🏹 Alabama Latest Game Season Guide for 2026-2027 – Dates, Tags & Wildlife Zones
If you’ve been waiting for a single cheat sheet that covers every open and close date, zone map, and tag rule for the Yellowhammer State’s 2026-2027 cycle, you’re in the right spot. Below you’ll find verified details straight from Outdoor Alabama (the official Department of Conservation and Natural Resources site) and the state’s administrative code, plus links to public land maps, license costs, and answers to the questions our inbox gets every August.
🗺️ Alabama Hunting Season Overview 2026-2027
The Conservation Advisory Board finalized the 2026-2027 schedule in early 2026 and the alabama administrative code (Rule 220-2-.01) now reflects those approved windows. The big news this cycle: deer gun dates shifted slightly later than the 2025-2026 calendar in Zones D & E, the fall turkey window stretched a few days, and a brand-new Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone (CMZ) continues to govern deer carcass transport, baiting, and bonus buck opportunities for northwest Alabama. White-tailed antlered buck limits still sit at three per hunter across the combined seasons (one per day), with at least one buck carrying four antler points of 1-inch or longer (Barbour County is the exception). Resident licenses, HIP registration, and WMA permits are all now available through the Outdoor Alabama mobile app — hunters no longer need a trip to the probate office just to renew. Alabama remains one of the most liberal big-bag destinations in the southeast, with more than 1.3 million acres of public hunting land overlapping WMAs, USACE reservoirs, and the Talladega National Forest.
🦌 Quick-Reference Table – Key Species at a Glance
| Species | Open Date | Close Date | Primary Method(s) | Daily Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer – Archery (Zones A/B/C/CMZ) | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | Bow & arrow | 1 antlered + unantlered |
| Deer – Archery (Zones D/E) | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | Bow & arrow | 1 antlered + unantlered |
| Deer – Gun (Zones A/B/C/CMZ) | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | Modern firearm | 1 antlered + zone-specific unantlered |
| Deer – Gun (Zones D/E) | Nov 28, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | Modern firearm | 1 antlered + zone-specific unantlered |
| Special Youth Deer | Nov 13–16, 2026 (A/B/C/CMZ); Oct 30–Nov 2, 2026 (D/E) | — | Any legal arm | Either sex |
| Turkey – Spring 2027 | March 20, 2027 | May 3, 2027 | Shotgun / archery | 1 gobbler (3 per season) |
| Turkey – Fall 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | Shotgun | 1 per day |
| Dove – South Zone Split 1 | Sept 5, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | Shotgun | 15 |
| Dove – North Zone Split 1 | Sept 5, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | Shotgun | 15 |
| Duck / Coot / Merganser | Nov 27–28, 2026 + Dec 5, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | — | Shotgun | 6 ducks |
| Squirrel | Sept 12, 2026 | Mar 7, 2027 | Rimfire / shotgun | 8 |
| Raccoon / Opossum / Bobcat | Open year-round | Open year-round | Rifle / trap | No statewide limit |
(Always confirm local WMA dates on the printed AREA Permit — bonus-buck and special dog-deer hunts override these defaults.)
🦌 All Big Game: Archery & Rifle
White-tailed deer is practically the only “big game” species with an open statewide season — Alabama does not have a wild elk population and there is no open black bear hunting in 2026-2027. Feral hogs may be harvested year-round on private land with the landowner’s permission and a valid hunting license, though there’s no seasonal cap.
Deer – Zone-by-Zone Quick View
- Zone A (southmost tier + Barbour Co.): Bow Oct 15, 2026 → Feb 10, 2027 (either sex). Gun Nov 21, 2026 → Feb 10, 2027. Special muzzleloader/air rifle Nov 7–13, 2026.
- Zone B: Bow Oct 15, 2026 → Feb 10, 2027. Antlered-bucks-only gun Oct 15–24, 2026, then either-sex gun Nov 21, 2026 → Feb 10, 2027.
