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Town page, Calhoun County
Hunting from Anniston, AL: land, zones and dates
Miles from Anniston to wildlife management areas and federal land, the deer zone caveat for Calhoun County, turkey harvest class and the nearest ADCNR office.
Photo: Nearby stand-in: Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge, 1.3 mi from Anniston. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain)
Calhoun County is run from Anniston; wildlife questions go to the WFF District II office in Jacksonville. Anniston logged 21,127 residents in the 2024 population estimates. With overlaps counted once, public land inside 10 miles of Anniston totals about 32,777 acres (4 listed areas). County-wide, Calhoun County holds some 36,612 acres of public land: 10,880 acres of ADCNR WMA land, 4,359 acres of Forever Wild tracts, 21,920 acres of national forest and 9,109 acres of refuge land. Closest of every listed area is Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge, whose nearest boundary is 1.3 miles away.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 miles are a GIS measure over ADCNR WMA, SOA and Forever Wild layers and USFS, USFWS, Corps, NPS and TVA boundaries (places.json). WFF district from the ADCNR district offices page. Checked November 1, 2026.
Anniston hunting land, nearest first
Miles run from the Anniston town point to the nearest boundary for land inside 10 miles, and to the mapped centre beyond that; road miles will be longer.
| Property | From town | Type | Run by | Access rule | Acres | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Longleaf NWR | 1.3 mi NE | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge rules | 9,070 | – |
| Choccolocco WMA | 1.4 mi E | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 56,838 | No dog deer |
| Talladega National Forest | 6.4 mi S | National forest | USFS | Public-land seasons | 394,869 | – |
| Fort McClellan Training Center – Clarke Range Complex | 8.7 mi W | Military post | Army Guard | One-day hunt | – | One day only |
| Big Oak PDHA | 16 mi E | Disabled hunters | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 1,839 | Quota hunts |
| R. L. Harris PDHA | 30 mi S | Disabled hunters | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 248 | Quota hunts |
| Indian Mountain Complex (Forever Wild) | 33 mi NE | Forever Wild tract | Forever Wild | License, free map | 1,127 | Archery deer only |
| Hollins WMA | 37 mi SW | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 28,802 | 2 dove fields |
Acreage leader inside 10 miles of Anniston: Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area, 56,838 acres. That circle mixes 1 WMA or community hunting area and 3 federal areas. Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area (1.4 mi) is a WMA: license, WMA license, area permit and a daily check-in. Brandon Howell is listed as biologist ((256) 846-3004). Only hunters with a qualifying disability may use Big Oak Physically Disabled Hunting Area, by reservation. Grab the free map before hunting Indian Mountain Complex (Forever Wild); county dates apply there. Forest Service land is close: Talladega National Forest, under Alabama seasons plus the federal 150-yard rule. Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge opens only designated areas, under Alabama seasons plus its own conditions in 50 CFR 32.20. Dove hunters near Anniston can try Hollins Wildlife Management Area, with 2 planted fields.
Land details for Anniston
- Mountain Longleaf NWR: 9,070 acres; game: deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, quail
- Choccolocco WMA: Cleburne County near Heflin; 56,838 acres; hunted for deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, rabbit; no dog deer hunting (area permit)
- Talladega National Forest: 394,869 acres; game: deer, turkey
- Fort McClellan Training Center – Clarke Range Complex: hunted for deer
- Big Oak PDHA: 1,839 acres; seasons for deer
Lands from ADCNR WMA, SOA, PDHA and Forever Wild pages and layers, the 2026-27 area permits, USFS, USFWS, NPS, Corps and installation records (lands.json; each land page cites its own source). Boundary miles from places.json, other miles to each mapped point. WMA rules from the ADCNR Where to Hunt page. Checked November 1, 2026.
Draw hunts and disabled-hunter areas near Anniston
Quota hunting near Anniston: 0 SOAs and 2 PDHAs inside 45 miles. PDHA days are booked by reservation after the application is approved.
| Area | Miles | Kind | Gun dates or game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Oak PDHA | 16 mi | Disabled hunters | Deer, by reservation |
| R. L. Harris PDHA | 30 mi | Disabled hunters | Deer, by reservation |
From the ADCNR Special Opportunity Areas page and the 2026-27 PDHA map packet (lands.json); deadlines from regs.json. Checked November 1, 2026.
