Alabama 2025-26 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Alabama's listed 2025-26 firearm deer season runs Nov 22, 2025-Jan 15, 2026.
Archery - Stalk Hunting White-tailed Deer opens Oct 1, 2025 and closes Jan 15, 2026.
Spring Season Wild Turkey opens Mar 25, 2026 and closes May 8, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Alabama DCNR.
- firearm deer
- Nov 22, 2025-Jan 15, 2026
- archery deer
- Oct 1, 2025-Jan 15, 2026
- spring turkey
- Mar 25-May 8, 2026
Free Alabama wallpaper
Alabama 2026-27
Save to Photos → set as your lock screen. See all 50 states →
Get Alabama’s dates + next season’s wallpaper in your inbox
Key seasons by species
What changed for 2026-27
Watch the zone split before you plan opening weekend
Alabama hunters should read the deer and turkey rows by zone, not just by species. The statewide calendar is useful, but the real decision is usually whether your county sits in an early or late window.
Before buying tags or booking time off, check the linked Alabama DCNR source for county-specific deer dates, turkey limits, and any WMA exceptions.
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Alabama DCNR before hunting.
Proposed 2026-27
federal openings
in Alabama
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing hunting and fishing access changes at 2 stations in Alabama. Public comment closes June 26, 2026.
Deer
61 listed rowsWhite-tailed Deer
Archery - Stalk Hunting
Oct 1, 2025-Jan 15, 2026
Either Sex Oct 1 - Jan 15
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Archery - Stalk Hunting
Oct 1, 2025-Feb 10, 2026
Page was truncated; dates inferred from CMZ pattern. Zone E archery either sex season.
Zone: Zone E
White-tailed Deer
Archery - Stalk Hunting
Oct 15-24, 2025
Antlered Bucks Only Oct 15-24
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Archery - Stalk Hunting
Oct 15, 2025-Feb 10, 2026
Either Sex entire season
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Archery - Stalk Hunting
Oct 15, 2025-Feb 10, 2026
Either Sex entire season
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Archery - Stalk Hunting
Oct 25, 2025-Feb 10, 2026
Either Sex Oct 25 - Feb 10
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth Gun
Oct 31-Nov 3, 2025
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle
Nov 3-7, 2025
Privately Owned or Leased Land and Open Permit Public Lands (Stalk Hunting Only)
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Nov 8-Dec 12, 2025
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Private Land)
Nov 8-21, 2025
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only; where allowed
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Nov 8-21, 2025
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Nov 8-Dec 12, 2025
On Open Permit-Public Land; where allowed
Zone: Zone D
Show 49 more deer rows
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth Gun
Nov 14-17, 2025
Page was truncated; dates inferred from similar zones pattern.
Zone: Zone E
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth Gun
Nov 14-17, 2025
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth Gun
Nov 14-17, 2025
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth Gun
Nov 14-17, 2025
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle
Nov 17-21, 2025
Page was truncated; dates inferred from similar zones pattern.
Zone: Zone E
White-tailed Deer
Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle
Nov 17-21, 2025
Privately Owned or Leased Land and Open Permit Public Lands (Stalk Hunting Only)
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle
Nov 17-21, 2025
Privately Owned or Leased Land and Open Permit Public Lands (Stalk Hunting Only)
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle
Nov 17-21, 2025
Privately Owned or Leased Land and Open Permit Public Lands (Stalk Hunting Only)
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Nov 22-Dec 12, 2025
On Open Permit-Public Lands; where allowed
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Nov 22-Dec 12, 2025
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Private Land)
Nov 22, 2025-Jan 15, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only; where allowed
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Nov 22-Dec 10, 2025
On Open Permit-Public Lands; where allowed
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Nov 22-Dec 12, 2025
On Open Permit-Public Lands; where allowed
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Private Land)
Nov 22, 2025-Jan 15, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only; where allowed
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Nov 22, 2025-Feb 10, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Private Land)
Nov 22-30, 2025
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only; where allowed
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Private Land)
Nov 22-30, 2025
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only; where allowed
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Nov 22-Dec 12, 2025
On Open Permit-Public Land; multiple date segments with varying sex restrictions
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Nov 22, 2025-Feb 10, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Nov 22-30, 2025
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Nov 22-Dec 12, 2025
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Nov 22-30, 2025
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Dec 1-12, 2025
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Private Land)
Dec 1-12, 2025
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only; where allowed
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Private Land)
Dec 1-12, 2025
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only; where allowed
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Dec 1-12, 2025
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 1, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 4, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 1, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 1, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Land; where allowed
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 1, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 1, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Lands; where allowed
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 4, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Lands; where allowed
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 4, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Lands; where allowed
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 1, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 4, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Private Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 1, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only; where allowed
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Private Land)
Dec 13, 2025-Jan 1, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only; where allowed
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Jan 2-27, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Private Land)
Jan 2-Feb 10, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Jan 2-15, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Lands; where allowed
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Jan 2-27, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone D
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Jan 2-Feb 10, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Private Land)
Jan 2-15, 2026
On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only; where allowed. Source shows 2025 but context indicates 2026.