- Zone C: Same archery/opening as Zone B. Stalk-hunting-only Oct 15–24, 2026; either-sex gun Nov 21, 2026 → Feb 10, 2027.
- Zone D: Bow Oct 25 → Nov 26, 2026 and Dec 1–5, 2026. Gun Nov 28, 2026 → Jan 26, 2027.
- Zone E: Same as Zone D. (Tennessee River counties swap slightly — always cross-check the official map.)
- CMZ (Chronic Wasting Disease Mgmt. Zone): Deer gun season opens with the rest of Zone B, but two unantlered deer per day are allowed on private land during gun season, and CWD sampling permits are required for any harvested animal moved off-site.
Tag & Bonus-Buck Notes
- Statewide, three antlered bucks per hunter for all combined seasons (1/day). At least one buck must show 4 antler points ≥ 1 inch on one side (Barbour Co. requires 3 points per side).
- WMAs offer a bonus buck during designated hunt dates that does not count toward the 3-buck state limit. Bonus animals must be validated at the WMA check station.
- Dog deer hunting is restricted or prohibited in numerous counties — see the Special Exceptions sidebar on the full deer season page.
📸 Looking for an in-depth tag breakdown? Visit the Alabama big-game deadlines & tags resource for hunt-by-hunt deadlines, license add-on costs, and printable WMA permit reminders.
🦃 Turkey Season
- Spring 2027 (Daylight hunting): March 20 – May 3, 2027 — statewide, with a 1 p.m. closure in selected counties per the administrative code. Decoys are allowed all season this year (the board removed the decoy prohibition that applied during the 2025 season).
- Spring Youth / Disabled: Concurrently with the general season, March 20 – May 3, 2027.
- Fall 2026 (Either-Sex): November 14 – November 22, 2026, statewide.
- Daily bag: 1 gobbler in spring (3 per season). Fall season is either-sex at 1 per day.
- Legal arms: Shotgun (must be plugged to 3 shells), muzzleloader, or bow — no rimfire rifles.
🦝 Furbearer Season
Alabama’s furbearers are the most hands-off category on the calendar:
- Year-round open (no closed season / no daily limit): Raccoon, opossum, coyote, fox, and feral hog — can be pursued on private land with landowner consent.
- Bobcat — open year-round; hunters must check the CITES tag requirements before selling any raw pelt.
- Beaver, muskrat, nutria — open year-round and may be trapped by licensed landowners/tenants with a Trap Permit ($15).
- Otter & mink — protected; no open possession/trapping season in 2026-2027.
- Dog training with raccoon/opossum is allowed year-round outside WMA boundary lines.
🦅 Upland Game Birds
Alabama is one of the few southern states with a true wild bobwhite quail season, though populations remain localized. Always scout private quail plantations or designated WMA fields before pulling the trigger.
| Species | Open | Close | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobwhite Quail | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 8/day | Native populations; mostly private lease in north & central AL |
| Crow | Aug 15, 2026 | Mar 1, 2027 | No limit | Shotgun/rifle; check non-toxic shot rules near wetlands |
| Woodcock | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3/day | Migratory: HIP registration required |
🐇 Upland & Small Game Combined
| Species | Open | Close | Daily Bag | Legal Arms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squirrel (gray & fox) | Sept 12, 2026 | Mar 7, 2027 | 8 | Rimfire rifle, shotgun (No. 6 shot or smaller), muzzleloader |
| Rabbit (cottontail) | Oct 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 8 | Rimfire rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader |
| Feral Hog (private land) | Year-round | Year-round | None | Any legal firearm; always check WMA rules |
| Coyote | Year-round | Year-round | None | Any legal firearm |
| Groundhog | Year-round | Year-round | None | Traps, rifle, or shotgun |
🐗 A practical tip many hunters miss: the statewide feral hog season is year-round, and on most WMAs there is a dedicated “hog dog” hunt even outside the regular deer gun window. Check the WMA AREA Permit for special instructions and consider a free Landowner Permission Card to avoid trespass complaints.
