Alabama Deer Season & Hunting Regulations

Alabama deer hunting is exceptional with an estimated 1.2 million whitetail deer in the state. The natural diversity in the south provides more than 1.3 acres of public hunting ground. There are many wildlife management areas to hunt as well as private and leased land.

Many hunting opportunities are available in the state of Alabama the Beautiful. Below are the Alabama deer hunting seasons, dates and other resources about hunting in Alabama.

Alabama Deer Season 2022-2023

Deer season bag limits: three antlered deer per season, limited to one per day.

During the unanterled season, hunters may take one unanterled deer each day.

Here is a brief summary of the main hunting seasons in Alabama:

Archery: Oct 1 – Feb 10, 2023

Special Youth Gun: Nov 11 – 14

Muzzleloader and Air Rifle: Oct 31 – Nov 19

Modern Firearms: Nov 19 – Feb 10, 2023

Dog deer hunting: Nov 5 – Jan 1, 2023

These season dates can vary by zone, so check the detailed chart below:

Alabama deer hunting zones

Alabama deer hunting is broken down into many different zones. Each zone has different regulations on harvests. Here is a detailed chart with the different hunting zones, dates and limits.

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE MANAGEMENT ZONE (CMZ)

Hunting Type

Land type

Season date

Sex

Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting

 

October 15, 2022 – February 10, 2023

Either Sex

Special Youth Gun

 

November 11-14, 2022

Either Sex

Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle

Privately Owned or Leased Land and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)

November 14-18, 2022

Either Sex

Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 19, 2022 – February 10, 2023

Either Sex

On Open Permit Public Land

November 19 – December 9, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 10, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2 – February 10, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 19, 2022 – January 15, 2023

Either Sex

On Open Permit Public Lands Where Allowed

November 19 – December 9, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 10, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2-15, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

ZONE A

Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting

 

October 15, 2022 – February 10, 2023

Either Sex

Special Youth Gun

 

November 11-14, 2022

Either Sex

Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle

Privately Owned or Leased Land and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)

November 14-18, 2022

Either Sex

Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 19, 2022 – February 10, 2023

Either Sex

On Open Permit Public Land

November 19 – December 9, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 10, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2 – February 10, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 19, 2022 – January 15, 2023

Either Sex

On Open Permit Public Lands Where Allowed

November 19 – December 9, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 10, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2-15, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

ZONE B

Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting

 

October 15-24, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

October 25, 2022 – February 10, 2023

Either Sex

Special Youth Gun

 

November 11-14, 2022

Either Sex

Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle

Privately Owned or Leased Land and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)

November 14-18, 2022

Either Sex

Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 19, 2022 – February 10, 2023

Either Sex

On Open Permit Public Land

November 19 – December 9, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 10, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2 – February 10, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 19, 2022 – January 15, 2023

Either Sex

On Open Permit Public Lands Where Allowed

November 19 – December 9, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 10, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2-15, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

ZONE C

Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting

 

October 15, 2022 – February 10, 2023

Either Sex

Special Youth Gun

 

November 11-14, 2022

Either Sex

Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle

Privately Owned or Leased Land and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)

November 14-18, 2022

Either Sex

Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 19-27, 2022

Either Sex

 

November 28 – December 16, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2 – February 10, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

On Open Permit Public Land

November 19 – December 16, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2 – February 10, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 19-27, 2022

Either Sex

 

November 28 – December 16, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2-15, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

On Open Permit Public Lands Where Allowed

November 19 – December 16, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2-15, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

ZONE D

Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting

 

October 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 16-27, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

Special Youth Gun

 

October 28-31, 2022

Either Sex

Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle

Privately Owned or Leased Land and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)

October 31 – November 4, 2022

Either Sex

Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 5 – 18, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

November 19-27, 2022

Either Sex

 

November 28 – December 16, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2-27, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

On Open Permit Public Land

November 5 – December 16, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2-27, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 5-18, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

November 19-27, 2022

Either Sex

 

November 28 – December 16, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

On Open Permit Public Lands Where Allowed

November 5 – December 16, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

ZONE E

Bow and Arrow-Stalk Hunting

 

October 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 16-27, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

Special Youth Gun

 

October 28-31, 2022

Either Sex

Special Muzzleloader and Air Rifle

Privately Owned or Leased Land and USFS Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs)

October 31 – November 4, 2022

Either Sex

Gun Deer-Stalk Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 5, 2022 – January 15, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 16-27, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

On Open Permit Public Land

November 5 – December 16, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

 

January 2-27, 2023

Antlered Bucks Only

Gun Deer-Dog Deer Hunting

On Privately Owned or Leased Land Only

November 5, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

On Open Permit Public Lands Where Allowed

November 5 – December 16, 2022

Antlered Bucks Only

 

December 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023

Either Sex

Attached is a map of Alabama deer hunting zones. The hunting zones in Alabama are broken into 6 zones. Chronic waste zone, Zone A, Zone B, Zone C, Zone D, Zone E.

Alabama map of hunting zones

Alabama Hunting License 2022-2023

You will need a hunting license for hunting any wildlife in the state of Alabama if you are between the ages of 16-64. Once you turn 65, you don’t need a hunting license.

Here are the 2022-2023 costs for Alabama hunting license:

Resident All Game – $30.25

Resident Small Game – $20.05

Nonresident All Game – $350.15

Nonresident Small Game – $216.20

Hunting licenses are valid valid 9/1/2022 – 8/31/2023.

What are the duck hunting season dates in Alabama?

Duck hunting season dates are:

November 25 – November 26

December 3 – January 29

Bag limit: 6 ducks a day — may include no more than 4 Mallards (no more than 2 of which may be female), 3 Wood Ducks, 1 Mottled Duck, 2 Black Duck, 2 Redhead, 1 Pintail, 2 Canvasback, and 1 Scaup

Geese hunting season dates are:

September 3 – October 2

October 15 – October 29

November 25 – November 26

December 3 – January 29

What species can you hunt in Alabama?

There are many different species of animals to hunt in Alabama including: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, doves, quail, hogs, ducks, rabbits, squirrel and more.

What is the largest typical deer in Alabama?

The largest typical buck scored in Alabama was 186 3/8″ found by George P. Mann in Lee County in 1986. The typical deer had 20 points.

Can you bait deer in Alabama?

Yes, it is legal to bait deer in the state of Alabama with the purchase of a baiting privilege license. The cost of the license is $15 for residents and $51 for nonresidents. This applies to the person who purchases the license, not to anyone else hunting the property being baited. Each person hunting over a baited property, must get a baiting privilege license.

For more information on Alabama deer hunting, visit the official site.

Author

  • Hey folks! I'm Trey Copeland, founder of Made To Hunt. I'm from Kentucky and love the outdoors. I've been hunting or fishing in many states including KY, MO, MS, AR, TN and FL as well as Mexico and Costa Rica. For more updates follow me on Twitter.

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