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 quickly report their harvests through a variety of mediums, including online, through the phone, or through an app on their mobile device.
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 is a legal buck 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.
What does no closed season mean?
Any of the many annual time periods in the United States during which it is forbidden to kill or catch certain types of wildlife or fish