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Snow goose hunting in Alabama
Sep 5–Jan 31; limits, licenses and places to hunt snow, blue and Ross's geese.
Photo: William Johns (CC BY 2.0)
Alabama and the light goose: an overview
From Sep 5, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027, snow, blue and Ross's geese are on the Alabama calendar in some form, in 4 listed windows. The light goose bag reads: 5 per day aggregate.
The short version for snow, blue and Ross's geese
- Bag rule: 5 light geese/day.
- Season outline: Same as all geese.
- Also: No conservation order season listed.
From ADCNR page and 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest p. 33 (as of Nov 1, 2026), checked November 1, 2026.
GearHeading out for duck and goose season? Duck and goose gear checklist →
Snow Goose season dates for 2026-27
The light goose dates apply in all 67 counties alike.
| Season | Where | Bag | Opens | Closes | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geese, segment 1 | Statewide | Limit table | Sep 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 30 | Closed for 2026 |
| Geese, segment 2 | Statewide | Limit table | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | 15 | Closed for 2026 |
| Geese, segment 3 | Statewide | Limit table | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | 2 | |
| Geese, segment 4 | Statewide | Limit table | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 58 |
Snow Goose season notes
- Federal guidelines not final at printing.
From 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest p. 33, checked November 1, 2026.
Snow Goose limits in Alabama
What one hunter may take and keep of snow, blue and Ross's geese, row by row.
| Species row | Limit text |
|---|---|
| Light geese (snow, blue, Ross's) | 5 per day aggregate. |
| Waterfowl possession | Possession limit is 3 times the daily bag for all waterfowl species. |
From 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest p. 33 and 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guide p. 3, checked November 1, 2026.
Snow Goose: the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and statewide zone
- Statewide: One statewide zone for ducks, coots, mergansers, geese and teal (no duck zones listed for Alabama).
- Mobile-Tensaw Delta WMZ: Boundary: US 90 at the west bank of the Mobile River east to I-10 at Chacaloochee Bay, east on I-10 to US 98, north on US 98 to US 90, north on US 90 to AL 225, north on AL 225 to the railroad near lat. 30.857136, west on the railroad to the Mobile River west bank, south to US 90. Excludes Apalachee Refuge. Rules: closed to waterfowl hunting Mondays and Tuesdays; Wednesday-Sunday shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1:00 p.m.; special early teal and goose seasons open all week to sunset.
- Apalachee Refuge: No hunting and no gas-powered motors from the second Saturday in November through the second Saturday in February (I-10/US 90 at Chacaloochee Bay to the western channel of the Apalachee River).
- Big Bateau Bay: Closed to gas-powered motors from the second Saturday in November through the second Saturday in February.
- Corps lands: Corps of Engineers lands and waters in Pickens, Greene and Sumter: shooting hours as stated on ACOE permits.
- WMA rules: Crow Creek, Mud Creek and Raccoon Creek WMAs (220-2-.164) and Mallard-Fox and Swan Creek WMAs (220-2-.165) have their own waterfowl rules.
Snow, blue and Ross's geese share one statewide zone, plus the Delta zone rules and the Apalachee Refuge closure.
From 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guide p. 3 and 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guide, checked November 1, 2026.
Snow Goose gear and method rules
| Weapon rule | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Migratory birds | For snow, blue and Ross's geese: Shotguns 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells with No. 2 shot or smaller; waterfowl with steel or other USFWS-approved nontoxic shot (T or smaller per the waterfowl guide); bows/crossbows; permitted raptors. | For snow, blue and Ross's geese, not: lead shot in possession while waterfowl hunting; rifles, pistols; unplugged guns. |
- Electronic calls (light goose): Electrically amplified turkey, dove or waterfowl calls are illegal (possession in the field too); electronic crow and predator calls allowed.
- Decoys (light goose): No live decoys (except banded pen-raised quail as call birds in recovery pens). Turkey decoys only in spring turkey season (allowed all spring in 2026-27); no mechanical or electronic turkey decoys, including handheld or gun-mounted fanning/reaping decoys.
- Baiting (light goose): No hunting over bait or a fed area until feed is gone 10 days, except deer and feral swine on private/leased land with a Bait Privilege License; bait over 100 yards and out of sight presumed not a lure on private land; no baiting on public land or in the CMZ.
Laser range finders with computing features are legal for light goose hunters; fully automatic firearms are not.
From 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest p. 34, ADCNR Regulation Book p. 45 and Code of Alabama 9-11-244, checked November 1, 2026.
Snow Goose: public land and draw hunts
Pick from 50 public areas with snow, blue and Ross's geese; each land page has its permit map and contact.
| Area | Land type | In | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Warrior WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Lawrence, Winston | 91,263 |
| James D. Martin-Skyline WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Jackson | 60,732 |
| Choccolocco WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Cleburne | 56,838 |
| Mobile-Tensaw Delta and W.L. Holland WMAs | Wildlife Management Area | Baldwin, Mobile | 51,040 |
| Oakmulgee WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Bibb, Hale +2 | 44,500 |
| Upper Delta WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Baldwin, Mobile | 42,451 |
| William R. Ireland, Sr.-Cahaba River WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Bibb, Shelby | 35,559 |
| Mulberry Fork WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Tuscaloosa, Walker | 35,260 |
| Freedom Hills WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Colbert | 33,539 |
| Hollins WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Clay, Talladega | 28,802 |
| Barbour WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Barbour, Bullock | 28,214 |
| Jackson County Waterfowl Areas and Refuges (Jackson County WMA) | Wildlife Management Area | Jackson | 26,934 |
| Blue Spring WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Covington | 24,783 |
| Lauderdale WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Lauderdale | 20,344 |
| Coosa WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Coosa | 17,486 |
SOA draw hunts for snow, blue and Ross's geese
| Area | County | Hunt | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Landing SOA | Dallas | Waterfowl/Woodcock | Jan 2-3 |
| Uchee Creek SOA | Russell | Waterfowl | Dec 12-13, Jan 9-10 |
| Crow Creek SOA | Jackson | Waterfowl | Jan 2-3, Jan 9-10, Jan 16-17, Jan 23-24, Jan 30-31 |
| Crow Creek SOA | Jackson | Waterfowl | Youth – Feb 6 |
Antler rules on SOAs are stricter than statewide: most need 3 points on one side or a 16-inch spread.