🕊️ Migratory Birds – Dove, Teal & Geese
Dove seasons split into North and South zones and run in three phases each:
- South Zone — Split 1: Sept 5 – Oct 11, 2026 · Split 2: Nov 21 – Nov 29, 2026 · Split 3: Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027. Daily bag 15 (Mourning & White-Winged combined).
- North Zone — Split 1: Sept 5 – Oct 25, 2026 · Split 2: Nov 21 – Nov 29, 2026 · Split 3: Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027. Daily bag 15.
- Teal (Blue-winged, Green-winged, Cinnamon): Sept 19 – Sept 27, 2026 (special early-season, 6 per day).
- Snipe: Nov 1, 2026 – Feb 15, 2027 (8/day).
- Coot: Nov 27–28, 2026 and Dec 5, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 (15/day).
HIP (Harvest Information Program) registration is required before hunting any migratory bird — it now lives inside the Outdoor Alabama mobile app at no extra cost.
🦆 Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers & Geese
Waterfowl hunters should bookmark the administrative code page — Alabama publishes duck and goose dates directly through Rule 220-2-.77, and the 2026-2027 windows are:
- Duck, Coot & Merganser (statewide): Nov 27–28, 2026 and Dec 5, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027. Daily bag 6 ducks (no more than 4 mallards — only 2 hens — plus species-specific sub-limits for wood duck, scaup, canvasback, etc.).
- Scaup sub-limit: 2 of the 6 ducks may be scaup within the Nov 27 – Jan 31 window.
- Merganser sub-limit: 5 of the 6 ducks may be Hooded or Common Merganser; only 1 may be a Red-breasted Merganser.
- Canada Geese: Sept 5 – Sept 30, 2026 (early season) and Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 (regular). 5/day combined.
- White-fronted & Snow Geese: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027. White-fronted 2/day; Snow & Ross’s no daily limit, but hunters are required to file a snow-goose conservation permit with the state before using unplugged or electronic calls.
🦆 Other Waterfowl
Other wetland-game specialties scheduled in 2026-2027:
- Rail (Virginia & Sora): Sept 5 – Oct 25, 2026. 25/day combined.
- Gallinule (Common & Purple): Sept 5 – Oct 25, 2026. 15/day combined.
- Woodcock: Dec 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027. 3/day.
🏞️ More Game (Other Open Seasons)
- Crow — Aug 15, 2026 → Mar 1, 2027 (no limit).
- Groundhog, Beaver, Muskrat, Nutria — Year-round (trapping license needed for beaver/nutria on private lands).
- EXOTIC species (axis deer, fallow deer, blackbuck antelope, etc.) are open year-round on private lands where they are legally held. There is no public-land exotic season.
For WMA-only opportunities, always pull the printed AREA Permit — many bonus buck, youth, raccoon, and CMZ-specific hunts open on less-publicized dates that don’t appear on the statewide table.
🧭 Game Units & Public Access Maps
Alabama divides the state into five deer zones (A, B, C, D, E) plus the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone (CMZ) that overlays parts of northwest Alabama. The WMA layers are managed by the Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division and overlaid on the Outdoor Alabama GeoPortal — I open it every summer to plot hunt dates, parking, and WMA boundary setbacks before I scout. The Talladega National Forest allows free walk-in deer hunting in Calhoun, Clay, and Talladega counties by permit only; dogs require the Talladega National Forest Dog Deer Hunting Permit.
A constantly updated interactive map of every zone and WMA boundary lives on the Outdoor Alabama hunting overview page — bookmark it on your phone before the season opens.
🗺️ Need the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting & Fishing Digest? It’s downloadable from the Outdoor Alabama site or free in print at any probate office, license commissioner, or local sporting goods counter.
