Home › Alabama › Towns › Heflin
Cleburne County hunting base
Hunting from Heflin, AL: land, zones and dates
Heflin as a hunting base: lands by distance, the way in to each one, the ADCNR zones for Cleburne County, season dates and businesses that take a deer.
Photo: Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area, 2.0 mi from Heflin (nearby stand-in for the town). Toby Gray (CC0 1.0)
As the Cleburne County seat, Heflin gives a hunter a base for the northeast ridges, Lake Guntersville, the Talladega National Forest and the Coosa valley. The latest Census figure for Heflin, from 2024, is 3,557 people. A 10-mile circle around Heflin catches some 49,144 public acres and 4 listed areas. Across Cleburne County as a whole, GIS measures find about 100,340 public acres, including 41,202 acres of ADCNR WMA land, 525 acres of Forever Wild tracts and 99,772 acres of national forest. First on the map from Heflin is Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area, whose nearest boundary is 2.0 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.
Public land near Heflin
Land whose boundary comes within 10 miles of Heflin heads the table, nearest edge first; areas farther out follow by miles to their mapped point.
| Area | Reach | Category | Agency | Entry rule | Acres | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choccolocco WMA | 2.0 mi N | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 56,838 | No dog deer |
| Talladega National Forest | 2.0 mi SW | National forest | USFS | Public-land seasons | 394,869 | – |
| Big Oak PDHA | 5.5 mi N | Disabled hunters | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 1,839 | Quota hunts |
| Mountain Longleaf NWR | 9.2 mi W | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge rules | 9,070 | – |
| Fort McClellan Training Center – Clarke Range Complex | 22 mi W | Military post | Army Guard | One-day hunt | – | One day only |
| R. L. Harris PDHA | 27 mi S | Disabled hunters | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 248 | Quota hunts |
| Indian Mountain Complex (Forever Wild) | 28 mi N | Forever Wild tract | Forever Wild | License, free map | 1,127 | Archery deer only |
Largest of the nearby areas: Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area, about 56,838 acres. Counted by type: 1 WMA or community hunting area, 1 draw or disabled-hunter area and 2 federal areas. Seasons on Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area come from its own area permit rather than the county dates. Questions go to Brandon Howell, (256) 846-3004. Big Oak Physically Disabled Hunting Area is reserved for physically disabled hunters, who apply and then book days. Forever Wild opened Indian Mountain Complex (Forever Wild) to hunting under the county rules. National forest ground near Heflin is hunted under Alabama law and the public-land gun dates. Read the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge conditions and unit map before going.
Closest lands to Heflin, briefly
- Choccolocco WMA: Cleburne County near Heflin; 56,838 acres; seasons for deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, rabbit; deer dogs barred (area permit)
- Talladega National Forest: 394,869 acres; species: deer, turkey
- Big Oak PDHA: 1,839 acres; seasons for deer
- Mountain Longleaf NWR: 9,070 acres; species: deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, quail
- Fort McClellan Training Center – Clarke Range Complex: listed game: 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.
Heflin taxidermy and gear
Processors come from the ADCNR Hunters Helping the Hungry list, CWD sampling partners and directory entries that name deer or game. East Alabama Deer Processing, 35 mi from town, hosts a CWD sample drop-off. Mounts from a Heflin hunt can go to Brought To Life Taxidermy in Heflin, 6.1 mi away. Shells and an orange vest can be had at Tallapoosa River Outfitters in Heflin, 6.0 mi off. Among preserves and guides, Southern Empire Whitetails (Wadley) sits nearest Heflin.
| Type | Inside 15 | Inside 35 | Nearest one | Distance | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing shops | 0 | 2 | Thompson's Meat Processing Co | 18 mi W | Alexandria |
| Mount makers | 2 | 6 | Brought To Life Taxidermy | 6.1 mi S | Heflin |
| Outdoor stores | 4 | 12 | Tallapoosa River Outfitters | 6.0 mi SE | Heflin |
| Preserves | 0 | 1 | Southern Empire Whitetails | 31 mi S | Wadley |
Processing shops
Mount makers
Outdoor stores
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.
Zones and rules for the counties around Heflin
Deer zone A and B shares come from map shading; Zones C, D, E and the CMZ come from county names in the regulations.
| County | Zone (deer) | Zone (turkey) | Zone (dove) | Dog rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleburne County town | 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 |
| Perry County | A / B | 1 | North | Stalk only | – |
Deer rules in Cleburne County depend on which side of a road-defined line you stand: part of the county is Zone E, the rest Zone A. (Zone E, Zone A; ADCNR deer zone map.) Zone E dates: bows from October 1, 2026, rifles on private land from November 7, 2026, and open-permit public land closes January 27, 2027. Bucks: three per season and one per day, one of them with at least four points on a side. Dogs may not be used for deer in Cleburne County. Gobbler hunters in Cleburne County go by Zone 1 dates (March 20 to May 3). The North Zone sets dove dates for Cleburne County. Hunting deer or feral hogs over bait is legal here only on private or leased land with the Bait Privilege License, and never on public land.
