Furbearers
Mink trapping in Alabama
2026-27: Oct 31–Feb 28; limits, licenses, public land and legal hours from ADCNR.
Photo: Maria Brindle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Alabama mink rules this season
The 2026-27 season for mink in Alabama runs Oct 31 to Feb 28, spread over 1 dated row in the ADCNR tables. On limits for mink: No limit.
How ADCNR sums up mink
- Bag: No limit.
- Methods and dates: Trapping last Sat. in Oct.-last day of Feb.
From ADCNR page (as of Nov 1, 2026), checked November 1, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Mink calendar statewide
No zones split the mink season; the 1 row below cover the whole state.
| Hunt | Applies to | Limit | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Statewide | No limit. | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 121 |
Mink row details
- Rule: last Saturday in October through last day of February (dates computed: last Saturday of Oct 2026 = Oct 31).
- Nuisance permits from district offices outside season.
From ADCNR page, checked November 1, 2026.
Mink: limit rows
Bag and possession rules that touch mink, word for word from the ADCNR sources.
| Covers | Bag and possession |
|---|---|
| General possession limit | No more than the daily bag of any game bird, game or furbearing animal in possession, except deer/turkey as above and game packaged or prepared for storage (220-2-.18). |
From ADCNR Regulation Book p. 47, checked November 1, 2026.
How mink may be trapped in Alabama
| Group | First day | Last day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat, fox, mink, muskrat, otter and striped skunk | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | Rule: last Saturday in October through last day of February (dates computed: last Saturday of Oct 2026 = Oct 31). The ADCNR predator page says bobcat "can be tr |
Mink are on the Alabama furbearer list (220-2-.30), so trapping is for licensed fur catchers only.
From ADCNR Regulation Book p. 51 and ADCNR page, checked November 1, 2026.
How mink may be taken
- Traps, snares, poisons (mink): No pitfalls, deadfalls, cages, nets, snares, poison or explosives for protected birds/animals (licensed fur catchers may trap furbearers under 220-2-.30).
- Sale of game (mink): No sale of game birds or animals or parts except lawfully taken deer hides, hooves, squirrel skins/tails and finished products.
Landowner permission in writing, or the landowner present, is required to hunt mink on someone else's land.
From Code of Alabama 9-11-245 and 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest p. 52, checked November 1, 2026.
Where to hunt mink on public ground
Public land for mink: 30 areas, from WMAs to national forest districts and refuges, sorted by acres.
| Area | Category | Counties | Acreage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
From lands.json (ADCNR WMA AREA Permits, SOA page, federal rules) and the ADCNR SOA page, checked November 1, 2026.
Mink license prices
Carry the license, stamps and any harvest record while hunting mink; lending or borrowing a license is a Class B misdemeanor.
| License | Buyer | Age or group | Price | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fur Catcher's | Resident | Trappers | $28.70 | Oct 2026–Sept 2027 |
| Fur Catcher's | Nonresident | Trappers | Varies | Oct 2026–Sept 2027 |
| Small Game | Resident | Age 16-64 | $23.40 | License year |
| Small Game, annual | Nonresident | Age 16+ | $134.10 | License year |
From the ADCNR license pages and the Digest license section, checked November 1, 2026.
Mink numbers and data gaps
Harvest totals for mink are not in any ADCNR page or report read for this guide, and none are estimated here.
From ADCNR page, checked November 1, 2026.
Mink shooting light on key dates
These mink hours use county-centre sun times; check your own spot if you hunt near a county line.
Hour rule (mink): Daylight hours only = 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset (deer and all resident game birds and game animals), except where a night season exists.
| When | Event | Place | Sunrise | Sunset | Shooting hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2026 | First day | Madison County | 7:05 a.m. | 5:55 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. |
| Oct 31, 2026 | First day | Jefferson County | 7:05 a.m. | 5:58 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Oct 31, 2026 | First day | Montgomery County | 7:00 a.m. | 5:57 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:27 p.m. |
| Oct 31, 2026 | First day | Mobile County | 7:06 a.m. | 6:07 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Last day | Madison County | 6:18 a.m. | 5:40 p.m. | 5:48 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Last day | Jefferson County | 6:19 a.m. | 5:43 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Last day | Montgomery County | 6:15 a.m. | 5:41 p.m. | 5:45 a.m. to 6:11 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Last day | Mobile County | 6:22 a.m. | 5:50 p.m. | 5:52 a.m. to 6:20 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.
Mink, answered
What does ADCNR allow per day for mink?
ADCNR sets this for mink. No more than the daily bag of any game bird, game or furbearing animal in possession, except deer/turkey as above and game packaged or prepared for storage (220-2-.18).
When does mink season open in Alabama?
ADCNR opens mink on Oct 31, 2026; the final day is Feb 28, 2027.
How early may I shoot mink?
Mink hours follow this rule. Daylight hours only = 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset (deer and all resident game birds and game animals), except where a night season exists.
How much is a license for mink in Alabama?
Fur Catcher’s (resident, $28.70); Fur Catcher’s (nonresident, Varies); Small Game (resident, $23.40); Small Game, annual (nonresident, $134.10); prices are for 2026-27.
Do mink hunters need hunter orange in Alabama?
When gun deer season is open, yes; Alabama now accepts fluorescent pink as well as orange, and WMAs require it of mink hunters on every day.
Where are mink hunted on public ground?
Yes: 30 areas, starting with Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area, James D. Martin-Skyline Wildlife Management Area and Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area.
Are mink open on Sundays?
Yes. No Sunday hunting restriction. Code of Ala. 13A-12-1 (acts prohibited on Sunday) was repealed by Act 2015-70 effective April 21, 2015; seasons run on Sundays (e.g., CWD sampling weekends, Saturday-Sunday dog deer days on USFS land). Area-specific day rules exist (Mobile-Tensaw Delta WMZ closed Mon-Tue; some WMA hunts on set days).
Is there a harvest report for mink?
Game Check covers deer and turkey only, so mink need no harvest report; on WMAs every hunter still checks in and out through the Outdoor AL app or a paper daily permit.
Who needs the fur catcher license?
A Fur Catcher’s License: $28.70 for residents (90 days residency proof); nonresidents pay the nonresident fee of their home state.
When can mink be trapped?
Trapping: Oct 31 to Feb 28. Rule: last Saturday in October through last day of February (dates computed: last Saturday of Oct 2026 = Oct 31). The ADCNR predator page says bobcat “can be trapped October 25 – February 28”. Bobcat and otter tagged within 14 days. Nuisance permits from district offices outside season.