From lands.json (ADCNR WMA AREA Permits, SOA page, federal rules) and the ADCNR SOA page, checked November 1, 2026.
Licenses and permits for snow, blue and Ross's geese
Hunter education is required of license buyers born on or after August 1, 1977, unless they buy a supervision-required license.
| License | Residency | For | Cost | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Game | Resident | Age 16-64 | $23.40 | License year |
| Small Game, annual | Nonresident | Age 16+ | $134.10 | License year |
| State Duck Stamp | Both | Waterfowl hunters 16-64 (residents), 16+ (nonresidents) | $12.70 | July 2026–June 2027 |
| Federal Duck Stamp | Both | Waterfowl hunters 16+ | $30.00 | July 2026–June 2027 |
| HIP certification | Both | Migratory bird hunters | Free | License year |
From the ADCNR license pages and the Digest license section, checked November 1, 2026.
Snow Goose harvest data in Alabama
There is no Alabama harvest report for snow, blue and Ross's geese in the sources; harvest data exist only for turkey by county class, sandhill cranes and CWD tests.
From ADCNR page, checked November 1, 2026.
Snow Goose legal light by county
Each row applies the ADCNR hour rule for snow, blue and Ross's geese to sunrise and sunset at a county centre, Central Time.
Rule that sets light goose hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset for teal, ducks, coots, mergansers, geese, rails, gallinules, snipe and woodcock. Mobile-Tensaw Delta WMZ: closed Mon-Tue, Wed-Sun to 1:00 p.m. (teal and early goose seasons all week to sunset). Corps lands in Pickens, Greene and Sumter: per ACOE permit.
| Date | Point | County | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Start | Madison County | 6:21 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Start | Jefferson County | 6:24 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Start | Montgomery County | 6:22 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 5:52 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Start | Mobile County | 6:31 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Closes | Madison County | 6:46 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Closes | Jefferson County | 6:45 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Closes | Montgomery County | 6:40 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Closes | Mobile County | 6:45 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. |
Rules from the Digest shooting hours section; sunrise and sunset computed (NOAA solar formula, Central Time); checked November 1, 2026. Legal hours for all 67 counties.
Common questions on snow, blue and Ross's geese
What guns and bows are legal for snow, blue and Ross's geese?
Approved light goose arms: Shotguns 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells with No. 2 shot or smaller; waterfowl with steel or other USFWS-approved nontoxic shot (T or smaller per the waterfowl guide); bows/crossbows; permitted raptors.
Do I need a special permit for snow, blue and Ross's geese?
Licenses that apply: Small Game (resident, $23.40); Small Game, annual (nonresident, $134.10); State Duck Stamp (both, $12.70); Federal Duck Stamp (both, $30.00).
Is there public land for light goose hunting in Alabama?
50 public areas in this guide list snow, blue and Ross’s geese; the largest are Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area, James D. Martin-Skyline Wildlife Management Area and Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area.
What time can I start light goose hunting?
Light goose hunters use these hours. 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset for teal, ducks, coots, mergansers, geese, rails, gallinules, snipe and woodcock. Mobile-Tensaw Delta WMZ: closed Mon-Tue, Wed-Sun to 1:00 p.m. (teal and early goose seasons all week to sunset). Corps lands in Pickens, Greene and Sumter: per ACOE permit.
Must light goose harvests be reported?
Alabama asks light goose hunters for HIP certification rather than a harvest report.
Must light goose hunters wear blaze orange or pink?
No. The Alabama orange rule exempts turkey hunters and migratory bird hunters, crow hunters included, so light goose hunters are covered by the exemption on private land; on WMAs only migratory bird hunters are exempt.
Are there duck zones in Alabama?
Alabama has one statewide zone plus the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Waterfowl Management Zone in Baldwin and Mobile, which is closed to waterfowl hunting on Mondays and Tuesdays and ends shooting at 1 p.m. on open days.
Can light goose hunters go out on Sundays?
Yes; only area rules, such as the Mobile-Tensaw Delta duck closure on Monday and Tuesday, limit days.
Are there special waterfowl days?
Special youth, veteran and active military days Nov 21, 2026 and Feb 6, 2027; adult supervisor within arm’s length and may hunt only if a veteran/active military.
Do I need nontoxic shot?
Shotguns 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells with No. 2 shot or smaller; waterfowl with steel or other USFWS-approved nontoxic shot (T or smaller per the waterfowl guide); bows/crossbows; permitted raptors. Not legal: Lead shot in possession while waterfowl hunting; rifles, pistols; unplugged guns.
Is there a daily limit on snow, blue and Ross's geese?
Per the 2026-27 light goose rules, 5 per day aggregate.
What days are open for snow, blue and Ross's geese in Alabama?
2026-27 dates run Sep 5 to Jan 31, split into 4 rows.