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Town page, Colbert County
Public land and deer zones near Cherokee, Alabama
Hunting out of Cherokee, Alabama: nearby public land with acreage and access rules, Colbert County zones, the season calendar and local services.
Photo: Shot on Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area, 1.6 mi from Cherokee; a nearby stand-in for Cherokee. Nick Shields (CC BY 2.0)
Colbert County counts Cherokee among its communities, with county offices in Tuscumbia. Hunters bound for Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area can stay in Cherokee; the boundary is 1.6 miles away. Cherokee was chosen as the base town for Riverton Community Hunting Area, whose closest edge is 5.1 miles away. The Census Bureau puts Cherokee at 967 residents in its Vintage 2024 estimates, on 2.2 square miles of land. About 46,960 acres of public ground sit within a 10-mile radius of Cherokee. Colbert County carries roughly 49,385 public acres in all (42,840 acres of ADCNR WMA land, 33,994 acres of Forever Wild tracts and 6,083 acres of TVA land). Measured from the town point, the first area is Cherokee Physically Disabled Hunting Area, 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.
Cherokee hunting zones by county
Alabama draws deer zones along roads and rivers, so public land near Cherokee can sit in a different zone or county from the town; every county with nearby land gets a row.
| County | Deer zones | Turkey | Dove zone | Dogs | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colbert County home county | CMZ | 2 | North | Permit only | CWD high risk |
| Lauderdale County | CMZ | 2 | North | Stalk only | CWD high risk |
Deer dates in Colbert County follow the CWD Management Zone. (CWD Management Zone; ADCNR map.) The CWD Management Zone archery opener is October 15, 2026; the private-land gun opener follows on November 21, 2026. Three antlered deer a season is the cap, one daily, and one must have four-plus points on a single antler. Colbert County is one of three CMZ counties with mandatory sampling weekends; deer from WMAs, SOAs and refuges in the zone are sampled any day. Mandatory sampling dates: HRZ: November 21-22, 2026 (gun opener), January 16-17, 2027, February 6-7, 2027. BZ: February 6-7, 2027. Alternates December 26-27, 2026 (HRZ) and January 23-24, 2027 (HRZ and BZ). (zone details) Colbert County is a permit-only county for hunting deer with dogs (Colbert (west of US 43)). Colbert County turkey season uses Zone 2 and closes May 3, 2027. Colbert County dove hunters go by the North Zone calendar.
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.
Public ground from Cherokee
Map pins and table rows cover 8 areas; bold pins mark land that reaches within 10 miles of Cherokee.
| Public land | Miles | Kind | Run by | How to hunt it | Acres | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee PDHA | 1.3 mi S | Disabled hunters | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 242 | Quota hunts |
| Freedom Hills WMA town anchor | 1.6 mi S | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 33,539 | 1 dove field |
| Riverton CHA town anchor | 5.1 mi NW | Community area | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 5,285 | No dog deer |
| Seven-Mile Island WMA | 6.6 mi E | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 4,685 | Acreage differs by source |
| Key Cave NWR | 9.6 mi E | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge rules | 1,079 | – |
| Lauderdale WMA town anchor | 17 mi NW | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 20,344 | No dog deer |
| Shoal Creek Nature Preserve Tract (Forever Wild) | 23 mi NE | Forever Wild tract | Forever Wild | License, free map | 303 | Archery deer only |
| Blowing Springs Cave Tract (Forever Wild) | 38 mi E | Forever Wild tract | Forever Wild | License, free map | 60 | – |
Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area is the largest area touching the ring, at 33,539 acres. Sorted by program, the land near Cherokee is 3 WMAs and community hunting areas, 1 draw or disabled-hunter area and 1 federal area. A WMA license and the free area permit open Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area; most WMA gates stay closed from May 1 to September 15. Phone (256) 353-2634 reaches Jud Easterwood, the biologist. Cherokee Physically Disabled Hunting Area belongs to the Physically Disabled Hunting Trail. Shoal Creek Nature Preserve Tract (Forever Wild), a Forever Wild tract, follows county seasons rather than a WMA permit. At Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge, hunting is limited to designated units and the refuge rules in federal regulation. Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area is on the WMA dove field list with 1 field.
Nearest areas near Cherokee in brief
- Cherokee PDHA: 242 acres; species: deer
- Freedom Hills WMA: Colbert County near Cherokee; 33,539 acres; open for turkey, waterfowl, deer, dove, rabbit; dogs not allowed for deer (area permit map)
- Riverton CHA: Colbert County near Cherokee; 5,285 acres; species: turkey, waterfowl, deer, dove, rabbit; deer dogs barred (ADCNR map)
- Seven-Mile Island WMA: Lauderdale County near Florence; 4,685 acres; open for quail, deer, turkey, waterfowl, feral swine; no deer dogs (area permit)
- Key Cave NWR: 1,079 acres; game: deer, dove, squirrel, rabbit, quail
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.
Cherokee hunting businesses
The businesses Cherokee hunters lean on each season, sorted by trade and then by distance. To give venison away, Florence Frozen Meat (17 mi) is on the Hunters Helping the Hungry list. Closest CWD partner on the ADCNR list: Florence Frozen Meat (17 mi). Shoulder mounts and fan mounts start with Central Taxidermy, 12 mi out. The closest shop for ammunition and gear is Bowstring Custom Shop, 11 mi from Cherokee. For quail or a guided hunt, T S Huntin Stuff (Muscle Shoals) is the closest preserve or guide listed.
| Kind | Listings 15 mi | Listings 35 mi | Nearest business | Away | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venison processing | 0 | 6 | Florence Frozen Meat | 17 mi E | Florence |
| Taxidermy studios | 1 | 5 | Central Taxidermy | 12 mi NE | Florence |
| Gear shops | 1 | 10 | Bowstring Custom Shop | 11 mi S | tuscumbia |
| Preserves and guide services | 0 | 1 | T S Huntin Stuff | 19 mi E | Muscle Shoals |
Venison processing
Taxidermy studios
Gear shops
Preserves and guide services
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.