Anniston county rules: deer, turkey, doves
Before hunting out of Anniston, find the county you will stand in; its row sets the zone dates.
| County | Deer | Turkey | Dove | Dog hunting | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County local | A / E | 1 | North | Not listed | – |
| Cleburne County | E / A | 1 | North | Stalk only | – |
| Clay County | A | 3 | North | Not listed | Fall turkey |
| Bibb County | A | 1 | North | Stalk only | – |
| Talladega County | A | 3 | North | Permit only | Fall turkey |
Calhoun County is split: the regulation text puts part of it in Zone E, and the zone map shades the remainder as Zone A. (Zone A, Zone E; zone map.) Gun deer season on private ground in Zone A starts November 21, 2026 and ends February 10, 2027. The buck limit is three for the season, never more than one a day, with one required to show four points on one antler. Turkey Zone 1 covers Calhoun County, with spring season March 20 to May 3, 2027. Dove shooting in Calhoun County runs on North Zone segments, the first on September 5, 2026. Bait needs the Bait Privilege License and stays off WMAs, SOAs and federal ground.
Zones from the ADCNR deer zone map and descriptions, turkey zones, dove zones, the dog deer restrictions and the CWD Management Zone; bag limits and baiting from the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest. Checked November 1, 2026.
Services around Anniston
Call, map and website buttons appear only where a source gave them; opening hours were not checked. Dennis Brock Taxidermy (Jacksonville) is the first taxidermy stop, 7.7 mi from Anniston. McClellan Sports & Outdoors (at town) is the handiest gun or outdoor shop. The 35-mile count of deer processors from Anniston is 4.
| Service | Close (15 mi) | Wider (35 mi) | Closest | Miles | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer processors | 2 | 4 | Thompson's Meat Processing Co | 5.8 mi NW | Alexandria |
| Taxidermy shops | 1 | 8 | Dennis Brock Taxidermy | 7.7 mi N | Jacksonville |
| Sporting goods | 8 | 24 | McClellan Sports & Outdoors | at town | Anniston |
Deer processors
Taxidermy shops
Sporting goods
Processors from the ADCNR Hunters Helping the Hungry list, the ADCNR CWD sampling page and its drop-off map, and Yellow Pages; taxidermists, shops and preserves from chain store locators and Yellow Pages (services.json). Checked November 1, 2026; hours were not checked.
Anniston season dates
For Calhoun County this table lists 60 seasons across deer, turkey, small game, migratory birds and predators for the 2026-27 year.
| Animal | Season type | Where | Start | Finish | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone A | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone A | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone A | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone A | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone A | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone A | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone A | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone A | Jan 4, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone E | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone E | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone E | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone E | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone E | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone E | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone E | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late archery, bucks only | Deer Zone E | Jan 16, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone E | Jan 16, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey Zone 1 | Mar 13, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | Turkey Zone 1 | Mar 19, 2027 | Mar 19, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Turkey Zone 1 | Mar 20, 2027 | May 3, 2027 | |
| Feral hogs | Feral swine | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Feral hogs | Night, with dogs | Statewide | May 8, 2027 | Aug 30, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbits | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrels | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Doves | Segment 1 | Dove North Zone | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 5, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 2 | Dove North Zone | Sep 6, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 3 | Dove North Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 4 | Dove North Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Teal | Special teal season | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Statewide | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 1 | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 2 | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 3 | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Geese | Geese, segment 4 | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Coots | Coot season | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Coots | Coot season | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mergansers | Merganser season | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Mergansers | Merganser season | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Foxes | Fox | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Opossum | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Beaver, nutria, groundhog | Beaver, nutria, groundhog | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Bullfrogs and pig frogs | Bullfrog and pig frog | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected birds | Unprotected birds | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | King, clapper, Virginia rail, sora, gallinule | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Wilson's snipe | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | King, clapper, Virginia rail, sora, gallinule | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 |
From the ADCNR seasons and bag limits, the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest and the 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guide (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), checked November 1, 2026.
Hunting events within reach of Anniston
The 30-mile circle around Anniston takes in 2 upcoming dates; the kinds are Learn to Hunt workshop and hunter education course.
