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Jackson County hunting base
Hunting from Stevenson, AL: land, zones and dates
Stevenson as a hunting base: lands by distance, the way in to each one, the ADCNR zones for Jackson County, season dates and businesses that take a deer.
Photo: James D. Martin-Skyline Wildlife Management Area, 4.5 mi from Stevenson (nearby stand-in for the town). Shannon McGee (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Inside Jackson County, Stevenson makes a small base for the northeast ridges, Lake Guntersville, the Talladega National Forest and the Coosa valley. Crow Creek Refuge (Jackson County WMA) put Stevenson on the list; its boundary is less than a mile away. Stevenson is the jumping-off town for Crow Creek (Jackson County WMA), its line 1.9 miles away. The latest Census figure for Stevenson, from 2024, is 1,975 people. A 10-mile circle around Stevenson catches some 34,088 public acres and 4 listed areas. Across Jackson County as a whole, GIS measures find about 106,975 public acres, including 89,253 acres of ADCNR WMA land, 29,483 acres of Forever Wild tracts, 460 acres of Special Opportunity Area land, 479 acres of refuge land and 32,275 acres of TVA land. First on the map from Stevenson is Jackson County Waterfowl Areas and Refuges (Jackson County WMA), whose nearest boundary is less than a mile 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Stevenson
Public land near Stevenson
Land whose boundary comes within 10 miles of Stevenson heads the table, nearest edge first; areas farther out follow by miles to their mapped point.
| Area | Reach | Category | Agency | Entry rule | Acres | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County Waterfowl Areas and Refuges (Jackson Co. WMA) | 0.7 mi SW | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 26,934 | No dog deer |
| James D. Martin-Skyline WMA | 4.5 mi W | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 60,732 | 1 dove field |
| Crow Creek SOA | 5.2 mi NW | SOA, draw | ADCNR WFF | Random draw | 448 | Quota hunts |
| Mud Creek (Wannville) Dewatering Unit Physically Disabled Waterfowl Hunting Blind | 5.4 mi SW | Disabled blind | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 0 | Single blind |
| Forever Wild Land Trust – Alabama Power Company PDHA | 14 mi W | Disabled hunters | ADCNR WFF | Disabled, reservation | 1,219 | Quota hunts |
| Sauta Cave NWR | 26 mi SW | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge rules | 270 | – |
| Little River WMA | 34 mi S | WMA | ADCNR WFF | WMA license, area permit | 13,100 | No dog deer |
| Little River Canyon NPres | 34 mi S | National preserve | NPS | Little River WMA rules | 15,641 | – |
Largest of the nearby areas: James D. Martin-Skyline Wildlife Management Area, about 60,732 acres. Counted by type: 2 WMAs and community hunting areas and 2 draw and disabled-hunter areas. Seasons on Jackson County Waterfowl Areas and Refuges (Jackson County WMA) come from its own area permit rather than the county dates. Questions go to Austin LeCroy, (256) 437-2788. Walk-in hunting is not allowed at Crow Creek Special Opportunity Area; hunt dates go out by drawing. Mud Creek (Wannville) Dewatering Unit Physically Disabled Waterfowl Hunting Blind is reserved for physically disabled hunters, who apply and then book days. ADCNR lists 1 dove field on James D. Martin-Skyline Wildlife Management Area.
Closest lands to Stevenson, briefly
- Jackson County Waterfowl Areas and Refuges (Jackson Co. WMA): Jackson County near Stevenson and Scottsboro; 26,934 acres; seasons for turkey, waterfowl, deer, dove, rabbit; deer dogs barred (area permit)
- James D. Martin-Skyline WMA: Jackson County near Scottsboro; 60,732 acres; species: turkey, waterfowl, deer, dove, squirrel; deer dogs barred (permit and map)
- Crow Creek SOA: 448 acres; seasons for deer, waterfowl, feral swine
- Mud Creek (Wannville) Dewatering Unit Physically Disabled Waterfowl Hunting Blind: 0 acres; species: waterfowl
- Forever Wild Land Trust – Alabama Power Company PDHA: 1,219 acres; 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.
Stevenson taxidermy and gear
Processors come from the ADCNR Hunters Helping the Hungry list, CWD sampling partners and directory entries that name deer or game. Nearest food-bank processor: Live 2 Hunt Tax & Deer Processing, 37 mi. Jenkins Deer Processing, 33 mi from town, hosts a CWD sample drop-off. Mounts from a Stevenson hunt can go to Artistic Compositions in Bridgeport, 7.2 mi away. Shells and an orange vest can be had at Stevenson Gun And Supply in Stevenson, 0.5 mi off. Among preserves and guides, Paint Rock Valley Lodge & Retreat (Estillfork) sits nearest Stevenson.
| Type | Inside 15 | Inside 35 | Nearest one | Distance | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing shops | 0 | 1 | Jenkins Deer Processing | 33 mi W | Gurley |
| Mount makers | 2 | 3 | Artistic Compositions | 7.2 mi NE | Bridgeport |
| Outdoor stores | 2 | 6 | Stevenson Gun And Supply | 0.5 mi S | Stevenson |
| Preserves | 0 | 1 | Paint Rock Valley Lodge & Retreat | 20 mi W | Estillfork |
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 Stevenson
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County town | A | 1 | North | Stalk only | – |
| Cherokee County | A / E | 1 | North | Stalk only | – |
| DeKalb County | A | 1 | North | Stalk only | – |
By the shading on the ADCNR zone map, Jackson County reads as Zone A; that line follows roads, so hunters near it should check the map. (Zone A; ADCNR deer zone map.) Zone A dates: bows from October 15, 2026, rifles on private land from November 21, 2026, and open-permit public land closes February 10, 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 Jackson County. Gobbler hunters in Jackson County go by Zone 1 dates (March 20 to May 3). The North Zone sets dove dates for Jackson County. Sandhill crane hunters took 46 birds in Jackson County in 2024-25, by limited-quota permit. 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; crane harvest from the ADCNR 2024-25 crane report. Checked November 1, 2026.
