Alabama Deer Season 2023-2024: New Regulations & Dates!

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources controls the Alabama Deer season in order to preserve a robust deer population. There are many zones within the game schedule, each with its own set of rules and dates. Depending on the zone, the hunt often begins in October and lasts until February.

Alabama Deer Hunting Season

Alabama is a popular location for hunters looking to take down the elusive white-tailed deer. Deer are the most popular game species in the state, which makes deer hunting quite popular. Each year, millions of man-days are spent by hunters in search of their prey. This sport not only offers the hunters exhilarating experiences, but it also significantly boosts the local economy in rural Alabama. Hunters may anticipate taking down a sizable number of deer yearly, with varied harvest numbers.

Below here is a guide for the complete Deer season in Alabama:

Zone A

Location

• Begins at the intersection of the Alabama/Mississippi state line and US Hwy. 80 (Sumter County)
• East along US Hwy. 80 to the US Hwy. 80 Bypass in Selma (Dallas County)
• East along US Hwy 80 Bypass to the Alabama River
• East along the Alabama River to I-65
• South along I-65 to the intersection with I-85
• North along I-85 to AL Hwy. 169 (Exit 60 – Lee County)
• South along AL Hwy. 169 to AL Hwy. 1/US Hwy. 431
• South along AL Hwy. 1/US Hwy. 431 to AL Hwy. 26
• West along AL Hwy. 26 to Russell County Road 65
• South along Russell County Road 65 to Russell County Road 4
• West along Russell County Road 4 to Russell County Road 49
• South along Russell County Road 49 to US Hwy. 82
• East along US Hwy. 82 to the Chattahoochee River
• South along the Chattahoochee River to AL Hwy. 10
• West along AL Hwy. 10 to Henry County Road 57
• South along Henry County Road 57 to Henry County Road 99
• South along Henry County Road 99 to US Hwy. 431
• South along US Hwy. 431 to Ross Clark Circle (bypass around Dothan)
• East along Ross Clark Circle to US Hwy. 231
• South along US Hwy. 231 to the Alabama/Florida state line
• East along the Alabama/Florida state line to the Chattahoochee River
• North along the Chattahoochee River to US Hwy. 82
• West along US Hwy. 82 to US Hwy. 431
• North along US Hwy. 431 to US Hwy. 280
• East along US Hwy. 280 to Alabama/Georgia state line
• North along Alabama/Georgia state line to I-20
• West along I-20 to AL Hwy. 21
• North along AL Hwy. 21 to US Hwy. 278
• East along US Hwy 278 to the Alabama/Georgia state line
• North along the Alabama/Georgia state line to the Alabama/Tennessee state line
• West along the Alabama/Tennessee state line to the Lauderdale County/Limestone County line
• South along the Lauderdale County/Limestone County line to the Tennessee River
• West along the Tennessee River to the Colbert County/Lawrence County line
• South along the Colbert County/Lawrence County line to the Colbert County/Franklin County line
• West along the Colbert County/Franklin County line to the Alabama/Mississippi state line
• South along the Alabama/Mississippi state line ending at US Hwy. 80 (Sumter County)

Note: Excluded Zones: C, D, E

Zone B

Zone map

image

Locations

• Beginning at the intersection of the Mississippi state line and US Hwy. 80 (Sumter County)
• East along US Hwy. 80 to the US Hwy. 80 Bypass in Selma (Dallas County)
• East along US Hwy. 80 Bypass to the Alabama River
• East along the Alabama River to I-65
• South along I-65 to the intersection with I-85
• North along I-85 to AL Hwy. 169 (Exit 60 – Lee County)
• South along AL Hwy. 169 to AL Hwy. 1/US Hwy. 431
• South along AL Hwy. 1/US Hwy. 431 to AL Hwy. 26
• West along AL Hwy. 26 to Russell County Road 65
• South along Russell County Road 65 to Russell County Road 4
• West along Russell County Road 4 to Russell County Road 49
• South along Russell County Road 49 to US Hwy. 82
• East along US Hwy. 82 to US Hwy. 431
• South along US Hwy. 431 to US Hwy. 82
• East along US Hwy. 82 to the Chattahoochee River
• South along the Chattahoochee River to AL Hwy. 10
• West along AL Hwy. 10 to Henry County Road 57
• South along Henry County Road 57 to Henry County Road 99
• South along Henry County Road 99 to US Hwy. 431
• South along US Hwy. 431 to Ross Clark Circle (bypass around Dothan)
• East along Ross Clark Circle to US Hwy. 231
• South along US Hwy. 231 to the Alabama/Florida state line
• West along the Alabama/Florida state line to the Alabama/Mississippi state line
• North along the Alabama/Mississippi state line ending at US Hwy. 80 (Sumter County).

