When Does Deer Season End in Alabama?

There are more than 1.3 million acres of public hunting lands in Alabama, and the seasons and bag limitations are among the most relaxed in the country.

Over 721,574 acres of property are managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Public hunting is available, but you may also hunt privately by utilizing natural features like marshes and ponds.

Hunting White-tailed deer is the most popular sport in the state of Alabama. There are around 180,000 deer hunters in rural Alabama, and their activities amount to more than 4 million man-days of hunting time each year.

Annually on August 31, Alabama's hunting and fishing permits expire. Several retailers around the state sell licenses, as well as online at outdooralabama.com. Every year's harvest is different, although hunters regularly kill around 300,000 deer.

Continue reading this article to discover when deer season ends in Alabama!

Definitions

Antlered bucks

Antlered bucks are classified as deer with antlers showing above the hairline. Antlered deer tags are required for deer with antlers that break the skin and protrude beyond the hairline, making them antler-tagged deer.

Unantlered deer

Unantlered deer are all deer without one or more antlers showing above the natural hairline.

Bag Limits

White-Tailed Antlered Buck Limit

• Three per hunter for all combined seasons, one each day.
• All three must have four or more 1"-long or longer antlers (except for Barbour County)
• A point is an antler protrusion of at least one inch in length from base to tip. The primary beam tip should be counted as a point regardless of length.

Exceptions

• Barbour county antler restriction

Bucks with antlers must have at least three points on one side except for the particular youth hunting days in which any antlered buck may be taken. For more information, click here

• Wildlife management area (WMA) bonus buck

One per hunter throughout all combined bonus buck hunt days will be permitted to be taken from a chosen collection of WMAs on particular hunt dates shown on the WMA map. These must then be authenticated at the WMA check station by WFF officials.

Various hunting zones govern Alabama deer hunting. Deer season dates differ in each one. For most hunters, the archery season starts on October 15.

Hunting strategies like stalking or using dogs might affect other archery, rifle, or muzzleloader seasons. Make contact with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) if you have any questions about the season.

Hunting for whitetail deer in Alabama is organized into five distinct hunting zones by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Certain counties can have three of the five hunting zones in the state. Where you live in the state, you may be subject to different rules and regulations.

ZONE A (see map):

ZONE B (see map):

ZONE C (see map):

ZONE D (see map):

ZONE E (see map:

Exceptions

1. Dog Deer Hunting

Except with a permit from the Department, dog deer hunting is prohibited in the following areas:

• Baldwin; Chambers; Choctaw
• Colbert -(that area west of US Hwy. 43);
• Coosa; Covington- (north of US Hwy. 84);
• Elmore
• Geneva; Henry; Macon
• Marengo; Monroe; Pickens
• Tallapoosa and Wilcox
• By Stalk Hunting Only, (No Dogs): Bibb and Perry
• Butler
• Cherokee; Chilton; Cleburne; Coffee
• Dale
• DeKalb; Elmore
• Franklin; Hale, and Perry:
• Greene; Pickens; and Tuscaloosa:
• Houston; Jackson; Lamar; Lauderdale; Lawrence; Limestone; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Morgan; Randolph; Tuscaloosa

U.S. Corp of Engineer Lands

Regarding U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) Properties in Alabama, the unique muzzleloader, air rifle, and unantlered deer seasons are permitted the same as privately owned or leased lands in those counties, provided USACE does not further limit.

Be mindful to examine USACE laws regulating hunting activities and boat ramp usage before hunting USACE-governed areas. Special Permits from the USACE may be needed, and specific USACE locations are prohibited from hunting.

For more information about hunting on USACE property, see the USACE Mobile District website by clicking here

U.S. Forest Service (USFS)

• (Same as open permit for the county), except for Wildlife Mgmt. Areas - one deer per day.
• Stalk hunting Only - No Dogs (save for USFS Lands inside Calhoun, Clay & Talladega counties)
• Same season and dates as open permit-public lands. Calabash Dog Deer Hunting: Thursdays and Fridays until 2:00 p.m. on the available permit-public property; weekends during legal shooting during the Calabash Dog Deer Season in Calhoun, Clay, and Talladega counties.

A holiday does not exclude dog deer shooting on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays; The Piney Woods/Ivory Mountain Area is off-limits to dog deer hunting because of the following boundaries

• the Cleburne County line to the north, running east and west
• Clay CR 3, passing south to State Rte. 49
• Clay CR 66, running east and west from State Rte. 49 to Hwy. 9; and Hwy. 9, running north from Clay CR 66 to the Cleburne County line to the eastern border of Clay CR 66.

SPECIAL YOUTH (under 16) DEER HUNTING

Statewide (including all privately owned, leased, and open permit – public land (except Wildlife Management Areas). The same legal guns and ammunition apply as in Deer season, in line with Rule 220-2-.119.

Hunt the Rut in Alabama

The "rut" is a phrase most typically connected with the time of year when breeding occurs among deer populations. Breeding occurs almost exclusively during a 14–20-day window in many well-managed white-tailed deer populations.

A buck's activity level usually rises in the days leading up to and throughout the mating season as he searches for receptive does. Adult bucks in Alabama's long deer season have a better chance of being seen and harvested because of these guys' greater mobility.

Download the Alabama Rut Map to help you plan your hunt this year if you want to learn more about when rut activity often happens on Alabama's WMAs, SOAs, or throughout the state.

