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SOA · WFF District V · AL
Upper State Special Opportunity Area hunting
What the sources say about this special opportunity area in Clarke County, with the zone rules that reach it.
Photo: formulanone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Upper State Special Opportunity Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Upper State Special Opportunity Area
- Saint Stephens Park Tombigbee Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 3.7 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.
Upper State SOA in numbers and names
The ADCNR SOA map layer puts Upper State SOA at 1,918 acres in Clarke County. Of the 3 public places with acreage we list in Clarke County, it ranks 2nd by size. ADCNR manages it through its Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, in WFF District V. Program: ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas (limited quota draw hunts).
GIS counts 7,308 public acres in Clarke County.
Listed game on Upper State SOA: Deer, Turkey, 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Upper State Special Opportunity Area
How to hunt Upper State SOA
Upper State SOA is hunted only through limited-quota hunts: apply online for a date, and a random drawing picks who goes. Have the hunting and WMA licenses in hand first; the Conservation ID is free. Drawn hunters and their guest get a dedicated unit of 300 to 400 acres for a hunt of two to four days. The legal-buck test here is at least 3 antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main antler.
| Species | Dates |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice: Oct. 22-25, Nov. 19-22, Dec. 17-20, Jan. 14-17, Jan. 28-31, Feb. 4-7 |
| Turkey | April 2-4, April 16-18 |
| Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
Upper State SOA draw deadlines
| Hunt group | Opens | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| SOA deer hunts | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 |
| SOA small game and turkey hunts | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 |
Draw note: Opens 8 a.m., closes 1 p.m.; results Sept. 15, 2 p.m.
Leave the feed at home; bait is illegal for hunting on Upper State SOA and every other public tract.
Sources: ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas, ADCNR draw deadlines. Checked November 1, 2026.
Deer zone and dog rules near Upper State SOA
| Rule | Clarke County |
|---|---|
| Deer zone | B (map) |
| CWD zone | Outside |
| Turkey zone | 3 |
| Fall turkey | Open |
| Dove zone | North |
| Dog deer | Allowed |
| Waterfowl zone | Statewide |
| Alligator area | Southwest |
| Turkeys, 2025 | 297-444 |
| WFF district | V |
ADCNR gives no county list for Zones A and B. Shading on the ADCNR deer zone map puts Clarke County in one or both. Use zone dates for land around Upper State SOA, the permit dates on it. Alabama caps antlered deer at three a season and one a day; one buck needs a 4-point side. For 2025, Clarke County sat in the 297-444 turkey class on the ADCNR map; deer totals by county do not exist publicly.
ADCNR deer zones, turkey zones, dove zones, dog deer rules, CWD rules and the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report; checked November 1, 2026.
Upper State SOA on the map with its neighbors
Point the truck west for 0.0 mi and you reach Upper State PDHA.
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper State PDHA | PDHA | 1,915 | Clarke | 0.0 mi | west |
| Fred T. Stimpson SOA | SOA | 5,280 | Clarke | 13 mi | southeast |
| Choctaw Refuge SOA | SOA | 3,969 | Choctaw | 22 mi | northwest |
| Choctaw NWR | Wildlife refuge | 3,917 | Choctaw | 22 mi | northwest |
| Little River State Forest PDHA in Monroe County | PDHA | 1,137 | Monroe, Escambia | 35 mi | southeast |
| Little River State Forest SOA in Escambia County | SOA | 2,929 | Escambia | 35 mi | southeast |
| Red Hills WMA | WMA | 13,930 | Monroe | 38 mi | east |
| South Alabama Foundation PDHA | PDHA | 4,462 | Mobile | 40 mi | south |
Points: ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and ADCNR offices near Upper State SOA
Leroy sits 4.2 mi from Upper State SOA in a straight line. Population leader in the list: Grove Hill, 1,723. For permits and questions, the Spanish Fort district office ((251) 626-5153) covers Clarke County.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leroy | Washington | – | 4.2 mi | south |
| Rockville | Clarke | – | 13 mi | southeast |
| Grove Hill | Clarke | 1,723 | 15 mi | northeast |
| Carlton | Clarke | – | 16 mi | southeast |
| Chatom | Washington | 1,056 | 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.
First and last legal light in Upper State SOA
Migratory birds run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset; game animals get the extra half hour after sunset, unless a night season applies.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:53 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:24 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:30 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:47 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:51 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:38 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:57 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 6:27 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.
Public and club ranges for Upper State Special Opportunity Area hunters
Drive about 30 miles from Upper State Special Opportunity Area to reach Upper Delta WMA Shooting Range, the nearest public bench.
From ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Landscape and game photos for Upper State SOA
Upper State Special Opportunity Area, the nearby calendar
About 10 straight-line miles out from the area there are 3 upcoming dates. 2 of them are SOA draw hunts, open only to hunters drawn by ADCNR.
On the calendar
| Date | Event | Mi | Location | Sign-up or details | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | 12th Annual Pine City Classic NWTF Turkey Calling Contest · turkey calling contest | 5 | Jackson | Event details | Source |
| Oct 22–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Upper State SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (archery) draw | On site | Event details | Source | |
| Apr 2–18, 2027 | Upper State SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | On site | Register | Source |
Upper State SOA: short answers
Shooting hours near Upper State SOA?
About 5:54 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. for game on November 21, 2026; ducks stop at sunset.
How do I apply to hunt Upper State SOA?
Applications for soa deer hunts ran Sep 1, 2026 to Sep 14, 2026. See the table for 1 more.
Is Upper State SOA a big tract?
1,918 acres; the number comes from the ADCNR SOA map layer.
How do I place Upper State SOA on a map?
It sits in Clarke County (WFF District V). Leroy is the closest town with a page here, about 4.2 mi away.
Which deer zone rules apply around Upper State SOA?
The A/B split in Clarke County runs along highways and rivers; read the ADCNR map. Managed-area permits set their own dates.
Which licenses or permits does Upper State SOA require?
Limited-quota drawing first; the hunting and WMA licenses come before you apply.
Can I use corn on Upper State SOA?
No baiting on public land in Alabama.
Can I hunt deer with dogs on Upper State SOA?
Only the listed stalk and archery hunts.
Which office handles Upper State SOA?
It is managed by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.
What species does Upper State SOA offer?
Deer, turkey, bobcat, coyote, feral hogs and foxes.
Must I wear orange on Upper State SOA?
Orange or pink, 144 square inches above the waist or a full cap, while gun deer hunting is open.
Upper State SOA trip checklist
Confirm dates, permits and the deer zone for Upper State SOA before the drive.
Sources: source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Emmett Tullos (CC BY 2.0); Bec1971 (CC BY-SA 4.0); LongitudeLatitude (CC BY 2.0).