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.
Heflin 2026-27 hunting dates by species
WMAs, Special Opportunity Areas and national forest lands set their own dates on area permits; this table is for private land and open-permit public land in Cleburne County.
| Quarry | Segment | Zone or area | Begins | Ends | Open 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.
Turkey harvest and CWD tests near Heflin
Cleburne County hunters reported between 209 and 296 turkeys through Game Check in 2025. Across Alabama, 17,049 gobblers were reported in 2025. ADCNR does not post county deer harvest totals, so the page has none.
| Where | 2025 harvest band |
|---|---|
| Cleburne County | 209-296 |
| Clay County | 137-208 |
| Bibb County | 137-208 |
| Talladega County | 209-296 |
| Perry County | 137-208 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Special access areas near Heflin
The list holds every SOA and PDHA within 45 miles of Heflin, nearest first. A non-hunting partner may help a disabled hunter at a PDHA shooting house.
| Area | From town | Program | Hunt days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Oak PDHA | 5.5 mi | Disabled hunters | Deer, by reservation |
| R. L. Harris PDHA | 27 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.
Nearest ADCNR help, Heflin
The Cleburne County district office is at 4101 Hwy. 21 North in Jacksonville. Licenses sell online, in the Outdoor Alabama app, at probate offices and at license agents; WFF offices answer WMA and draw questions.
WFF District II office, Jacksonville, 18 mi northwest of Heflin
Offices from the ADCNR WFF district offices page (counties.json, services.json). Checked November 1, 2026.
Heflin and nearby, event dates
Kinds inside the 30-mile ring: Learn to Hunt workshop. Total: 1 upcoming date.
Scheduled
| Date | Event | Miles | Location | Sign-up or details | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2027 | Let's Talk Turkey Hunting (ADCNR Learn to Hunt workshop) | 7 | Choccolocco WMA near Piedmont | Register | Source |
Heflin shooters: the three nearest ranges
The three closest ranges to Heflin, measured as the crow flies.
Etowah Public Shooting Range, about 37 miles away, is the ADCNR range closest to Heflin. Open
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 1, 2026.
Shooting light at Heflin
Mobile and Huntsville see sunrise many minutes apart in winter, so use the times worked out for Heflin.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:46 a.m. | 6:10 p.m. | 6:16 a.m.–6:40 p.m. | 6:16 a.m.–6:10 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:19 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 5:49 a.m.–5:07 p.m. | 5:49 a.m.–4:37 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:25 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 5:55 a.m.–5:05 p.m. | 5:55 a.m.–4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:42 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:12 a.m.–5:07 p.m. | 6:12 a.m.–4:37 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:46 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:16 a.m.–5:25 p.m. | 6:16 a.m.–4:55 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:32 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 6:02 a.m.–5:50 p.m. | 6:02 a.m.–5:20 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:47 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–7:23 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–6:53 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.
Heflin, answered
What is the nearest deer processing shop to Heflin?
Thompson's Meat Processing Co, based in Alexandria, at 18 mi.
Whom should Heflin hunters ask about WMA dove fields?
Staff at the WFF District II office, Jacksonville, can help.
Which nearby towns also have hunting pages here?
The four closest are Choccolocco, Hollis Crossroads, White Plains and Anniston.
How short is the trip from Heflin to public hunting land?
The shortest straight line runs to Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area, whose nearest boundary is 2.0 miles away. The next area out is Talladega National Forest, whose nearest boundary is 2.0 miles away.
Does Heflin work as a base for hunting Alabama public land?
It has 4 listed areas and about 49,144 public acres inside 10 miles.
Does a deer zone line cross Cleburne County?
Yes, Cleburne County shows Zone E and Zone A.
From start to finish, how long is gun deer season in Cleburne County?
November 7 to January 27, 2027 on private or leased land in Zone E.
What day does gobbler season begin around Heflin?
March 20, 2027 on private and open-permit land.
How does ADCNR treat dog deer hunting in Cleburne County?
Stalk only, no dogs.
Can landowners in Cleburne County put out supplemental feed?
Outside the CMZ it is not banned, but hunting over it needs the Bait Privilege License.
Is blaze pink legal in place of orange in Alabama?
Yes, solid fluorescent pink is legal; camo pink is not.
Does a Heflin hunter need a paper or app harvest record?
Yes, paper or in the Outdoor AL app, and only one at a time.
May I hunt a WMA near Heflin on a Sunday?
Only if its area permit lists Sunday as a hunt day.
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.
Leaving Heflin to hunt
Orange or pink in gun season, a harvest record filled in before you move the deer, and Game Check within 48 hours keep an Alabama hunt legal.
Other photos on this page: Toby Gray (CC0 1.0); Steven Polunsky (CC BY 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).