STALK HUNTING WITH BOW AND ARROW: October 15-24, 2022 – Only Antlered Bucks Allowed The 25th of October, 2022, until the 10th of February, 2023: Either Sex.
What time does bow season start in Alabama?
Hunters in Alabama have the opportunity to pursue a wide range of species, including quail, turkey, deer, and alligator. Hunting seasons in Alabama are not only different from one region of the state to the next, but individual counties may also have their own opening and closing dates, in addition to their own bag limitations.
To obtain further information, please check out the webpage for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The state of Alabama now accepts online applications for hunting licenses and permits, as well as online purchases of these items. In addition, hunters may simply record their harvests by doing so online, over the phone, or using an application on their mobile devices.
Seasons for Hunting Deer in Alabama
| Archery or Spear | Oct.15-Feb.10** |
| Firearms | Nov.20-Feb.10** |
| Dog Hunting, Where Allowed | Nov.6-Jan.1** |
| Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle | Nov.1-Nov.5** and Nov.15-19** |
*The specific dates of each season vary according to both the antlered and antlerless status of the deer. When shooting deer, the state of Alabama permits the use of hand-thrown spears as well. The use of dogs for hunting deer is prohibited in a significant number of Alabama’s counties.
| Fall (No Decoys Permitted) | Nov.20-28** and Dec.11-Jan.1 |
| Spring (Decoys Permitted) | March 25-May 8** |
| Special Youth Hunt | Saturday and Sunday before spring season opens |
| Special Disabled Hunt | One day before regular season opening day** |
*Dates of the seasons differ from zone to zone. It is possible for bag restrictions and particular hunting dates to differ from county to county. Visit the website of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for additional information regarding the obligatory Game Check and Harvest Record as well as the limitations that are in place. Alabama Alligator Seasons
| By Special Permit Only | Sunset Aug.12-Sunrise Oct.4** |
*Dates of the seasons differ from zone to zone. Alligator hunts require a specific permit in order to take place. Only Alabama citizens are eligible to get an alligator permit, and online registration is the only method available for obtaining one of these permits.
| Bobwhite Quail | Nov.6-Feb.28 |
| Rabbit, Squirrel | Sept.11-March 6 |
| Raccoon | Open season |
| Opossum | Open season |
| Feral Swine | Special nighttime season, May 1-Aug.31; Open season, daylight hours only |
| Starlings, Crows, English Sparrows | Open season |
| Bobcat, Coyote, Fox | Open season, daylight hours only |
| Bullfrog and Pig Frog | Open season |
| Beaver, Nutria, Groundhog | Open season |
*Dates of the seasons differ from zone to zone. There are differences in Alabama’s bag limits, special seasons, and other hunting rules for different animals and different hunting seasons. In this state, hunting using bait is illegal, and the kind of guns that can be used depend on the target species.
What hunting season is open now in Alabama?
Hunting Season for Deer in Alabama, 2022-2023
| Opening Date | Closing Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2/22 | 1/15/22 | On open permit-public land |
| 12/11/21 | 1/1/22 | On open permit-public land |
| 11/20/21 | 12/17/21 | On open permit-public land |
| 12/18/21 | 1/1/22 | On open permit-public land |
How many does can you shoot in one day in Alabama?
Definitions, as well as Capacity Restrictions ANTLERED BUCKS are male deer who have one or more antlers that are visible above their natural hairline. This is the definition of an antlered buck. DEER THAT DO NOT HAVE ANTLERS ARE DEFINED AS DEER THAT DO NOT HAVE ONE OR MORE ANTLERS THAT ARE VISIBLE ABOVE THE NATURAL HAIRLINE.
- The legal limit for white-tailed antlered bucks Three for each hunter during the entirety of both combined seasons, with one every day.
- One of the three needs to have at least four antler tips that are longer than 1 inch on a single antler (except for Barbour County).
- An antler protrusion that measures at least one inch in length from its base to its tip is referred to as a point.
It does not matter how long the primary beam is; its tip will still be counted as a point. EXCEPTIONS: 1.) The Barbour County Antler Restrictions mandate that white-tailed deer males with antlers must have a minimum of three points on one side of their racks (except on the statewide special youth deer hunting dates during which any antlered buck may be taken).2.) WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA) BONUS BUCK – One per hunter during all combined bonus buck hunt dates will be allowed to be harvested from a selected collection of WMA’s on specific hunt dates depicted on the WMA map permits that will not count towards the hunter’s State three-buck limit.
