Alabama Hunting Seasons Guide (Full Schedules + Rules Breakdown)

*The spring turkey season has been updated in March 2026.

Alabama hunting season varies from county to county and from game to game each year. Understanding the season schedules, regulations, and choosing the right hunting gear will be crucial for a successful hunt.

Here is the Alabama hunting season summary for your reference! It would help if you prepared yourself adequately before you go hunting.

What To Know About Alabama Hunting Seasons?

What Can You Hunt In Alabama?

In Alabama, you’ll find over 1.3 million acres of public hunting land just waiting to be explored.

With some of the most generous hunting seasons and bag limits in the country, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to hunt a variety of species, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, doves, bobwhite quail, alligator, waterfowl, rabbits, squirrels, coyote, Raccoon, opossum, and many more.

Alabama provides a wide variety of hunting opportunities in its diverse terrain, allowing you to enjoy tracking and capturing your prey in this exciting and wonderful state.

When Does Hunting Season Start In Alabama?

Most Alabama Hunting seasons typically start in early September and end in early February of the following year.

• Dee Season: October – February
• Turkey Season: March – May and November to December
• Alligator: August – September
• Waterfowl: September – January
• Game Bird: September – February
• Small Game: September – February
• Trapping Season: October – February (No closed season for some of the game)

In Alabama, the start dates for hunting seasons vary depending on the type of animal and the specific area.

Follow our hunting calendar that summarizes all the legal days you can hunt in the state, and you will have a variety of opportunities to pursue your favorite game.

Let’s continue to check the breakdown of the hunting schedules for different wildlife in detail.

Alabama Deer Season

Deer season in Alabama lasts for 4 months from October to February of the next year. Depending on the zone and weapons, the season dates vary in five hunting zones.

Click to see the details:

Deer Zone Map. Source from outdooralabama.com

Legal Firearms & Ammunition for Hunting Deer

1. Rifles: Centerfire rifles using mushrooming ammunition.
2. Air Guns: Pre-charged pneumatic air-powered guns, .30 caliber or larger.
3. Arrow Shooting Rifles: Pre-charged pneumatic rifles using arrows equipped with broadheads (minimum cutting diameter of 7/8 inch with 2 sharpened edges).
4. Shotguns: 10 gauge or smaller, using buckshot, slugs, or single round ball.
5. Muzzleloaders: Black powder handguns .40 caliber or larger.
6. Bows: Long bows, compound bows, or crossbows that comply with regulation 220-2-.03.
7. Handguns: Centerfire handguns or pistols using mushrooming ammunition.

Note: Hunting with fully automatic firearms is prohibited.

Turkey Seasons In Alabama

Alabama continues to use a staggered start and a restricted decoy rule to help boost turkey populations. Below are the key dates and rules for the 2026 season.

Spring Key Seasons and Zones 2026

Regulations and Legal Firearms

1. Bag Limits: One gobbler per day; four gobbler bag limit during the combined fall and spring season.
2. Hunting Hours: On private land, you can hunt all day (daylight hours). On WMAs and National Forests, hunting must end at 1:00 p.m.
3. Shotguns: 10 gauge or smaller, using standard No. 2 shot or smaller.
4. Bows: Long bows, compound bows, or crossbows that comply with regulation 220-2-.03.
5. Rifles and Combinations: Possession of rifles, shotgun/rifle combinations (drilling), or buckshot and slugs is allowed when stalking both deer and turkey, provided that no one shoots or attempts to shoot turkey with a rifle or shotgun using buckshot or slugs.
6. Arrow Shooting Rifles: Pre-charged pneumatic rifles using arrows equipped with broadheads (minimum cutting diameter of 7/8 inch with 2 sharpened edges).
7. Mandatory Reporting: Remember to report your harvest through the Outdoor Alabama app or online Game Check system within 48 hours before processing the bird.

