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WMA · 2026-27 season
Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area for hunters
Rules, permits and dates for this wildlife management area in Elmore County.
Photo: Bill Sutton (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area
- John B. Scott Forever Wild TrailheadTrailhead · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 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.
Size, owner and game on Yates Lake WMA
By the ADCNR WMA table, Yates Lake WMA measures 5,616 acres, all in Elmore County. Within Elmore County it is the 1st largest of 2 listed places. Management: ADCNR (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division), WFF District IV. Listed in the ADCNR Wildlife Management Area system.
ADCNR describes the location as Elmore County near Tallassee. The permit credits Forever Wild Land Trust as cooperators. Across Elmore County, public land maps out at 6,220 acres.
Game named for Yates Lake WMA: Turkey, Waterfowl, Deer, Rabbits, Squirrels, Crows, Quail, Woodcock, Raccoon, Opossum, Coyote, Feral hogs, Foxes, Furbearer trapping.
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 Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area
Yates Lake WMA: licenses, check-in and limits
| Item | On this WMA |
|---|---|
| Hunting license | Required, 16+ |
| WMA license | $23.40 |
| AREA Permit | Free |
| Daily check-in | App or paper |
| Dog deer | Not allowed |
| Bait | Not allowed |
| Table type | Big and small game |
On Yates Lake WMA, deer, turkey and waterfowl hunters 16 and up buy the $23.40 WMA license and sign in each day with the app or a paper daily permit. For rabbits and squirrels, the $14.30 Wildlife Heritage License covers WMA use, and residents with a hunting license already have it. Vehicle gates on most WMAs stay shut May 1 to September 15, foot access excepted. Leave the deer hounds home; the Yates Lake WMA permit bars dog deer hunting. The bonus buck allowed on WMA bonus days sits outside the three-antlered-buck season limit and must be validated at the check station. Record what you shot (or that you shot nothing) in the Outdoor Alabama app or on the daily permit before leaving. Public land such as Yates Lake WMA is excluded from the bait privilege; corn piles and feeders are not legal aids here.
Check-station note on the AREA Permit: It is MANDATORY to bring all deer harvested on Jan 15-16 and Jan 29-30 (including archery) to the check station (kiosk off Hwy 229) for data collection.
Sources: source, source, source, source (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources). Checked November 1, 2026.
Season windows at Yates Lake WMA
3 rows cut to fit Yates Lake WMA and its game.
| Game | Season | Group | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | WMA group | Mar 13, 2027 | Mar 13, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | WMA group | Mar 19, 2027 | Mar 19, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | WMA group | Mar 20, 2027 | May 3, 2027 |
Deer, small game and waterfowl dates for Yates Lake WMA are on its AREA Permit, which this table does not repeat.
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.
What the county rules mean for Yates Lake WMA
| Item | Elmore County |
|---|---|
| Deer zone | 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 |
Elmore County has Zone A or Zone B ground. That line is drawn on highways and rivers, not county lines, so check the ADCNR deer zone map before you hunt near it. Zone dates are for private and open-permit public land; Yates Lake WMA runs on its own permit dates. Running deer dogs in Elmore County takes an ADCNR permit, and the rule may cover only a block of the county. Deer are stalk hunted in Elmore County under the county list. Of the three antlered deer allowed each season, one must have 4 or more points on one antler. ADCNR binned the 2025 Game Check turkey harvest in Elmore County at 137-208 birds; county deer harvest is not published in Alabama.
ADCNR deer zones, turkey zones, dove zones, dog deer rules, CWD rules and the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report; checked November 1, 2026.
Mapping Yates Lake WMA and nearby land
Chalk Hill SOA sits 2.6 mi to the east, the nearest other record to Yates Lake WMA.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalk Hill SOA | SOA | 3,466 | Tallapoosa | 2.6 mi | east |
| Coon Creek Tract (Forever Wild) (316 acres) | Forever Wild tract | 316 | Tallapoosa | 3.8 mi | southeast |
| Jordan PDHA | PDHA | 198 | Elmore | 20 mi | west |
| Tuskegee National Forest | National forest | 11,347 | Macon | 21 mi | southeast |
| Tuskegee Ranger District | Ranger district | 11,347 | Macon | 21 mi | southeast |
| Martin CHA | Community hunting area | 400 | Tallapoosa | 22 mi | north |
| Macon State Forest PDHA | PDHA | 190 | Macon | 24 mi | southeast |
| Coosa WMA | WMA | 17,486 | Coosa | 33 mi | northwest |
Points: ADCNR WMA layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Yates Lake WMA: waterfowl rules
The dates are statewide for ducks, coots, mergansers, geese and teal.