Note: Excludes Zone E description below.

Zone C

Locations

• Beginning at the Colbert County/Franklin County line on US Hwy. 43/13
• South along US Hwy. 43/13 to Spruce Pine (Franklin County)
• South along AL Hwy. 13 to AL Hwy. 195 in Haleyville (Winston County)
• North along AL Hwy. 195 to Winston County Road 93
• North along Winston County Road 93 to Franklin County Road 93
• North along Franklin County Road 93 to Franklin County Road 81
• North along Franklin County Road 81 to Franklin County Road 83
• North along Franklin County Road 83 to AL Hwy. 24
• East along AL Hwy. 24 to intersection with AL Hwy. 157 in Moulton (Lawrence County)
• South along AL Hwy. 157 to Cullman County Road 1114
• South along Cullman County Road 1114 to US Hwy. 278 in Jones Chapel (Cullman County)
• West along US Hwy. 278 to Helicon Road (Winston County Road 77)
• South along Helicon Road (Winston County Road 77) to Winston County Road 41 in Arley (Winston County)
• South along Winston County Road 41 to the Sipsey Fork
• South along the Sipsey Fork to US Hwy. 69
• North along US Hwy. 69 to I-65
• South along I-65 to I-59
• North along I-59 to US Hwy. 11
• North along US Hwy. 11 to Etowah County/Dekalb County line
• West along Etowah County/Dekalb County line to Dekalb County/Marshall County line
• North along Dekalb County/Marshall County line to Marshall County/Jackson County line
• North along Marshall County/Jackson County line to Tennessee River
• West along Tennessee River to the Colbert County/Lawrence County line
• South along the Colbert County/Lawrence County line to the Colbert County/Franklin County line
• West along the Colbert County/Franklin County line ending at US Hwy. 43/13.

Note: Excludes Zone D description below.

Zone D

Locations

• Beginning at the intersection of AL Hwy. 157 and AL Hwy. 24 in Moulton (Lawrence County)
• South along AL Hwy. 157 to Cullman County Road 1114
• South along Cullman County Road 1114 to US Hwy. 278 in Jones Chapel (Cullman County)
• West along US Hwy. 278 to Helicon Road (Winston County Road 77)
• West along Helicon Road (Winston County Road 77) to Winston County Road 41 in Arley (Winston County)
• South along Winston County Road 41 to the Sipsey Fork
• South along the Sipsey Fork to the Winston County/Walker County line
• West along the Winston County/Walker County line to AL Hwy. 5
• North along AL Hwy. 5 to AL Hwy. 13 at Natural Bridge (Winston County)
• North along AL Hwy. 13 to AL Hwy. 195 in Haleyville (Winston County)
• North along AL Hwy. 195 to Winston County Road 93
• North along Winston County Road 93 to Franklin County Road 93
• North along Franklin County Road 93 to Franklin County Road 81
• North along Franklin County Road 81 to Franklin County Road 83
• North along Franklin County Road 83 to AL Hwy. 24
• East along AL Hwy. 24 ending at intersection with AL Hwy. 157 in Moulton (Lawrence County).

 Zone E

Locations

• Beginning at the intersection of US Hwy. 82 and US Hwy. 431 in Eufaula (Barbour County)
• North along US Hwy. 431 to US Hwy. 280
• East along US Hwy. 280 to the Chattahoochee River
• South along the Chattahoochee River to US Hwy. 82
• West along US Hwy. 82 ending at intersection with US Hwy. 431 (Barbour County)
• Beginning at the intersection of I-20 and AL Hwy. 21 (Calhoun County)
• North along AL Hwy. 21 to AL Hwy. 9 in Piedmont (Calhoun County)
• North along AL Hwy. 9 to US Hwy. 278
• East along US Hwy. 278 to the Alabama/Georgia state line
• South along the Alabama/Georgia state line to I-20
• West along I-20 ending at intersection with AL Hwy. 21 (Calhoun County).