Cherokee quota hunts within 45 miles
1 draw or disabled-hunter area lie within 45 miles of Cherokee. Each disabled hunting area runs two or three days a week from shooting houses on openings.
| Area | Distance | Type | Hunts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee PDHA | 1.3 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.
Cherokee open seasons, 2026-27
Alabama sets deer dates by zone, and Colbert County falls in the CWD Management Zone; the 46 rows below come from the ADCNR season pages and the Digest.
| Game | Method | Covers | Opening day | Closing day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | CWD zone | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | CWD zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | CWD zone | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | CWD zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | CWD zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | CWD zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | CWD zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | CWD zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | CWD zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey Zone 2 | Mar 20, 2027 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring, hunters with disabilities | Turkey Zone 2 | Mar 26, 2027 | Mar 26, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Turkey Zone 2 | Mar 27, 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.
Harvest data for Cherokee hunters
Turkey reports from Colbert County in 2025 came to the 209-296 range. Reported turkeys statewide: 18,263 in 2024, 17,049 in 2025. ADCNR publishes no deer harvest by county or by year, so none is shown here. Colbert County has had CWD since 2024-12.
| County | Harvest class |
|---|---|
| Colbert County | 209-296 |
| Lauderdale County | 209-296 |
| Year | Deer sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Cherokee area hunts, classes and dinners
A 30-mile crow-flight radius gives 1 upcoming date as of November 1, 2026.
Upcoming dates
| Held | Event | How far | Where held | Action | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 | Colbert-Lawrence Ducks Unlimited Dinner · DU chapter dinner | 15 | Sheffield: Clarion Inn Sheffield Muscle Shoals | Buy tickets | Source |
Cherokee: gun clubs and ADCNR lines nearby
Freedom Hills WMA Range heads the Cherokee list (8 miles), with two more after it.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 1, 2026.
Legal light, Cherokee
Deer, turkey and other resident game may be hunted from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset; ducks, geese and doves stop at sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:56 a.m. | 6:18 p.m. | 6:26 a.m.–6:48 p.m. | 6:26 a.m.–6:18 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:31 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:01 a.m.–5:14 p.m. | 6:01 a.m.–4:44 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:36 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:06 a.m.–5:12 p.m. | 6:06 a.m.–4:42 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:54 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:24 a.m.–5:14 p.m. | 6:24 a.m.–4:44 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:58 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:28 a.m.–5:32 p.m. | 6:28 a.m.–5:02 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:43 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–5:58 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–5:28 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:57 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:27 a.m.–7:32 p.m. | 6:27 a.m.–7:02 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.
Cherokee conservation offices
Wildlife questions for Colbert County go to the WFF District I office, 21453 Harris Station Rd., Tanner. WFF district offices keep weekday hours, so call before driving over.
ADCNR in Tanner (57 mi out)
Offices from the ADCNR WFF district offices page (counties.json, services.json). Checked November 1, 2026.
Cherokee hunters ask
Where else could I stay if Cherokee is booked up?
Try Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Florence and Belgreen, each a short drive away.
Starting in Cherokee, what is the nearest place I can legally hunt on public land?
Start with Cherokee Physically Disabled Hunting Area, whose nearest boundary is 1.3 miles away. After it comes Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area, whose nearest boundary is 1.6 miles away.
Add up the public land within 10 miles of Cherokee: what is the total?
Some 46,960 acres in 5 areas.
Which of Alabama’s deer zones takes in Cherokee?
Colbert County is in CWD Management Zone.
Opening morning near Cherokee: when does legal light start and stop?
6:01 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on November 21, 2026, worked out for Cherokee.
What was the 2025 turkey harvest class in Colbert County?
Its 2025 Game Check class was 209-296 birds.
Is Colbert County on the stalk-only list for deer?
No, it is permit-only for dogs.
Is hunting deer over bait allowed in Colbert County?
No, not in the CMZ.
Do Cherokee deer hunters have to wear orange or pink?
Yes, during gun deer dates: 144 square inches of orange or pink above the waist, or a full-size orange or pink cap.
What are the reporting steps for a deer taken near Cherokee?
Record it on your harvest record before moving it, then report through Game Check within 48 hours.
Is Sunday a legal hunting day around Cherokee?
Yes. Alabama has no Sunday restriction; some areas set their own days.
Which weekends carry mandatory CWD sampling this season?
HRZ: November 21-22, 2026 (gun opener), January 16-17, 2027, February 6-7, 2027. BZ: February 6-7, 2027.
Who skins and cuts deer for hunters based in Cherokee?
Florence Frozen Meat in Florence tops our processor list for Cherokee, 17 mi away.
Who answers WMA questions for hunters in Cherokee?
Call the WFF District I office at (256) 353-2634.
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.
Cherokee pre-trip checks
For hunts out of Cherokee, the area permit on each land page and the Digest settle any doubt.
Other photos on this page: Maria Brindle (CC BY-SA 4.0); 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); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).