Stevenson 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 Jackson 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 | |
| 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 Stevenson
Jackson County hunters reported between 445 and 612 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 |
|---|---|
| Jackson County | 445-612 |
| Cherokee County | 297-444 |
| DeKalb County | 209-296 |
| 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 Stevenson
The list holds every SOA and PDHA within 45 miles of Stevenson, nearest first. The 2026-27 SOA deer drawing closed September 14, 2026. A non-hunting partner may help a disabled hunter at a PDHA shooting house.
| Area | From town | Program | Hunt days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crow Creek SOA | 5.9 mi | SOA, draw | – |
| Mud Creek (Wannville) Dewatering Unit Physically Disabled Waterfowl Hunting Blind | 7.2 mi | Disabled blind | Deer, by reservation |
| Forever Wild Land Trust – Alabama Power Company PDHA | 14 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, Stevenson
The Jackson County district office is at 4101 Hwy. 21 North in Jacksonville. For a face-to-face visit, Tanner is the nearest ADCNR office to Jackson County. 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, 70 mi south of Stevenson
ADCNR office in Tanner, about 68 mi away
Offices from the ADCNR WFF district offices page (counties.json, services.json). Checked November 1, 2026.
Stevenson and nearby, event dates
Kinds inside the 30-mile ring: SOA deer (archery) draw, SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw, SOA waterfowl draw, SOA youth draw and trapping workshop. Total: 5 upcoming dates. 3 of them are SOA draw hunts, open only to hunters drawn by ADCNR.
Scheduled
| Date | Event | Miles | Location | Sign-up or details | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15–Nov 22, 2026 | Crow Creek SOA deer hunt: Archery – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (archery) draw | 6 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 3–20, 2026 | Crow Creek SOA deer hunt: Primitive Weapons – Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice · SOA deer (primitive weapons) draw | 6 | Event details | Source | |
| Jan 2–31, 2027 | Crow Creek SOA waterfowl hunt · SOA waterfowl draw | 6 | Event details | Source | |
| Feb 6–7, 2027 | ADCNR Trapping Education Workshop (Jackson County) · trapping workshop | 12 | Register | Source | |
| Feb 6, 2027 | Crow Creek SOA youth waterfowl hunt · SOA youth draw | 6 | Sign up | Source |
Stevenson shooters: the three nearest ranges
The three closest ranges to Stevenson, measured as the crow flies.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 1, 2026.
Shooting light at Stevenson
Mobile and Huntsville see sunrise many minutes apart in winter, so use the times worked out for Stevenson.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery opens, A and C | 6:48 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:18 a.m.–6:41 p.m. | 6:18 a.m.–6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer, A-C | 6:23 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 5:53 a.m.–5:07 p.m. | 5:53 a.m.–4:37 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Ducks open | 6:29 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 5:59 a.m.–5:05 p.m. | 5:59 a.m.–4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:47 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–5:06 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–4:36 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Mid-January | 6:51 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:21 a.m.–5:24 p.m. | 6:21 a.m.–4:54 p.m. |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Deer close, A-C | 6:36 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 6:06 a.m.–5:51 p.m. | 6:06 a.m.–5:21 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Turkey opener | 6:49 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:19 a.m.–7:25 p.m. | 6:19 a.m.–6:55 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.
Stevenson, answered
How does ADCNR treat dog deer hunting in Jackson County?
Stalk only, no dogs.
Can landowners in Jackson 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 Stevenson 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 Stevenson on a Sunday?
Only if its area permit lists Sunday as a hunt day.
What is the nearest deer processing shop to Stevenson?
Jenkins Deer Processing, based in Gurley, at 33 mi.
Whom should Stevenson 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 Pisgah, Hollywood, Hytop and Scottsboro.
How short is the trip from Stevenson to public hunting land?
The shortest straight line runs to Jackson County Waterfowl Areas and Refuges (Jackson County WMA), whose nearest boundary is less than a mile away. The next area out is James D. Martin-Skyline Wildlife Management Area, whose nearest boundary is 4.5 miles away.
Does Stevenson work as a base for hunting Alabama public land?
It has 4 listed areas and about 34,088 public acres inside 10 miles.
Which deer zone letter goes with Jackson County?
Zone A.
From start to finish, how long is gun deer season in Jackson County?
November 21 to February 10, 2027 on private or leased land in Zone A.
What day does gobbler season begin around Stevenson?
March 20, 2027 on private and open-permit land.
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 Stevenson 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: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Shannon McGee (CC BY-SA 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Maria Brindle (CC BY-SA 4.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).