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Town page, Morgan County
Hunting from Decatur, AL: land, zones and dates
Miles from Decatur to wildlife management areas and federal land, the deer zone caveat for Morgan County, turkey harvest class and the nearest ADCNR office.
Photo: Nearby stand-in: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, 1.5 mi from Decatur. Shawn Taylor (CC BY 2.0)
A city of more than 50,000 and the seat of Morgan County, Decatur falls within ADCNR WFF District I. Among the towns around Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area, Decatur came out nearest, with the edge 3.3 miles away. Decatur logged 57,974 residents in the 2024 population estimates. With overlaps counted once, public land inside 10 miles of Decatur totals about 17,933 acres (3 listed areas). County-wide, Morgan County holds some 9,748 acres of public land: 1,254 acres of ADCNR WMA land, 2,862 acres of refuge land and 6,088 acres of TVA land. Closest of every listed area is Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, whose nearest boundary is 1.5 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.
Decatur hunting land, nearest first
Miles run from the Decatur 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler NWR | 1.5 mi E | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge rules | 34,427 | – |
| Swan Creek WMA listed for | 3.3 mi N | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 8,870 | 1 dove field |
| Mallard-Fox Creek WMA | 7.4 mi NW | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 1,742 | Acreage differs by source |
| Blowing Springs Cave Tract (Forever Wild) | 27 mi NW | Forever Wild tract | Forever Wild | License, free map | 60 | – |
| Black Warrior WMA | 28 mi SW | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 91,263 | No dog deer |
| Bankhead Ranger District | 31 mi SW | Ranger district | USFS | Public-land seasons | 182,014 | – |
Acreage leader inside 10 miles of Decatur: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, 34,427 acres. That circle mixes 2 WMAs and community hunting areas and 1 federal area. Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area (3.3 mi) is a WMA: license, WMA license, area permit and a daily check-in. Drew Able is listed as biologist ((256) 278-0681). Grab the free map before hunting Blowing Springs Cave Tract (Forever Wild); county dates apply there. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge opens only designated areas, under Alabama seasons plus its own conditions in 50 CFR 32.20. Dove hunters near Decatur can try Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area, with 1 planted field.
Land details for Decatur
- Wheeler NWR: 34,427 acres; game: deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail
- Swan Creek WMA: Limestone County near Decatur; 8,870 acres; hunted for turkey, waterfowl, deer, dove, rabbit (area permit)
- Mallard-Fox Creek WMA: Lawrence and Morgan Counties near Decatur; 1,742 acres; game: turkey, waterfowl, deer, dove, rabbit (permit PDF)
- Blowing Springs Cave Tract (Forever Wild): 60 acres
- Black Warrior WMA: Lawrence and Winston counties near Moulton; 91,263 acres; seasons for turkey, waterfowl, deer, dove, rabbit; no dog deer hunting (ADCNR map)
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.
Decatur county rules: deer, turkey, doves
Before hunting out of Decatur, find the county you will stand in; its row sets the zone dates.
| County | Deer | Turkey | Dove | Dog hunting | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan County local | C / D | 2 | North | Stalk only | – |
| Limestone County | A | 2 | North | Stalk only | – |
| Madison County | A | 2 | North | Stalk only | – |
| Lawrence County | D / C | 2 | North | Stalk only | – |
| Lauderdale County | CMZ | 2 | North | Stalk only | CWD high risk |
ADCNR names Morgan County in the Zone C and Zone D text. (Zone C, Zone D; zone map.) Gun deer season on private ground in Zone C 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. Deer hunting in Morgan County is stalk hunting only. Turkey Zone 2 covers Morgan County, with spring season March 27 to May 3, 2027. Dove shooting in Morgan County runs on North Zone segments, the first on September 5, 2026. Morgan County gave up 197 sandhill cranes in the 2024-25 season. 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; crane harvest from the ADCNR 2024-25 crane report. Checked November 1, 2026.