- This buck will be allowed to be harvested from a selected collection of WMA’s on specific hunt dates depicted on the WMA map permits Must be authenticated by WFF employees at the check point located within the WMA.
- Limit for White-Tailed Deer Without Antlers During the Unantlered Deer Gun Season, the Special Muzzleloader Season, the Bow and Arrow Season, and the Special Youth Season (for those under the age of 16), hunters are permitted to take one unantlered deer every day in addition to one antlered buck.
On land managed by the United States Forest Service, certain places are subject to the Special Exception #3 one-deer-per-day limit.
How do you tag a bobcat in Alabama?
TAGGING IS REQUIRED FOR BOBCATS AND OTTERS According to Regulation 220-2-.30 The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division requires that every bobcat and otter, regardless of the method of harvesting, be tagged by a representative of the division within fourteen days of the harvest.
- See the tagging requirement for the Bobcat (above).
- Trapping of coyotes and feral pigs is the responsibility of the landowner or his agent. When feral pigs are captured, it is against the law to release any of them alive into the wild again. Please refer to rule 220-2-.86.
- Information on how to catch bobcats may be found on page 34.
- During the spring turkey season, it is prohibited to let dogs run free on open-permit areas during the daylight or after 3:00 in the morning.
BOBCAT: No Bag Limit Only during daylight hours; there is no off season. COYOTE: No Bag Limit Only during daylight hours; there is no off season. ONLY ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LANDS IS THE COYOTE SPECIAL NIGHTTIME SEASON, WHICH RUNS FROM FEBRUARY 11 TO NOVEMBER 1.
- Refer to section 220-2-.07 for the permitted hours of hunting.
- a trap set by the landowner or an agent of the landowner.
FERAL SWINE: No Bag Limit DOGS ONLY between the dates of May 16 and August 31 during the FERAL SWINE SPECIAL NIGHTTIME SEASON ON PRIVATELY OWNED AND LEASED LANDS ONLY.
- No luggage limit. Nighttime hours are the best time to hunt this animal.
- There are no firearms permitted
- only dogs are allowed.
ONLY ON PRIVATELY OWNED OR LEASED LANDS IS THE FERAL SWINE SPECIAL NIGHTTIME SEASON, WHICH RUNS FROM FEBRUARY 11 TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST. No luggage limit. Note: You are required to have a valid yearly resident or nonresident midnight coyote and feral pig hunting license in order to participate.
FOX: No Bag Limit There is no off-season. Both daylight and evening hours are fair game for hunting. Only dogs are allowed during the nighttime hours. During the spring turkey hunting season, dogs are not permitted to be employed during any part of the hunt. The tagging of bobcats and otters is required.220-2-.30 The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division requires that every bobcat and otter, regardless of the method of harvesting, be tagged by a representative of the division within fourteen days of the harvest.
Alternatively, the bobcat or otter may be left with a taxidermist along with a completed tagging form. The taxidermist is required to have the bobcat or otter tagged within fourteen days of receipt. The landowner or the landowner’s agent is responsible for setting traps for coyotes and feral pigs.
Is Air bow legal in Alabama?
‘Another tool in the toolkit’ – Air bows have nothing in common with crossbows or typical vertical bows except for employing an arrow as the projectile. They are designed much like a rifle but include a piston within the barrel that glides into the arrow shaft.
When the trigger is pushed, a burst of compressed air is released through the piston into the shaft and shoots the arrow to its target. Air bows also fire with higher speed and precision than ordinary hunting crossbows or vertical bows. They can hurl arrows at speeds about 450 feet per second compared to roughly 400 fps for crossbows and shoot 2-inch groups at 50 yards, according to a manufacturer,
“I hunt with a bow,” Blackwell added. “I just look at this as another tool in the toolbox. ” There is a huge number of states that allow the air bow during hunting seasons. There are 21 states that allow air bows for large game hunting. There are two states that allow air bows during archery season.” Alabama is among the states that allow the use of air bows, but there they are referred to as pre-charged pneumatic arrow shooting guns.
- They are permitted for both deer and turkey hunting in that state.
- This isn’t the first time the usage of air bows has come up in the Legislature.
- Last year a bill was presented permitting their usage by hunters with impairments.
- House Bill 1309, in its original form, permitted the use of air bows by hunters with impairments during archery season for deer.
It passed in the House, then was referred to the Senate where it was altered. The modified bill allows all hunters to use air bows throughout archery season. That bill failed despite resistance from the Mississippi Bowhunters Association and others. Blackwell said SB 2035 is a compromise.