🎟️ License Details & Fees
All licenses for the 2026-2027 calendar year are valid from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027 unless otherwise noted.
| License Type | Resident | Non-Resident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Hunting (ages 16-64) | $27.55 | $148.75 | Mandatory basic license |
| Annual Hunting + State Wildlife | $44.55 | $213.75 | Includes fish hook and WMA permit |
| Lifetime Hunting (Resident only) | $310 – $590 | — | Age-based, covers all qualifying hunts |
| 7-Day Trip (Non-Res) | — | $74.75 | Valid any 7 consecutive days |
| 3-Day Small Game (Res or Non-Res) | $9.65 | $32.55 | Squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail only |
| Special Youth License (under 16) | $10 | $10 | Required to hunt in youth deer/turkey seasons |
| Senior Lifetime (Resident 65+) | $7.95 | — | Annual renewal or one-time lifetime |
| Alabama HIP Permit | Free | Free | Required for all migratory bird hunters |
| Trap Permit | $15 | $15 | Required for beaver, raccoon, otter (when open) |
| CWD Sampling Permit (CMZ only) | Free | Free | Mandatory for transporting deer from CMZ |
| Bonus Buck WMA Permit | $10 | $10 | Optional; expands the buck bag at select WMAs |
Residency is established if you’ve lived in the state at least 90 consecutive days immediately before buying the license. Active-duty military stationed in Alabama may buy resident licenses immediately upon presenting orders.
🙋 FAQ
Q: Do I need a separate tag for every antlered buck?
A: No tag is required — your license and the WMA AREA Permit (if applicable) cover your limit. Bonus bucks must be validated at the check station, which issues a free bonus tag.
Q: Can I hunt at night on private land?
A: Only raccoon, opossum, coyote, and feral hog are legal at night. Night-deer or night-turkey hunting is a Class A misdemeanor. See the Alabama hunting rules & regulations summary for the complete list of night-hunting exceptions.
Q: Do I need to wear blaze orange?
A: Yes during gun deer and turkey firearms seasons — at least 144 square inches of hunter orange visible above the waist, plus a cap.
Q: Is baiting allowed?
A: Outside the CMZ, corn and feed may be placed up to 10 days before opening weekend and replenished during the season (no more than 25 gallons per site on WMA). Inside the CMZ, all baiting is prohibited year-round — even on private lands.
Q: Are dogs allowed for deer?
A: Yes in most counties, but a long list (Baldwin, Choctaw, Geneva, Henry, Marengo, Monroe, Wilcox, and parts of several others) requires a Special-permit for dog deer hunting or bans it outright.
Q: Where do I report a chronic wasting disease-positive deer?
A: Use the CWD 24-hour hotline (334-242-3469) or the Outdoor Alabama app’s “Report a Suspect” feature.
Q: Can I hunt on Sunday on private land?
A: No — statewide, Sunday hunting of deer, turkey, and most migratory game birds is prohibited. Feral hogs and coyotes remain legal on Sundays.
🥾 Prepare for Your Alabama Hunt
Before you stow your boots in the truck this fall, do three things only Alabama hunters should worry about. First, double-check your CMZ status — if your deer camp sits inside Colbert, Lauderdale, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, or Morgan counties, your baiting and carcass-transport rules are stricter than anywhere else in the state. Second, load the Outdoor Alabama app so your licenses, HIP permit, AREA maps, and hunting reports live on a single device (no more lost wallet cards). And third, register your dog before Sept 12 if you run raccoons around your property — Alabama allows night training year-round and dog registration fees now go entirely back into trapper-education programs.
The 2026-2027 calendar is one of the longest opening windows the state has offered in years, with gun deer running almost continuously in Zones A–C until February and CMZ bonus bucks available throughout January. Plan your scouting trips around the moon and spring timber cuts — Alabama’s best whitetail bucks still move heaviest during a dropping barometer in late November. Tight lines, full tags, and stay safe out there.