Services around Decatur
Call, map and website buttons appear only where a source gave them; opening hours were not checked. Deer heads for testing can go to The Meat House, an ADCNR sampling partner. Winters Taxidermy (Trinity) is the first taxidermy stop, 5.5 mi from Decatur. Wiley Outdoor Sports (0.8 mi) is the handiest gun or outdoor shop. Among preserves and guides, Easter Ferry Hunting Preserve (Elkmont) sits nearest Decatur.
| Service | Close (15 mi) | Wider (35 mi) | Closest | Miles | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer processors | 1 | 5 | Heaps Meat Processing | 10 mi W | Trinity |
| Taxidermy shops | 2 | 5 | Winters Taxidermy | 5.5 mi W | Trinity |
| Sporting goods | 9 | 41 | Wiley Outdoor Sports | 0.8 mi NE | Decatur |
| Outfitters and preserves | 0 | 2 | Easter Ferry Hunting Preserve | 25 mi N | Elkmont |
Deer processors
Taxidermy shops
Sporting goods
Outfitters and preserves
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.
Decatur season dates
For Morgan County this table lists 72 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 C | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone C | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone C | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone C | Jan 2, 2027 | Feb 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer Zone D | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Deer Zone D | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader and air rifle | Deer Zone D | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, public land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, dogs, private land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, public land | Deer Zone D | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun, stalk, private land | Deer Zone D | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 27, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late archery, bucks only | Deer Zone D | Jan 16, 2027 | Jan 27, 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.
Decatur shooters: the three nearest ranges
The three closest ranges to Decatur, measured as the crow flies.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 1, 2026.
Decatur area harvest figures
The 2025 Game Check harvest class for Morgan County is 76-136 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 |
|---|---|
| Morgan County | 76-136 |
| Limestone County | 76-136 |
| Madison County | 209-296 |
| Lawrence County | 76-136 |
| Lauderdale 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.
Decatur legal hours
Legal light for deer around Decatur 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 | 6:52 a.m. | 6:14 p.m. | 6:22 a.m.–6:44 p.m. | 6:22 a.m.–6:14 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:26 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 5:56 a.m.–5:11 p.m. | 5:56 a.m.–4:41 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:32 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 6:02 a.m.–5:09 p.m. | 6:02 a.m.–4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:50 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:20 a.m.–5:11 p.m. | 6:20 a.m.–4:41 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:54 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:24 a.m.–5:29 p.m. | 6:24 a.m.–4:59 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:39 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 6:09 a.m.–5:55 p.m. | 6:09 a.m.–5:25 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:23 a.m.–7:28 p.m. | 6:23 a.m.–6:58 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.
Decatur conservation offices
Morgan County belongs to WFF District I, run from the ADCNR WFF District 1 Office in Tanner ((256) 353-2634). No office visit is needed for a license: buy it online, in the app or from a license agent.
Tanner wildlife office, about 6.1 mi away
Offices from the ADCNR WFF district offices page (counties.json, services.json). Checked November 1, 2026.
Decatur hunting questions
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 Decatur?
Yes, in a stand 12 feet or higher, or an enclosed box stand.
How far must I haul a deer from Decatur to a processor?
Roughly 10 mi, the distance to Heaps Meat Processing in Trinity.
In what year did Alabama lift the Sunday hunting ban?
April 21, 2015.
What other bases sit close to Decatur?
Priceville comes first, with Hillsboro, Triana and Athens after it.
Which ADCNR district office handles Decatur?
The ADCNR WFF District 1 Office, 21453 Harris Station Rd., Tanner, (256) 353-2634.
Does Decatur work as a base for hunting Alabama public land?
It has 3 listed areas and about 17,933 public acres inside 10 miles.
Which WMA, draw area or federal tract sits closest to Decatur?
Among the listed lands, the nearest is Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, whose nearest boundary is 1.5 miles away. Runner-up: Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area, whose nearest boundary is 3.3 miles away.
On what date does private-land rifle season for deer end near Decatur?
February 10, 2027 in Zone C.
Does a deer zone line cross Morgan County?
Yes, Morgan County shows Zone C and Zone D.
Do deer hounds near Decatur need a Department permit?
Dogs are not allowed for deer there.
Can Decatur hunters chase turkeys in the fall?
No; fall turkey runs only in six Zone 3 counties.
May a Decatur hunter shoot deer over corn or other bait?
Only on private or leased land with a Bait Privilege License.
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.
Decatur final checks
Leaving Decatur before dawn? Look up legal light for the date and the zone dates for the land you chose.
Other photos on this page: Shawn Taylor (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); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).