| Species | Window | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Shops and offices close to Yates Lake WMA
Yates Lake WMA lies 7.3 mi from Reeltown. The 2024 count puts Wetumpka first at 7,667 residents. District office for Elmore County: Enterprise ((334) 347-9467).
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reeltown | Tallapoosa | – | 7.3 mi | southeast |
| Tallassee | Elmore | 4,715 | 7.6 mi | south |
| Dadeville | Tallapoosa | 2,934 | 15 mi | northeast |
| Notasulga | Macon | 871 | 16 mi | east |
| Wetumpka | Elmore | 7,667 | 18 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.
Yates Lake WMA shooting light
Legal light for deer around Yates Lake WMA runs 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; for ducks it starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:47 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:20 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:25 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:42 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:46 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:33 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:50 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:56 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.
Nearest ADCNR range to Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area, plus others
Coosa County WMA Range is the nearest ADCNR shooting range to Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area, about 32 miles away. Beside it, two more within 30 miles.
From ADCNR’s range directory and range pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 1, 2026.
Pictures for Yates Lake WMA
Dates tied to Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area and its surroundings
Rows marked on site use this land as the venue; the others sit within about 10 miles. In all, 5 upcoming dates. Drawn hunters alone may take part in the 5 Special Opportunity Area hunts listed.
Scheduled
| Dates | Event | Distance | Where | Link | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5–8, 2026 | Chalk Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Antlerless Only · SOA deer (gun, antlerless) draw | 3 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 17–20, 2026 | Chalk Hill SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | 3 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 10–Feb 7 (2026-27) | Chalk Hill SOA deer hunt: Gun – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (gun) draw | 3 | Event details | Source | |
| Feb 8–21, 2027 | Chalk Hill SOA quail, rabbit & squirrel hunt · SOA small game draw | 3 | Event details | Source | |
| Apr 2–May 2, 2027 | Chalk Hill SOA turkey hunt · SOA turkey draw | 3 | Event details | Source |
Yates Lake WMA answers from the sources
Is Yates Lake WMA a big tract?
About 5,616 acres according to the ADCNR WMA table.
What license lets me hunt Yates Lake WMA?
Hunting license plus WMA license ($23.40), the free AREA Permit and daily check-in and check-out.
Which Alabama deer zone covers Yates Lake WMA?
The ADCNR zone map decides A or B in Elmore County, since the line is drawn on roads. Own-permit areas set separate dates.
Dogs for deer on Yates Lake WMA?
No. The AREA Permit says no dog deer hunting.
Is baiting legal on Yates Lake WMA?
No; public land is excluded from the bait privilege.
What species does Yates Lake WMA offer?
Turkey, waterfowl, deer, rabbits, squirrels, crows, quail, woodcock, raccoon, opossum, coyote, feral hogs, foxes and furbearer trapping, per the source.
Which office handles Yates Lake WMA?
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division is the managing agency. Contact on the permit: Kara Glassey (biologist), (334) 530-1758.
Turkey season on Yates Lake WMA: when?
Dates: Mar 20, 2027 to May 3, 2027, daylight to 1 p.m.
Any backup ground near Yates Lake WMA?
Try Chalk Hill SOA, 2.6 mi straight line. 9 more lie within 50 miles.
Is blaze orange required at Yates Lake WMA?
In gun season, yes; orange or pink, 144 square inches or a full cap.
When does legal light start on Yates Lake WMA?
Half an hour either side of sunrise and sunset; November 21, 2026: 5:50 a.m. to 5:12 p.m..
Final checks for Yates Lake WMA
Report deer and turkey through Game Check (Outdoor Alabama app) within 48 hours, and carry your harvest record while hunting Yates Lake WMA.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Other photos on this page: John Coley (CC BY 2.0); Bill Sutton (CC BY 2.0); John Wolf (CC BY-SA 2.0).