SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The state of Alabama is home to more than 1.3 million acres of public hunting land and some of the most liberal seasons and bag limits in the nation.
Hunters have the opportunity to hunt many species in Alabama including, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning doves, bobwhite quail, feral hogs, waterfowl, rabbits, squirrel, and many other species.
Species specific hunting season and bag limit information is provided below. Dates covered are September 2020 through August 2021.
Deer
ZONE A:
BOW AND ARROW – STALK HUNTING:
- Either Sex: Oct. 15, 2020 – Feb. 10, 2021
SPECIAL MUZZLELOADER AND AIR RIFLE:
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND AND USFS
- Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)
- Either Sex: Nov. 16, 2020 – Nov. 20, 2020
GUN DEER-STALK HUNTING:
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND ONLY
- Either sex: Nov. 21, 2020 – Feb. 10, 2021
ON OPEN PERMIT-PUBLIC LAND
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 21, 2020 – Feb. 10, 2021
- Either Sex: Dec. 12, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
DOG DEER HUNTING: WHERE ALLOWED
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND ONLY
- Either sex: Nov. 21, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021
ON OPEN PERMIT-PUBLIC LAND
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 21, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021
- Either Sex: Dec. 12, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
SPECIAL EXCEPTION: CALHOUN, CLAY, AND TALLADEGA COUNTIES:
Other than Piney Woods/Ivory Mountain area where dog hunting is prohibited in its entirety, no dog deer hunting on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of each week unless Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. No other state or federal holidays are included in this exception. Dog deer hunting on Thursday and Friday until 2:00 p.m.; on weekends during legal shooting hours where allowed on USFS land in these counties.
Dog Deer Hunting on the Piney Woods/Ivory Mountain Area is Prohibited. The borders of this area are as follows: bounded by the Cleburne County line to the north running east and west, then to the west by Clay CR3 running south to Ste Rte 49; The south border is Clay CR 66 running east and west from State Rte 49 to Hwy 9; The eastern border is Hwy 9 running north from Clay CR 66 to the Cleburne County line.
ZONE B:
BOW AND ARROW – STALK HUNTING:
- Antlered Bucks Only: Oct. 15, 2020 – Oct. 24, 2020
- Either Sex: Oct. 25, 2020 – Feb. 10, 2021
SPECIAL MUZZLELOADER AND AIR RIFLE:
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND AND USFS
- Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)
- Either Sex: Nov. 16, 2020 – Nov. 20, 2020
GUN DEER-STALK HUNTING:
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND ONLY
- Either sex: Nov. 21, 2020 – Feb. 10, 2021
ON OPEN PERMIT-PUBLIC LAND
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 21, 2020 – Feb. 10, 2021
- Either Sex: Dec. 12, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
DOG DEER HUNTING: WHERE ALLOWED
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND ONLY
- Either sex: Nov. 21, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021
ON OPEN PERMIT-PUBLIC LAND
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 21, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021
- Either Sex: Dec. 12, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
ZONE C:
BOW AND ARROW – STALK HUNTING
- Either Sex: Oct. 15, 2020 – Feb. 10, 2021
SPECIAL MUZZLELOADER AND AIR RIFLE
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND AND USFS
- Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)
- Either Sex: Nov. 16, 2020 – Nov. 20, 2020
GUN DEER-STALK HUNTING:
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND ONLY
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 21, 2020 – Feb. 10, 2021
- Either sex: Nov. 21, 2020 – Nov. 29, 2020, and Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
ON OPEN PERMIT-PUBLIC LAND
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 21, 2020 – Feb. 10, 2021
- Either Sex: Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
DOG DEER HUNTING: WHERE ALLOWED
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND ONLY
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 21, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021
- Either sex: Nov. 21, 2020 – Nov. 29, 2020, and Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
ON OPEN PERMIT-PUBLIC LAND
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 21, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021
- Either Sex: Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
ZONE D:
BOW AND ARROW – STALK HUNTING
- Antlered Bucks Only: Oct. 1, 2020 – Jan. 27, 2021
- Either Sex: Oct. 1, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021
SPECIAL MUZZLELOADER AND AIR RIFLE
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND AND USFS – Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)
- Either Sex: Nov. 2, 2020 – Nov. 6, 2020
GUN DEER-STALK HUNTING:
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND ONLY
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 7, 2020 – Jan. 27, 2021
- Either sex: Nov. 21, 2020 – Nov. 29, 2020, and Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
ON OPEN PERMIT-PUBLIC LAND
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 7, 2020 – Jan. 27, 2021
- Either Sex: Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
DOG DEER HUNTING: WHERE ALLOWED
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND ONLY
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 7, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
- Either sex: Nov. 21, 2020 – Nov. 29, 2020, and Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
ON OPEN PERMIT-PUBLIC LAND
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 7, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
- Either Sex: Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
ZONE E:
BOW AND ARROW – STALK HUNTING
- Antlered Bucks Only: Oct. 1, 2020 – Jan. 27, 2021
- Either Sex: Oct. 1, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021
SPECIAL MUZZLELOADER AND AIR RIFLE
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND AND USFS – Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)
- Either Sex: Nov. 2, 2020 – Nov. 6, 2020
GUN DEER-STALK HUNTING:
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND ONLY
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 7, 2020 – Jan. 27, 2021
- Either sex: Nov. 7, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021
ON OPEN PERMIT-PUBLIC LAND
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 7, 2020 – Jan. 27, 2021
- Either Sex: Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
DOG DEER HUNTING: WHERE ALLOWED
ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LAND ONLY
- Either sex: Nov. 7, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
ON OPEN PERMIT-PUBLIC LAND
- Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 7, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
- Either Sex: Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
Male deer with bare antlers visible above natural hairline – Statewide – one a day; three per hunter during all combined seasons. One of the three must have at least 4 antler points 1 inch or longer on one antler (except for Barbour County). A point is defined as an antler projection of at least 1 inch in length from base to tip. Main beam tip shall be counted as a point regardless of length.
Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Bonus Buck – One per hunter during all combined seasons will be allowed to be harvested from a select collection of WMAs on specific hunt dates depicted on the WMA map permits that will not count towards the hunter’s state 3-buck limit. Must be validated at the WMA check station by WFF personnel.
WHITE-TAILED UNANTLERED DEER LIMIT – During the Unantlered Deer Gun, Special Muzzleloader, Bow and Arrow, and Special Youth (under 16) Seasons, one unantlered deer may be taken each day in addition to one antlered buck each day. See Special Exception #3 for selected areas with one deer each day limit on U.S. Forest Service Lands.
SPECIAL YOUTH (under 16) DEER HUNTING Statewide, (includes all Privately Owned, Leased Lands and Open Permit – Public Lands (except Wildlife Management Areas). The same legal arms and ammunition apply as in Deer season, in accordance with Rule 220-2-.119.
- Zones A, B & C — Nov. 13-16Zones D & E — Oct. 30 – Nov. 2
- Dog hunting in those counties or parts of counties where and how it is allowed during the regular dog deer hunting season.
- See the 2020-2021 Wildlife Management Area Map Permits for youth deer hunting dates and other information.
Turkey
Spring turkey season will be delayed for research purposes on the following WMAs. The delayed season will run March 27 to May 2, 2021.
- Barbour, J.D. Martin-Skyline, Hollins, Oakmulgee, Lowndes, Choccolocco, and Perdido River.
SPECIAL YOUTH HUNT: Saturday & Sunday the week prior to all opening days of Spring Season.
SPECIAL DISABLED HUNT: One day prior to all opening days. Participants must meet the medical requirements of regulation 220-2-.109(2)(d).
SPRING SEASON (DECOYS PERMITTED)
Zone 1: March 20 – May 2
Counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman (except north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman County Road 437 and west of I-65), Dale, Dallas, Dekalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Geneva (except south of AL Hwy 52, east of AL Hwy 167, west of Houston County line, and north of the Florida line), Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, and Wilcox.
Zone 2: March 27 – May 2
- Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale (west of US Hwy 43), Lawrence (south of AL Hwy 24), Limestone (north of US Hwy 72), Madison, and Winston.
Zone 3: April 17 – April 21
- Cullman (north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman County Road 437 and west of I-65), Lawrence (north of AL Hwy 24), Lauderdale (east of US Hwy 43), and Morgan
Zone 4: This zone has both a fall and spring season.
- Counties: Clarke, Clay, Covington, Monroe, Randolph, and Talladega.
FALL SEASON (DECOYS NOT PERMITTED)
- November 21 – Nov. 29
- December 12 – Jan.1
SPRING SEASON (DECOYS PERMITTED)
- March 20 – May 2
Zone 5: No Season
- Limestone (south of US Hwy 72)
Hunters will only be able to kill one gobbler per day, with a limit of five gobblers total during combined fall and spring seasons.
Waterfowl
Special Teal Season:
September 12 – September 27
Note: At the time of posting, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide.
- 6 a day
- Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to Sunset.
Duck, Coot, Merganser
Nov. 27 – Nov. 28
Dec. 5 – Jan. 31
Note: At the time of posting, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide.
- Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Duck
- 6 ducks a day — may include no more than 4 Mallards
- (no more than 2 of which may be female), 3 Wood Ducks,
- 1 Mottled Duck, 2 Black Duck, 2 Redhead, 1 Pintail,
- 2 Canvasback, and 1 Scaup.
Coot
- 15 a day
Merganser
- 5 a day, only 2 may be a Hooded Merganser.
Geese (All Statewide)
Special Goose Season
Note: At the time of posting, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide.
Sept. 1 – Sept. 30
- The aggregate bag limit of 5 dark geese (Canada, White-fronted, and Brant) shall not include more than 1 Brant. Additionally, an aggregate bag limit of 5 light geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) may be harvested per day.
- Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to Sunset.
Geese (Dark and Light Statewide)
Note: At the time of posting, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide.
- Statewide (including Southern James Bay Population Zone).
- Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Special Goose Season