Still ahead
| Date | Event | Distance | Location | Sign-up or details | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 29, 2026 | Traditional Hunter Education Course | 29 | Ashville: Ashville Police Department | Register | Source |
| Mar 13, 2027 | Let's Talk Turkey Hunting (ADCNR Learn to Hunt workshop) | 14 | Choccolocco WMA near Piedmont | Register | Source |
Anniston shooters: the three nearest ranges
The three closest ranges to Anniston, measured as the crow flies.
For a public bench, Anniston shooters have Etowah Public Shooting Range, about 29 miles away. More
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 1, 2026.
Anniston area harvest figures
The 2025 Game Check harvest class for Calhoun County is 297-444 birds. 17,049 birds went through Game Check statewide in 2025 (18,263 in 2024). County deer harvest numbers are not released by ADCNR.
| County | Turkeys reported |
|---|---|
| Calhoun County | 297-444 |
| Cleburne County | 209-296 |
| Clay County | 137-208 |
| Bibb County | 137-208 |
| Talladega County | 209-296 |
| Season | Tested | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 2,826 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 2,677 | 5 |
| 2025-26 | 2,367 | 9 |
| 2026-27 | 45 | 0 |
Turkey from the 2025 Alabama Wild Turkey Report (harvest classes read from the county map); deer from ADCNR deer hunting page; CWD tests statewide from ADCNR CWD sampling results. Checked November 1, 2026.
Anniston legal hours
Legal light for deer around Anniston runs 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; for ducks it starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:47 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–6:41 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:21 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 5:51 a.m.–5:08 p.m. | 5:51 a.m.–4:38 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:26 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 5:56 a.m.–5:06 p.m. | 5:56 a.m.–4:36 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:44 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:14 a.m.–5:08 p.m. | 6:14 a.m.–4:38 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:48 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:18 a.m.–5:26 p.m. | 6:18 a.m.–4:56 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:33 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:03 a.m.–5:52 p.m. | 6:03 a.m.–5:22 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:49 a.m. | 6:54 p.m. | 6:19 a.m.–7:24 p.m. | 6:19 a.m.–6:54 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.
Anniston conservation offices
Calhoun County belongs to WFF District II, run from the ADCNR WFF District 2 Office in Jacksonville ((256) 435-5422). No office visit is needed for a license: buy it online, in the app or from a license agent.
Jacksonville wildlife office, about 14 mi away
Offices from the ADCNR WFF district offices page (counties.json, services.json). Checked November 1, 2026.
Anniston hunting questions
Which ADCNR district office handles Anniston?
The ADCNR WFF District 2 Office, 4101 Hwy. 21 North, Jacksonville, (256) 435-5422.
How far must I haul a deer from Anniston to a processor?
Roughly 5.8 mi, the distance to Thompson's Meat Processing Co in Alexandria.
Which WMA, draw area or federal tract sits closest to Anniston?
Among the listed lands, the nearest is Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge, whose nearest boundary is 1.3 miles away. Runner-up: Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area, whose nearest boundary is 1.4 miles away.
What other bases sit close to Anniston?
Weaver comes first, with Choccolocco, White Plains and Jacksonville after it.
Does a deer zone line cross Calhoun County?
Yes, Calhoun County shows Zone A and Zone E.
Does Anniston work as a base for hunting Alabama public land?
It has 4 listed areas and about 32,777 public acres inside 10 miles.
Can Anniston hunters chase turkeys in the fall?
No; fall turkey runs only in six Zone 3 counties.
On what date does private-land rifle season for deer end near Anniston?
February 10, 2027 in Zone A.
May a Anniston hunter shoot deer over corn or other bait?
Only on private or leased land with a Bait Privilege License.
Do deer hounds near Anniston need a Department permit?
Not for Calhoun County; check WMA and national forest rules.
Do license-exempt Alabama hunters still use Game Check?
Yes, licensed or exempt, every deer and turkey is reported.
Is orange needed in a stand 12 feet up near Anniston?
Yes, in a stand 12 feet or higher, or an enclosed box stand.
In what year did Alabama lift the Sunday hunting ban?
April 21, 2015.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, counties.json, services.json and the 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest; Game Check from the ADCNR Regulation Book, hunter orange from ADCNR, baiting from Code of Alabama, Sunday hunting from Code of Alabama 13A-12-1. Checked November 1, 2026.
Anniston final checks
Leaving Anniston before dawn? Look up legal light for the date and the zone dates for the land you chose.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain); Toby Gray (CC0 1.0); Steven Polunsky (CC BY 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).