Important Notes:

• All deer and turkey hunters must register their harvest using Game Check and have a deer harvest record (either paper or app form) in hand.
• With very few circumstances, anybody hunting on another's private property must have formal permission from the proprietor.
• Legal hunting hours for deer are 30 minutes before dawn and 30 minutes after official sunset time. See the times of sunrise and sunset.
• All applicable hunting and fishing permits and waterfowl stamps must be in hand while hunting or fishing (either paper or digital) (either paper or digital).
• See hunter orange requirement and definition of open permission – public land. Consult management area map permits for particular rules, restrictions, and seasons before hunting State Wildlife Management Areas.
• Hunting seasons and bag limitations may be imposed at the discretion of the entity in charge of hunting rights.
• On public grounds, it is illegal to hunt using bait (WMA, USFS, TVA, Corp. of Engineers).

Hunting Laws & Regulations

50 Yard Restriction from a Public Road

A centerfire rifle, a shotgun utilizing slugs or shot bigger than number four (4) shot, or a muzzle-loading rifle cannot be used within 50 yards of the right-of-way of any public road, highway, or railroad: 40 calibers or bigger.

Deer hunters will feel the effects of this new rule. Any activity to harvest a deer using a weapon or shot specified above is prohibited inside the restricted 50-yard area. The State Legislature approved the legislation to address safety problems.

Who Needs Hunter Education?

A hunter education course is required for all license purchasers (16 and older) born after August 1, 1977. There are a few notable exceptions: Alabama's APOST certified officers, active-duty military, and citizens actively serving in the state's National Guard.

Hunting education may be obtained in two ways: in-person, usually in a conventional class, or online. The in-person hunter education training is free, but the online course providers demand a fee.

One hundred percent of the price goes to the course provider to pay for the cost of creating and maintaining the online course. Students must be ten years old or older to participate in hunter education.

The option of acquiring a "Supervision Required" hunting license is available to people born after August 1, 1977, who have not yet completed an authorized hunter education course.

This form of license necessitates that the hunter is under the direct supervision of a fully licensed adult hunter while in the field.

Hunters under the supervision of a fully licensed hunter 21 years or older must be under standard voice control and not be more than 30 feet away. The person in charge of supervision must never hold a "supervision necessary" license.

Hunting Permission Requirement

It is prohibited to hunt, trap, catch, harm, kill or destroy any wild game on another person's property without having in possession the written authorization of the landowner or person in charge.

Hunting Lands

The land is split into two categories:

• Private owned and leased property is defined as that which is not available to the general public.
• Open permit-public land is ¬governmentally held land available for public hunting and/or lands made accessible to the public on a ¬individual basis, whether for a fee or not. Some examples of these properties are those controlled by the U.S. Forest Service and those owned by timber or utility firms, all of which allow hunters access via free or fee-based licenses.

Legal Hunting Hours

During open season, only daylight hours (30 minutes before official dawn time to 30 minutes after official sunset time) are legal hunting hours for resident game birds and game animals, including deer.

Migratory game birds and ducks are as indicated for each species. Wildlife may only be hunted during daylight hours during the open season, except species with specific season dates, such as foxes, raccoons, opossum, feral pigs, coyotes, and alligators.

Hunter Orange Requirement for Hunting

Unless they're hunting foxes, raccoons, or opossums at night or turkey or migratory birds (including crows), anyone hunting wildlife must wear an outer garment.

The garment must be above the waist with a minimum of 144 square inches of hunter orange or a full-size hunter orange hat or cap during the dates and areas open by regulation to gun deer season.

A hunter will not be required to wear a Hunter Orange vest for the following circumstances:

1. Hunting from a stand higher than twelve feet above the ground, in an enclosed box stand or enclosed vehicle;
2. While working on no more than twenty feet between a moving vehicle and a stand

The hunter orange must be worn while walking on foot between an operating enclosed vehicle and exempt stand when the distance is more significant than a straight ¬distance of twenty (20) feet.

Running Dogs

Only in counties/regions with an open dog deer season may deer be hunted with dogs during the closed season, which runs from October 1 until the beginning of the firearms deer season. Licensed hunters may run squirrels and rabbits during the closed season (no firearms) (no guns).

Importation of live deer and elk is prohibited in Alabama.

It is prohibited to import any live member of the deer family (Cervidae), including deer, elk, ¬caribou, moose, etc. This is our strongest protection against illnesses that might ruin Alabama's deer population.

To deter people from bringing live Cervidae into the state, lawmakers raised the maximum punishment from $250 to $5000 in response to public outcry.

If you learn of any live deer being moved inside the state of Alabama, please get in touch with the Division immediately at GAMEWATCH (800) 272-4263. Any deer or elk corpse brought into the United States must be deboned and the antlers cleansed of any spinal cord or brain matter before entering the country.

Alabama's deer population is a critical element of our natural resources. When it comes to hunting for fun and profit, white-tailed deer reign supreme; this herd, under appropriate care, has the potential to produce top-grade deer.

 This herd must get protection from sources that might cause damage. This is partly why deer from places other than Alabama cannot be imported.

Everything that makes a deer itch and worm-ridden goes with it when it's transferred. Provisions such as "health certificates" do not assure that animals are disease-free.

CWD and bovine TB outbreaks in other sections of the nation in recent years show the validity of such prohibition. CWD, often known as the importing of deer, has been prohibited in several other states lately or is now being considered by many other states.

Alabama's HuntingTrail for People with Physical Disabilities

Alabama maintains a statewide network of hunting, fishing, and shooting venues for those with physical limitations.

There are no obligations to preregister the fishing and shooting facilities, but individuals utilizing the hunting sites must be authorized in advance, ¬including verification that they fulfill disability restrictions.

Users must be legally licensed and obey all laws and regulations. Call (334) 242-3469 for extra information.

FAQ