Furbearers
Fox hunting in Alabama
The 2026-27 ADCNR rules for red and gray foxes, with public land and computed legal light.
Photo: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Fox in Alabama for 2026-27
Red and gray foxes may be hunted in Alabama on any day of the 2026-27 license year, within the method and hour rules below. ADCNR fox limit: No bag limit.
Fox at a glance
- Allowed: No limit.
- How and when: Hunting year-round (night with lights and dogs only); trapping in furbearer season.
From ADCNR page (as of Nov 1, 2026), checked November 1, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Fox calendar statewide
Statewide dates for red and gray foxes, as ADCNR printed them for 2026-27.
| Segment | Area | Limit | First day | Last day | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foxes, fox | Statewide | No limit. | License year | Year-round | ||
| Furbearer trapping, trapping | Statewide | No limit. | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 121 |
Fine print for red and gray foxes
- Daytime with legal arms; at night with lights and dogs only (220-2-.07).
- Trapping only in furbearer season by licensed fur catchers.
- 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 and ADCNR page, checked November 1, 2026.
Daily and season limits for red and gray foxes
ADCNR writes the fox limits as below; any area permit can be stricter on a WMA or SOA.
| Rule for | Limit |
|---|---|
| Opossum, beaver, nutria, groundhog, bobcat, coyote, fox, feral swine | No bag limit. |
From 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest p. 31, checked November 1, 2026.
Fox: trapping dates and licenses
| Covers | Opens | Closes | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Licensed fur catchers may trap red and gray foxes in season; pitfalls, poison and snares outside the furbearer rule stay illegal.
The night rule for red and gray foxes: lights and free-running dogs, with small shot or .22 rimfire.
From ADCNR Regulation Book p. 51 and ADCNR page, checked November 1, 2026.
Legal weapons and methods for red and gray foxes
| Season | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Predators and hogs | For red and gray foxes: Rifles any caliber; handguns; shotguns 10 ga or smaller; PCP air guns .25+; bows/crossbows; muzzleloaders any caliber; PCP arrow rifles; spear or sharpened blade; permitted raptors. | For red and gray foxes, not: lights/night vision except in the nighttime swine/coyote season with the license. |
- Night hunting (fox): No taking protected birds or animals at night except fox (lights and dogs), raccoon/opossum (lights, dogs), feral swine/coyote in the special season with license, frogs and alligators.
- Electronic calls (fox): Electrically amplified turkey, dove or waterfowl calls are illegal (possession in the field too); electronic crow and predator calls allowed.
- Traps, snares, poisons (fox): No pitfalls, deadfalls, cages, nets, snares, poison or explosives for protected birds/animals (licensed fur catchers may trap furbearers under 220-2-.30).
No fox may be shot from a vehicle on a public road or from a moving boat; motors must be off and motion stopped.
From 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest p. 34, Code of Alabama 9-11-235, ADCNR Regulation Book p. 45 and Code of Alabama 9-11-245, checked November 1, 2026.
Alabama public land with fox seasons
42 public areas in this guide list red and gray foxes among the species open on the area permit or refuge rules; the 15 largest follow.
| Name | Type | Counties | 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 |
Special Opportunity Area dates for red and gray foxes
| Area | County | Hunt | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles F. Sykes – Cedar Creek SOA | Dallas | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
| Portland Landing SOA | Dallas | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
| Uchee Creek SOA | Russell | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
| Thigpen Hill SOA | Butler | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
| Little River SF SOA | Escambia | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
| Blackwater River SOA | Baldwin | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
| Fred T. Stimpson SOA | Clarke | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
| Upper State SOA | Clarke | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
| Crow Creek SOA | Jackson | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
| Shelby SOA | Shelby | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine, Raccoon, Opossum, & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
| Chalk Hill SOA | Tallapoosa | Bobcat, Coyote, Feral Swine, Raccoon, Opossum, & Fox | Open during any scheduled Special Opportunity Hunting Season. |
SOA hunts are limited-quota random draws; drawn hunters and guests get a dedicated unit for 2 to 4 days.
From lands.json (ADCNR WMA AREA Permits, SOA page, federal rules) and the ADCNR SOA page, checked November 1, 2026.
What fox hunters buy in Alabama
Licenses are sold through the new MyOutdoorAlabama system, launched in summer 2026; prices below are for 2026-27.
| Item | Resident? | Group | Fee | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Game | Resident | Age 16-64 | $23.40 | License year |
| Small Game, annual | Nonresident | Age 16+ | $134.10 | License year |
| Fur Catcher's | Resident | Trappers | $28.70 | Oct 2026–Sept 2027 |
| Fur Catcher's | Nonresident | Trappers | Varies | Oct 2026–Sept 2027 |
From the ADCNR license pages and the Digest license section, checked November 1, 2026.
What ADCNR publishes on fox harvest
No fox harvest numbers are published by ADCNR, so this page gives none.
From ADCNR page, checked November 1, 2026.
Legal hours for red and gray foxes
Read the legal window column for red and gray foxes; it already applies the half-hour rules where they exist.
For red and gray foxes, the Digest says: 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. Fox at night with lights and dogs only; raccoon and opossum at night with lights and free-running dogs; coyote and feral swine at night only in the special nighttime season with the nighttime license (220-2-.07); bullfrog/pig frog day or night; alligator official sunset to official sunrise.
| Day | Marker | Where | Sun up | Sun down | Hunting window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Madison County | 6:49 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Jefferson County | 6:48 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Montgomery County | 6:42 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Mobile County | 6:46 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Madison County | 5:33 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 5:03 a.m. to 8:32 p.m. |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Jefferson County | 5:37 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 5:07 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Montgomery County | 5:38 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 5:08 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Mobile County | 5:50 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:20 a.m. to 8:28 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.
Answers about red and gray foxes
How many red and gray foxes may one hunter keep?
Red and gray foxes: No bag limit.
What licenses apply to red and gray foxes?
The license rows that fit red and gray foxes: Small Game (resident, $23.40); Small Game, annual (nonresident, $134.10); Fur Catcher’s (resident, $28.70); Fur Catcher’s (nonresident, Varies).
Which weapons may be used on red and gray foxes in Alabama?
Legal for red and gray foxes: Rifles any caliber; handguns; shotguns 10 ga or smaller; PCP air guns .25+; bows/crossbows; muzzleloaders any caliber; PCP arrow rifles; spear or sharpened blade; permitted raptors.
How early may I shoot red and gray foxes?
For red and gray foxes: 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. Fox at night with lights and dogs only; raccoon and opossum at night with lights and free-running dogs; coyote and feral swine at night only in the special nighttime season with the nighttime license (220-2-.07); bullfrog/pig frog day or night; alligator official sunset to official sunrise.
Which Alabama WMAs have fox seasons?
Yes: 42 areas, starting with Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area, James D. Martin-Skyline Wildlife Management Area and Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area.
Is blaze orange needed for red and gray foxes in Alabama?
It depends on the date: in gun deer dates every hunter of any species, fox hunters included, wears orange or pink above the waist; on WMAs it is required at all times.
Do I have to report red and gray foxes I take in Alabama?
For red and gray foxes there is no harvest report; the Outdoor AL app is used only for WMA check-in on public areas.
Can I hunt red and gray foxes on Sunday in Alabama?
Sunday is a normal hunting day for red and gray foxes.
What are the trapping dates for red and gray foxes?
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.
How much is a 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.
Can I take red and gray foxes year-round in Alabama?
Yes, red and gray foxes have no closed season in Alabama.