest |
| Tallassee | Elmore | 4,715 | 17 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 Tuskegee National Forest hunters
From Tuskegee National Forest, Barbour County WMA Shooting Range is the closest state-run range (35 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 Tuskegee National Forest and its surroundings
Near this ground on November 1, 2026: 1 upcoming date.
Next up
| Held | Event | Away | Where held | Action | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 3, 2026 | Bama Quail Classic 2026 · Field trial stake | 6 | Tuskegee: Bama Quail Club | Event details | Source |
Photos near and like Tuskegee National Forest
First and last legal light in Tuskegee National Forest
The times below use the solar formula for Tuskegee National Forest 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 | 6:45 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:17 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 5:47 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 5:47 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:23 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:40 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:44 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:31 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:48 a.m. | 6:54 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:54 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.
Tuskegee National Forest: short answers
Is hunting near bait allowed at Tuskegee National Forest?
No, the privilege is for private land.
What species does Tuskegee National Forest offer?
Sources name deer, turkey and small game.
Which office handles Tuskegee National Forest?
USDA Forest Service, National Forests in Alabama manages it. ADCNR office nearby: Montgomery (41 mi).
Spring turkey dates at Tuskegee National Forest?
Mar 20, 2027 to May 3, 2027, daylight to 1 p.m.
Which tract is closest to Tuskegee National Forest?
The closest is Macon State Forest PDHA at 3.6 mi. 9 more lie within 50 miles.
Is fluorescent pink legal on Tuskegee National Forest?
Yes, orange or fluorescent pink (144 square inches or a cap) on gun deer dates.
How early can I shoot on Tuskegee National Forest?
Game animals: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; on November 21, 2026 that is 5:47 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. at the Macon County centre.
What part of Alabama is Tuskegee National Forest in?
Macon County, inside WFF District IV. Tuskegee is the closest town with a page here, about 5.5 mi away.
Is Tuskegee National Forest a big tract?
Roughly 11,347 acres, per Forest Service land statistics.
Which licenses or permits does Tuskegee National Forest require?
State license for open forest land; WMA paperwork for the WMAs inside.
What zone is Tuskegee National Forest for deer?
Macon County is shaded A or B on the ADCNR map, a road-defined line.
Other photos on this page: US Forest Service – Southern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Jay (CC BY 2.0); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0).