Deer season 2026–27 · last checked Sep 26, 2026
Alabama deer season dates 2026–27
Official dates from Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries), by season and zone, plus the public land in Alabama from our directory. Archery opens Oct. 15, 2026 (Zones A–C); Oct. 1 (Zones D, E). Firearms: Nov. 21, 2026 (Zones A–C); Nov. 7 (Zones D, E) (Gun deer, stalk hunting).
Last checked Sep 26, 2026 against the official Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries) page. Dates vary by zone, unit and county, and agencies can change them. Confirm with Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries) before you hunt.
Quick answers
- When does archery deer season start in Alabama?
- Oct. 15, 2026 (Zones A–C); Oct. 1 (Zones D, E), per Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries). See the table for zone differences and closing dates.
- When does gun (firearms) deer season start in Alabama?
- Nov. 21, 2026 (Zones A–C); Nov. 7 (Zones D, E) (Gun deer, stalk hunting).
- Where are the official rules?
- Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries): hunting information. Bag limits, licenses, tags and weapon rules are not repeated here.
Alabama deer season dates, 2026–27
Archery, youth and muzzleloader
| Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Archery (stalk hunting) | Zones A and C | Oct. 15, 2026 – Feb. 10, 2027 (either sex) |
| Archery (stalk hunting) | Zone B | Oct. 15–24, 2026 (antlered bucks only); Oct. 25, 2026 – Feb. 10, 2027 (either sex) |
| Archery (stalk hunting) | Zones D and E | Oct. 1, 2026 – Jan. 15, 2027 (either sex); Jan. 16–27, 2027 (antlered bucks only) |
| Special youth gun | Zones A, B, C and CMZ (not WMAs) | Nov. 13–16, 2026 |
| Special youth gun | Zones D and E (not WMAs) | Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2026 |
| Special muzzleloader and air rifle | Zones A, B and C | Nov. 16–20, 2026 |
| Special muzzleloader and air rifle | Zones D and E | Nov. 2–6, 2026 |
Gun deer, stalk hunting, on open-permit public land
| Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Gun (stalk) | Zones A and B | Nov. 21 – Dec. 11, 2026 (antlered bucks only); Dec. 12, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 (either sex); Jan. 4 – Feb. 10, 2027 (antlered bucks only) |
| Gun (stalk) | Zone C | Nov. 21 – Dec. 11, 2026 (antlered bucks only); Dec. 12, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 (either sex); Jan. 2 – Feb. 10, 2027 (antlered bucks only) |
| Gun (stalk) | Zones D and E | Nov. 7 – Dec. 11, 2026 (antlered bucks only); Dec. 12, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 (either sex); Jan. 2–27, 2027 (antlered bucks only) |
Gun deer, stalk hunting, on private or leased land (opening segment)
| Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Gun (stalk) | Zones A and B | Nov. 21, 2026 – Feb. 10, 2027 (either sex) |
| Gun (stalk) | Zone C | Nov. 21–29, 2026 (either sex), then split segments. See ADCNR |
| Gun (stalk) | Zone D | Nov. 7–20, 2026 (antlered bucks only), then split segments. See ADCNR |
| Gun (stalk) | Zone E | Nov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 15, 2027 (either sex); Jan. 16–27, 2027 (antlered bucks only) |
- Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) have their own hunt dates, printed on each WMA’s map/permit. The statewide dates above don’t apply to WMA hunts.
- Dog-deer hunting has separate dates where it’s allowed. Zone boundaries and CMZ (Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone) rules are on the ADCNR page.
Official sources (checked Sep 26, 2026)
Public land in Alabama that may allow deer hunting
Our directory lists 80 named public land units in Alabama (about 1.1M ac, from USGS PAD-US 4.1): 37 state wildlife & game areas, 16 forests & grasslands, 8 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 1 BLM units, 8 lake & reservoir project lands, 1 state trust / land board tracts, 9 other public land units. PAD-US shows who manages the land. It doesn’t cover hunting rules. Before you go, check the area’s own rules with the managing agency. WMAs, refuges and forests often have special dates, permits or closed zones.
State wildlife areas & game lands in Alabama
All 37 →- State wildlife / game area
James D. Martin - Skyline Wildlife Management Area
45,937 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels) - State wildlife / game area
Upper Delta Wildlife Management Area
42,171 acres
State: department of natural resources · Baldwin County, Mobile County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area
33,873 acres
State: department of natural resources · Colbert County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
W. L. Holland Wildlife Management Area
31,449 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Baldwin County, Mobile County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Barbour Wildlife Management Area
27,900 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Barbour County, Bullock County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Mobile-Tensaw Delta Wildlife Management Area
22,459 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Baldwin County, Mobile County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Lauderdale Wildlife Management Area
20,449 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Lauderdale County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels) - State wildlife / game area
Perdido River Wildlife Management Area
18,296 acres
State: department of land · Baldwin County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Lowndes Wildlife Management Area
14,487 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Lowndes County
Restricted access
National & state forests and grasslands in Alabama
All 16 →- National Forest land
Talladega National Forest
394,768 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Cleburne County, Clay County + 9 more
Open access - National Forest land
William B. Bankhead National Forest
181,977 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Lawrence County, Winston County + 1 more
Open access - National Forest land
Conecuh National Forest
85,136 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Covington County, Escambia County
Open access - National Forest land
Tuskegee National Forest
11,352 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Macon County
Open access - State forest
Geneva State Forest
7,255 acres
State: department of land · Geneva County, Covington County
Restricted access - State forest
Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center
5,393 acres
State: land board · Covington County, Escambia County
Restricted access
National wildlife refuges & WPAs in Alabama
All 8 →- National Wildlife Refuge
Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge
9,012 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Calhoun County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
7,826 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Madison County, Morgan County + 1 more
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
7,020 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Baldwin County, Mobile County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
4,792 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Bibb County
Restricted access
BLM land in Alabama
- BLM public land
BLM Southeastern States District Office Public Lands
153 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Baldwin County, Mobile County + 7 more
Open access
Counties with the most listed public land
- Baldwin County (11)
- Mobile County (10)
- Jackson County (6)
- Calhoun County (5)
- Covington County (5)
- Lauderdale County (4)
- Monroe County (4)
- Escambia County (4)
- Coosa County (3)
- Cherokee County (3)
- Dallas County (3)
- Bibb County (3)
Not legal advice and not an official source. This independent site is not affiliated with any government agency. Season dates are copied from the agency pages linked above as of the “last checked” date and may have changed since. The agency’s current regulations are what count. Full disclaimer.
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