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone

Location

• The CWD Management Zone includes all of Lauderdale and Colbert Counties.
• The High-Risk Zone is located within the CWD Management Zone, and includes the portion of Lauderdale County with the following boundaries:
• Beginning at the intersection of the Tennessee River and the Alabama/Mississippi State line, north along the Alabama/Mississippi State line to the Alabama/Tennessee State line
• East along the Alabama/Tennessee State line to US Hwy. 43
• South along US Hwy. 43 to the Tennessee River
• West along the Tennessee River ending at the Alabama/Mississippi State line
• The Buffer Zone is also located within the CWD Management Zone and includes those portions of Lauderdale and Colbert Counties with the following boundaries:
• Beginning at the intersection of the Tennessee River and the Alabama/Mississippi State line, south along the Alabama/Mississippi State line to the Colbert County/Franklin County line
• East along the Colbert County/Franklin County line to the Colbert County/Lawrence County line
• North along the Colbert County/Lawrence County line to the Tennessee River
• East along the Tennessee River to the Lauderdale County/Limestone County line
• North along the Lauderdale County/Limestone County line to the Alabama/Tennessee State line
• West along the Alabama/Tennessee State line to US Hwy. 43
• South along US Hwy. 43 to the Tennessee River
• West along the Tennessee River ending at the Alabama/Mississippi State line.

Bag Limits

Regulations for Deer Hunting

• The usage of guns is one of the most crucial restrictions to take into account. Hunters in Alabama must abide by the tight restrictions controlling the use of weapons when hunting in order to stay out of trouble with the law. The state also mandates that hunters submit their harvest to the authorities and possess a current license.

• All deer and turkey hunters are expected to use Game Check to report their kills, and they must also have a deer/turkey harvest record (available in print or digital form) on hand.

• With a few exceptions, hunting on private grounds requires written permission from the proprietor.

• Deer may be legally hunted from 30 minutes before official dawn to 30 minutes after official dusk.

• When hunting, all necessary permits and stamps must be in your possession (either in paper or digital form).

• Hunting on public lands requires using a hunter orange, a kind of open permission. Before visiting the state wildlife management areas, check the Wildlife Management Area Permit for specific guidelines.

• The parties in charge of hunting rights may decide to set seasons and bag limitations that are more stringent than required.

• On public lands, bait is not allowed (including WMA, SOA, USFS, TVA, Corp. of Engineers and public and private land within the CWD CMZ).

• Hunters may shoot one buck with antlers above the natural hairline every day in any county. Each hunter may also take three white-tailed bucks with at least four antler points that are at least one inch long throughout both seasons, except in Barbour County. Antler bucks in Barbour County must have three points on one side, except for statewide juvenile deer shooting days. Hunters may also take one buck from a restricted number of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) without counting it against their three-buck quota.

• Hunters may take one deer and one buck per day during the Unantlered Deer Gun, Special Muzzleloader, Bow and Arrow, and Special Youth (under 16) Seasons. Certain places on US Forest Service properties allow just one deer each day. These limits enable hunters to kill a variety of deer during the season while yet protecting the environment.

• Youth hunters under 16 may hunt November 11–14 and October 28–31, depending on the zone. Dog hunting is allowed in counties or parts of counties during the regular dog deer hunting season. Hunters should check the latest Wildlife Management Area Permits for young deer schedule and other data. Deer season guns and ammo are allowed. Young hunters may hunt safely.

Licenses & Requirements

In order to hunt deer in Alabama, you need four things: a hunting license, a record of your harvest, a license and map permission if you’re pursuing in a wildlife management area, and the completion of the necessary paperwork once you’ve taken down a deer. There are many different kinds of permits available, such as a lifetime permit and a disabled game permit for veterans. Some people are excluded from needing a license, including those over 65 and resident landowners and their close families. Additionally, a special bait-privilege permission must be purchased, and only private property may be used for baiting deer.

Note: For complete license fees and cost you may read our article Alabama Hunting Seasons.

Dog Deer Hunting

Only the stalking technique is allowed when dog-assisted hunting is outlawed. This will decrease the impact on the local environment and safeguard hunters and deer from injury.

Dog Deer Hunting Prohibited Except by Special Permit from the Department (Counties)

Dog Deer Hunting-By Stalk Hunting Only, (No Dogs)

Fines & Penalties

FAQs related to Alabama Deer Season

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John Lewis

John Lewis, the passionate founder of HuntingSeasons.org, is committed to promoting responsible hunting and a profound love for the wilderness. With years of expertise, his platform serves as a reliable guide for hunting enthusiasts, advocating ethical practices and nature preservation.

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