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Frogs and unprotected birds
Rock pigeon rules in Alabama
Rules for taking rock pigeons in Alabama.
Photo: greenebriar (Public domain)
What Alabama allows for rock pigeons
There is no pigeon season to wait for in Alabama: rock pigeons are unprotected and may be taken in daylight all year.
ADCNR summary for rock pigeons
- Take: Not protected (non-native, 220-2-.92(1)(d)).
- Rule: Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.92
From ADCNR Regulation Book p. 127 (as of Jan 27, 2026), checked November 1, 2026.
Rock Pigeon: the nongame bird rule
- Unprotected birds: English (house) sparrow, crow and starling. Code 9-11-233. Rule 220-2-.92 also excludes non-native Eurasian collared doves and rock pigeons from protection; the Digest adds blackbirds (except rusty).
- Nongame birds: All nongame birds protected except crows and non-native starlings, house sparrows, Eurasian collared doves and rock pigeons.
Electronic calls are legal for crows and predators but not for doves, turkey or waterfowl.
From Code of Alabama 9-11-233 and ADCNR Regulation Book p. 127, checked November 1, 2026.
Weapons and field rules for rock pigeons
| Row | May use | May not use |
|---|---|---|
| Predators and hogs | For rock pigeons: 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 rock pigeons, not: lights/night vision except in the nighttime swine/coyote season with the license. |
- Dwellings (pigeon): No hunting within 100 yards of another's dwelling without permission; no projectile striking a dwelling, occupied building or commercial vessel (landowner/family on own land excepted if no projectile strikes others' property).
- Public roads (pigeon): No hunting or shooting from, on or across a public road, highway or railroad or its right-of-way; no hunting within 50 yards of the right-of-way with a centerfire rifle, slug or shot larger than No. 4, or a .40+ muzzleloading rifle (landowners and family on own land excepted).
Conservation Enforcement Officers may inspect game bags, vehicles and gear of pigeon hunters.
From 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest p. 34, ADCNR Regulation Book p. 147 and Code of Alabama 9-11-257, checked November 1, 2026.
License costs for rock pigeons
Residents 65 and older and everyone under 16 need no hunting license for rock pigeons, but the bait and nighttime licenses have no exemptions.
| License | Who buys | Group | Fee | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Rock Pigeon: sunrise, sunset and legal time
Times for rock pigeons are worked out for the centre of four counties with the NOAA solar formula; the Digest prints only a Birmingham table and warns that other places differ.
ADCNR hour rule for rock pigeons: Daylight only, as the ADCNR row for unprotected birds states.
| Date | Season point | County | First sun | Last sun | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Madison County | 6:49 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | Daylight |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Jefferson County | 6:48 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | Daylight |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Montgomery County | 6:42 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | Daylight |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Mobile County | 6:46 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | Daylight |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Madison County | 5:33 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | Daylight |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Jefferson County | 5:37 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | Daylight |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Montgomery County | 5:38 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | Daylight |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Mobile County | 5:50 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | Daylight |
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.
Alabama penalties for rock pigeons
What breaking the pigeon rules can cost, by statute.
| Violation | Penalty | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Road hunting / shooting across roads | First offense at least $1,000; later at least $2,000 and 1-year revocation. | § 9-11-257 |
| Revoked license / license fraud | Hunting while revoked, or borrowing, lending or altering a license: Class B misdemeanor. | § 9-11-70 |
| Baiting and unlawful methods | General: $25-$100 (second $50-$250, third $100-$500, possible jail). Baiting deer or turkey: first $250-$500 and up to 1-year revocation; later $500-$2,000, automatic 1-year revocation, possible 10-30 days jail. | § 9-11-246 |
| Hunting without permission (night) | Same penalties as daytime trespass hunting (fox hunting with dogs only excepted). | § 9-11-242 |
For a pigeon violation, the ADCNR line is 1-800-272-4263.
From Code of Alabama 9-11-257, Code of Alabama 9-11-70, Code of Alabama 9-11-246, Code of Alabama 9-11-242 and 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest p. 52, checked November 1, 2026.
Questions about rock pigeons in Alabama
Does Alabama allow pigeon hunting on Sunday?
Sundays are open for rock pigeons; the old Code 13A-12-1 was repealed effective April 21, 2015.
Does Game Check apply to rock pigeons?
No Game Check entry is needed for rock pigeons; WMA hunters do check in and out daily through the app or a paper permit.
What dates apply to rock pigeons in Alabama?
Not protected (non-native, 220-2-.92(1)(d)).
Are other birds unprotected too?
Code 9-11-233 leaves English (house) sparrows, crows and starlings unprotected; rule 220-2-.92 also excludes non-native Eurasian collared-doves and rock pigeons, and the Digest adds blackbirds (except rusty).
Which license covers pigeon hunting in Alabama?
For rock pigeons: Small Game (resident, $23.40); Small Game, annual (nonresident, $134.10).
How many rock pigeons can I take in Alabama?
For rock pigeons the rule is not protected (non-native, 220-2-.92(1)(d)).
When does legal shooting time start for rock pigeons?
Hours for rock pigeons work like this: Daylight only, as the ADCNR row for unprotected birds states.
What are the legal methods for rock pigeons?
For rock pigeons, ADCNR permits 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.
Must I wear orange or pink when hunting rock pigeons?
Yes, while gun deer dates are open in the area. During dates and in areas open to gun deer season (including youth deer and special muzzleloader/air rifle seasons), everyone hunting any species on private, leased and open permit-public land must wear an outer garment above the waist with at least 144 sq. in. of hunter orange or fluorescent pink, or a full-size hunter orange or fluorescent pink hat or cap.