About Hunting in Alabama
Alabama is rich in natural diversity with more than 1.3 million acres of public hunting land and some of the most liberal seasons and bag limits in the nation. The Division of wildlife and freshwater fisheries of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources manages over 721,574 acres of land for the Alabama hunter. There are a lot of options to hunt publicly but you can also hunt privately using natural amenities such as swamps, ponds or creeks.
Alabama Hunting Seasons Offered
Big Game: Deer, Alligator (closed), Bobcat, Bear
Small Game: Squirrel, Coyote, Feral Swine, Rabbit, Raccoon, Opossum, Otter, Muskrat, Mink, Striped Skunk, Beaver, Nutria, Groundhog, Bullfrog, Pig Frog
Birds: Turkey, Mourning and white-winged dove, Waterfowl, Sandhill Crane, Bobwhite Quail, Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock, Snipe, Starlings, Crows and English Sparrows, Clapper Rail, Virginia Rail, Gallinule, Sora
Alabama Hunting Season Dates 2021
Hunting Season depends on the following:
- The sporting arm (weapon)
- Animal
- Zone (location)
Once you know what you want to hunt, with what and where you can reference the tables below to know when the seasons begin and end and what the bag limits are (sex and how many to harvest)
AL Archery Deer Hunting Season
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Zones | Limits |
| Bow and Arrow – Stalk Hunting | 10/15/21 | 2/10/22 | A, C | Either Sex |
| 10/15/21 | 10/24/21 | B | Antlered Only | |
| 10/25/21 | 2/10/22 | B | Either Sex | |
| 1/16/22 | 1/27/22 | D, E | Antlered | |
| 10/1/21 | 1/15/22 | D, E | Either Sex |
AL Firearm Deer Hunting Seasons 2020
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Zones | Limits | Notes |
| Muzzleloader & Air Rifle | 11/15/21 | 11/19/21 | A, B, C | Either Sex | No dogs |
| 11/1/21 | 11/5/21 | D, E | Either Sex | No dogs | |
| Firearms | 11/20/21 | 2/10/22 | A, B | Either Sex | On privately owned or leased land only |
| 11/29/21 | 12/17/21 | C, D | Antlered | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 1/2/22 | 2/10/22 | C | Antlered | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 11/20/21 | 11/28/21 | C, D | Either Sex | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 12/18/21 | 1/1/22 | C, D | Either Sex | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 11/6/21 | 11/19/21 | D | Antlered | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 1/2/22 | 1/27/22 | D | Antlered | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 11/20/21 | 12/10/21 | A, B | Antlered | On open permit-public land | |
| 1/2/22 | 2/10/22 | A, B, C | Antlered | On open permit-public land | |
| 12/11/21 | 1/1/22 | A, B | Either Sex | On open permit-pubic land | |
| 11/20/21 | 12/17/21 | C | Antlered | On open permit-public land | |
| 12/18/21 | 1/1/22 | C, D, E | Either Sex | On open permit-public land | |
| 11/6/21 | 12/17/21 | D, E | Antlered | On open permit-public land | |
| 1/2/22 | 1/27/22 | D, E | Antlered | On open permit-public land |
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Zones | Limits | Notes |
| Dog Deer Hunting | 11/21/21 | 1/15/22 | A, B | Either Sex | On privately owned or leased land only |
| 11/29/21 | 12/17/21 | B, C, D | Antlered | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 1/2/22 | 1/15/22 | B, C | Antlered | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 11/20/21 | 11/28/21 | C, D | Either Sex | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 12/18/21 | 1/1/22 | C, D | Either Sex | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 11/6/21 | 11/19/21 | D | Antlered | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 11/6/21 | 1/1/22 | E | Either | On privately owned or leased land only | |
| 11/20/21 | 12/10/21 | A, B | Antlered | On open permit-public land | |
| 1/2/22 | 1/15/22 | A, B, C | Antlered | On open permit-public land | |
| 12/11/21 | 1/1/22 | A, B | Either Sex | On open permit-public land | |
| 11/20/21 | 12/17/21 | C | Antlered | On open permit-public land | |
| 12/18/21 | 1/1/22 | C, D, E | Either Sex | On open permit-public land | |
| 11/6/21 | 12/17/21 | D, E | Antlered | On open permit-public land |
Understanding Alabama’s hunting season
To hunt white-tailed deer in Alabama, residents, and non-residents must have the following:
● All Game Hunting License (unless exempt)
● Harvest Record (paper form or on the app)
● Wildlife Management License and map permit IF hunting on a WMA
● If you harvest a deer, you have 48 hours to report it through Game Check
AL Hunting License Costs
| Resident/ Nonresident | Licence | Annual Cost |
| Resident | All Game | $28.50 |
| Resident | Small Game | $18.90 |
| Non-resident | All Game | $329.70 |
| Non-resident | Small Game (excluding deer & turkey) | $107.60 |
Alabama Hunting News
Approximately 180,000 deer hunters account for more than 4 million man days of hunting. There are many good opportunities to get out and about and enjoy all that the state of Alabama has to offer. The resources for more information are listed below. With so many lush and varying ecosystems around finding exactly the setting to capture the most reward is absolutely available right here in Hog Country.
Links to Official Sites
Alabama Hunting Licenses and Permits
Alabama State Regulation Site
Alabama Hunting Regulations PDF