📅 To check more turkey seasons in other states in the US, please read this: Spring Turkey Seasons Dates&Limits By States

Alabama Alligator Season

Before diving into the season dates and limits of the gator season in Alabama, let’s first check some new changes:

• Expanded the Southwest, West Central, and Lake Eufaula Alligator Management Areas.
• Modified hunting dates and hours for all Alligator Management Areas, except Southeast.
• Changed alligator size and bag limits; introduced a new bonus management harvest permit and allowed nonresidents to apply for a harvest permit.

*Hunting Hours in all areas are the same: Official Sunset until Official Sunrise.

Alabama Waterfowl Seasons 2025 – 2026

Before you head out, make sure you’ve got the right papers: an Alabama hunting license, your federal duck stamp, and HIP registration. Double-check the zone rules and bag limits for the spot you’ll hunt.

Use non-toxic shot, scout your area ahead of time for water level and bird movement, and set your decoys and calls where birds will feel safe. If you prefer to hunt in waders, here are some options to choose from: Top 7 duck hunting waders.

Alabama Game Birds Seasons

Alabama Small Game Season Dates

Most small game season runs from fall through early spring, offering long seasons and high bag limits. While most seasons peak in the winter, there are year-round opportunities for certain species.

Legal Rules and Firearms

• Rifles: Must use rimfire ammunition (like .22 LR) or air-powered rifles.
• Shotguns: 10 gauge or smaller, using standard No. 4 shot or smaller.
• Other Gear: Handguns/pistols, longbows, compound bows, and crossbows are also legal.
• Hunter Orange Requirement: You are not required to wear hunter orange for small game.
• WMA Permit: You must have a valid WMA Map Permit (usually free or included with your license) for the specific area you are hunting.
• Dog Restrictions: During the spring months (starting in late March), using dogs for small game is often prohibited after 3:00 a.m.

Alabama Trapping Seasons

For Bobcat, Fox, Mink, Muskrat, Otter, and Striped Skunk: October 25 – February 28, 2026.

For Beaver, Coyote, Nutria, Feral Swine, Raccoon, and Opossum: No Closed Season!

*Please note that a permit may be obtained through your local district office for the trapping of nuisance furbearers outside the specified trapping season dates.

With these hunting season details in hand, you’re well-prepared to make the most of your time in the great outdoors during the Alabama hunting season.

How Much Do Hunting Licenses Cost in Alabama?

Alabama hunting licenses are valid from September 1 through August 31 of each year. To get a hunting license, residents must possess a current driver’s license or a non-driver’s ID issued by Alabama.

If you do not have these documents, you can still prove your residency by going in person to the Montgomery Office of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries, Marine Resource Offices, License Commissioners, or Probate Offices in the area.

A hunting license can be purchased by using the online sales system or by going in person to any License Agent.

Fees may change each year. Check the license fee differences for residents and non-residents:

Alabama Hunting Regulations Key Takeaway

1. There are specific legal hunter orange requirements to follow. All hunters must wear a minimum of 144 square inches of hunter orange or a full-sized hunter orange hat.
2. Only hunter orange, commonly called blaze orange is legal.  Various shades of red as well as camo orange are not legal.
3. Alabama offers liberal seasons and bag limits for various species, and hunters need to follow the specific season dates, hunting hours, and bag limits.
4. Hunter education is mandatory for license buyers aged 16 or older, with in-person and online options available.
5. It is illegal to hunt, trap, capture, injure, kill, or destroy any wild game on someone else’s land. Written permission from the landowner is required.
6. It is important to comply with Alabama hunting regulations for specific arms, ammunition, and equipment.

For more details on the Alabama hunting seasons and regulations, please see the official Alabama hunting season 2025-2026 schedule pdf.

Common FAQs

Sum Up

Depending on the animal, hunting regulations, bag limits, and special hunting seasons differ in most states. For more details on how to obtain a license, harvest records, permits, and regulations relating to Alabama hunting, you can visit the official website for more detailed information: Outdoor Alabama.

Preparation is a very important part of the hunting activity before you leave. Knowing the hunting season helps you plan your hunting trips, purchase necessary hunting equipment, and obtain required licenses and permits. Join us to stay informed about any changes that may occur!

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