Zone: Zone C
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Jan 5-15, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Lands; where allowed
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Jan 5-Feb 10, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Dog Hunting (Public Land)
Jan 5-15, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Lands; where allowed
Zone: Zone B
White-tailed Deer
Gun Deer - Stalk Hunting (Public Land)
Jan 5-Feb 10, 2026
On Open Permit-Public Land
Zone: Zone A
White-tailed Deer
Archery - Stalk Hunting
Jan 16-27, 2026
Antlered Bucks Only Jan 16-27
Zone: Zone D
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Fall Season
Nov 15-23, 2025
NO Decoys Allowed. Counties: Clarke, Clay, Covington, Monroe, Randolph, and Talladega.
Zone: Zone 3
Wild Turkey
Fall Season
Dec 13-28, 2025
NO Decoys Allowed. Counties: Clarke, Clay, Covington, Monroe, Randolph, and Talladega.
Zone: Zone 3
Wild Turkey
Special Youth Hunt
Mar 21-22, 2026
Decoys Allowed. Counties: Clarke, Clay, Covington, Monroe, Randolph, and Talladega.
Zone: Zone 3
Wild Turkey
Special Youth Hunt
Mar 21-22, 2026
Decoys Allowed. Counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman (except north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman County Road 437 and west of Interstate 65), Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, St. Clair, Shelby, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, and Wilcox.
Zone: Zone 1
Wild Turkey
Special Disabled Hunt
Mar 24-24, 2026
Decoys Allowed. Counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman (except north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman County Road 437 and west of Interstate 65), Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, St. Clair, Shelby, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, and Wilcox.
Zone: Zone 1
Wild Turkey
Special Disabled Hunt
Mar 24-24, 2026
Decoys Allowed. Counties: Clarke, Clay, Covington, Monroe, Randolph, and Talladega.
Zone: Zone 3
Wild Turkey
Spring Season
Mar 25-May 8, 2026
Decoys Allowed April 4 - May 8. Counties: Clarke, Clay, Covington, Monroe, Randolph, and Talladega.
Zone: Zone 3
Wild Turkey
Spring Season
Mar 25-May 8, 2026
Decoys Allowed April 4 - May 8. Counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman (except north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman County Road 437 and west of Interstate 65), Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, St. Clair, Shelby, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, and Wilcox.
Zone: Zone 1
Wild Turkey
Special Youth Hunt
Mar 28-29, 2026
Decoys Allowed. Counties: Colbert, Cullman (north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman County Road 437 and west of Interstate 65), Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, and Winston.
Zone: Zone 2
Wild Turkey
Special Disabled Hunt
Mar 31-31, 2026
Decoys Allowed. Counties: Colbert, Cullman (north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman County Road 437 and west of Interstate 65), Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, and Winston.
Zone: Zone 2
Wild Turkey
Spring Season
Apr 1-May 8, 2026
Decoys Allowed April 11 - May 8. Counties: Colbert, Cullman (north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman County Road 437 and west of Interstate 65), Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, and Winston.
Zone: Zone 2
Waterfowl
All Geese (Canada, White-fronted, Brant, Snow, Blue, Ross's)
Regular
Sep 6, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season runs in multiple segments: September 6 - October 5, October 18 - November 1, November 28-29, December 5 - January 31. At time of printing, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide. Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to Sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Clapper Rail, King Rail, Virginia Rail, Sora, Gallinule
Regular
Sep 13, 2025-Jan 27, 2026
Season runs September 13-21 and November 28 - January 27. Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to Sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Duck, Coot, Merganser
Regular
Nov 28, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Season runs November 28-29 and December 5 - January 31. At time of printing, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide. Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to Sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Teal
Special Teal Season
Sep 13-21, 2025
At time of printing, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide. Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to Sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Waterfowl
Special Youth/Active Military/Military Veteran
Nov 22, 2025-Feb 7, 2026
Two special days: November 22 and February 7. Same shooting hours, bag limits, and legal arms and ammunition apply as in regular waterfowl season, in accordance with Rule 220-2-.119. At time of printing, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide.
Zone: Statewide
Rabbit
Rabbit
General
Sep 13, 2025-Mar 1, 2026
Rabbit Season 2025-2026
Squirrel
Squirrel
General
Sep 13, 2025-Mar 1, 2026
Fox squirrel closed on the Bankhead National Forest. Season listed as 2025-2026.
The Friday Hunting Briefing.
Gear deals worth grabbing, the week's hunting news, and field-tested picks — curated every Friday by a hunter, for hunters. Free, unsubscribe anytime.
🎯 While you wait for opening day
Practice in Hunting Homestead
Build a property, plant food plots, and take shots with real ballistics in our free browser game. No download — season's always open.
Alabama Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Alabama?
October 1, 2025 is the first listed deer opener for Alabama; it is archery - stalk hunting white-tailed deer Oct 1, 2025-Jan 15, 2026.
When is Alabama's firearm deer season?
Nov 22, 2025-Jan 15, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for Alabama. Check zone and permit details with Alabama DCNR before hunting.
When does spring turkey open in Alabama?
March 25, 2026 is the first listed spring turkey opener for Alabama; the listed window is Mar 25-May 8, 2026.
Do I need a license to hunt in Alabama?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Alabama hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Alabama DCNR.
Explore more hunting seasons
Nearby states