Alabama Deer Season 2026-27: Dates by Zone

Deer season dates

Dates are for private and leased land. Open-permit public land has its own either-sex and bucks-only periods, listed by ADCNR for each zone.

Six deer zones

• Zones A, B and the CWD Management Zone: the latest seasons. Stalk hunting with a gun on private land runs Nov. 21, 2026 to Feb. 10, 2027, either sex. In Zone B, archery is bucks only for the first ten days, Oct. 15 to 24.
• Zone C (parts of Blount, Cullman, Etowah, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marion, Morgan, Marshall, St. Clair, Walker and Winston counties): same dates, but gun hunting alternates between either-sex and bucks-only periods: either sex Nov. 21 to 29 and Dec. 12 to Jan. 1, bucks only the rest.
• Zone D (parts of Cullman, Lawrence, Morgan and Winston counties) and Zone E (parts of Barbour, Russell, Calhoun, Cherokee and Cleburne counties): the earliest seasons. Archery opens Oct. 1 and gun season Nov. 7, both closing Jan. 27. Zone E gun hunting on private land is either sex through Jan. 15; Zone D alternates bucks-only and either-sex periods.

Find your zone on the ADCNR deer zone map.

Dog hunting

Alabama allows deer hunting with dogs. On private land, dog season runs Nov. 21, 2026 to Jan. 15, 2027 in Zones A, B, C and the CWD Management Zone, and Nov. 7 to Jan. 1 in Zone E, ending before stalk season in each zone. On open-permit public land, dog hunting is allowed only where listed. The ADCNR page lists conflicting Zone D dog dates, so they are not shown here; check with ADCNR.

Special muzzleloader and youth seasons

• Special muzzleloader and air rifle (stalk): Nov. 2 to 6 in Zones D and E, and Nov. 16 to 20 elsewhere, the days before gun season.
• Special youth gun: Oct. 30, 2026 to Nov. 2, 2026 in Zones D and E, and Nov. 13, 2026 to Nov. 16, 2026 elsewhere, for hunters under 16.

Bag limits

• Three antlered bucks per hunter for all seasons combined, one a day. One of the three must have at least four points, 1 inch or longer, on one antler, except in Barbour County.
• In Barbour County, antlered bucks must have at least three points on one side, except on the youth dates.
• Unantlered deer: two a day, or one unantlered and one antlered buck, in Zones A, B, D, E and the CWD Management Zone. Zone C allows one unantlered and one antlered buck a day.
• An antlered buck has one or more antlers visible above the natural hairline. WMA bonus bucks and CWD sampling permits do not count toward the three-buck limit.

Hunter orange or fluorescent pink

During dates and in areas open to gun deer season, including the youth and special muzzleloader seasons, everyone hunting any species on private, leased or non-WMA public land must wear an outer garment above the waist with at least 144 square inches of hunter orange or fluorescent pink, or a full-size orange or pink hat. Exceptions: hunting from a stand 12 feet or more off the ground, from an enclosed box stand, or traveling in an enclosed vehicle.

Game Check

Record each deer immediately on a paper harvest record or the Outdoor AL app, and report it within 48 hours through Game Check: in the app, on the Game Check website or at 1-800-888-7690. Carry the paper record or have the app installed while hunting. The app works without cell service and sends the report once you reconnect.

Frequently asked questions

When does deer season open in Alabama?

Archery opens Oct. 1, 2026 in Zones D and E and Oct. 15, 2026 in Zones A, B, C and the CWD Management Zone. Gun season opens Nov. 7, 2026 in Zones D and E and Nov. 21, 2026 in the other zones.

When does Alabama deer season end?

Feb. 10, 2027 for stalk hunting on private land in Zones A, B, C and the CWD Management Zone, and Jan. 27, 2027 in Zones D and E. Dog hunting closes earlier.

How many bucks can you kill in Alabama?

Three antlered bucks per hunter for all seasons combined, one a day. One of the three must have at least four points, 1 inch or longer, on one antler, except in Barbour County.

How many does can you shoot a day in Alabama?

Two unantlered deer a day, or one unantlered deer and one antlered buck, in Zones A, B, D, E and the CWD Management Zone. Zone C allows one unantlered deer and one antlered buck a day.

How long do I have to report a deer in Alabama?

48 hours, through Game Check on the Outdoor AL app, the Game Check website or 1-800-888-7690. Record the harvest immediately on your paper harvest record or in the app.

When is the Alabama youth deer hunt?

Oct. 30, 2026 to Nov. 2, 2026 in Zones D and E, and Nov. 13, 2026 to Nov. 16, 2026 in Zones A, B, C and the CWD Management Zone, for hunters under 16.

Deer season in other states

Texas · Pennsylvania · Michigan · Wisconsin · Ohio · Georgia · New York · Missouri · Minnesota · Indiana · Virginia · North Carolina · Kentucky · Tennessee. Compare every state on the deer season dates by state page.

Duck seasons are on the Alabama duck season page, and turkey seasons on the Alabama turkey season page.

Always check the ADCNR zone map and the public land dates before hunting.