Alabama Hunting Season 2025: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide Plan your 2025 AL hunting with our complete guide to big and small game seasons, including whitetail deer, rabbits, ducks, alligator, and more. Learn about hunting licenses, bow and rifle rules, bag limits, and Iowa‐specific regulations. What Is There to Hunt in Alabama? From the sun‑bleached marshes along Mobile Bay to the rolling hardwood ridges inland, Alabama supports a wealth of species. You can stalk a wary whitetail deer beneath towering pines or whisper through the cane for a wild turkey at dawn. In the thick swamps, waterfowl—from teal to wood ducks—fill the skies, while open fields hold bobwhite quail and cottontail rabbits. Feral swine root through the underbrush year‑round, and trappers pursue raccoon, fox, and mink on private lands. Even alligator—the Old South’s trophy—can be taken under strict permit. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Alabama? Not all Alabama hunts are dictated by calendars. Landowners and nuisance‑control hunters can pursue feral swine, coyote, and a variety of fur‑bearers—raccoon, muskrat, badger, mink, and more—any day of the year. These “open season” species help manage populations and offer off‑season opportunities when woodlands and fields would otherwise lie quiet. Alabama Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 When autumn arrives, river bottoms and creek banks come alive with the flurry of turkey drumming and crowing. Come winter, the rut has hunters glassing ridge tops for mature bucks. Wild Turkey (Spring): March 22 – May 15, zones 1–3. Youth hunters and disabled veterans get early‑season privileges. Whitetail Deer (General): Archers begin in early October; firearms open mid‑November. Controlled‑management tags for antlerless deer run in January. Alligator: Special draw‑permit hunt on Mobile‑area waters, usually in late summer. Each big‑game hunt in Alabama is tied to biological cycles—turkeys respond to spring’s first warmth, and deer move as mast crops mature. Check your zone’s specific dates and whether you need a separate youth, muzzleloader, or population‑management tag. Alabama Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Pheasants may elude you here, but bobwhites and quail are plentiful in managed fields. Mourning doves flock around grain bins in late summer, a perfect warm‑weather shoulder-season shoot. Bobwhite Quail & Rabbits: Oct 1 – Feb 28. Low‑country forests near the coast hold skittish cottontails; upland pine plantations host quail coveys. Doves: Sept 1 – Nov 9 and Dec 1 – Jan 27 splits. High‑flying shot requires fast reflexes as birds wheel around baited fields. Waterfowl (Ducks & Geese): Nov 7 – Jan 31; split north/south. Bring a camo dredge or flooded‑timber layout; ducks react to cold fronts, while geese concentrate on harvested rice and corn. Remember your Federal Duck Stamp and HIP registration before you slip into wet boots. Bag Limits by Species Alabama’s bag limits balance opportunity with conservation. You might take two gobblers in spring (one per day), or six ducks per day—just watch for sub‑limits on mallards, teal, and canvasbacks. Deer hunters can claim three antlered bucks per season, plus antlerless via special tags. Feral swine and coyote? Hunt ‘em unguided all year, no limits. License & Tags Information Every hunter in Alabama—resident or not—needs a basic hunting license, which automatically covers small game and deer. You’ll add: Turkey Tag in spring Deer Tags (antlered and antlerless) in fall and winter Alligator Permit (draw only) Non‑residents should apply early for limited‑entry deer and alligator permits, while youth and disabled licenses come with discounts or earlier dates. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Alabama supports a full toolkit: Archery Seasons kick off as hardwood leaves turn, running through January. Firearms (rifle & shotgun) dominate mid‑November to early January, when the woods are quietest and deer feed heavily. Muzzleloaders & Air Rifles get their own windows—perfect for muzzleloader‑only zones that see less pressure. Many zones allow dogs and bait during deer seasons; others drop stands and require still‑hunting only—always verify local rules. Regulations & Resources Legal shooting hours span from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset, though bowhunters often enjoy an extra hour at dusk. Blaze orange is mandatory during all firearms seasons, and private‑land hunters must secure permission before entering fields or woods. Mandatory harvest reporting for deer, turkey, and alligator keeps Alabama’s wildlife agency informed and seasons sustainable. For full regulations, zone maps, and application windows, bookmark: Alabama Legislative Services Agency https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/220-2-.01 Alabama’s hunts are as varied as its landscapes—from swamp‑hunts for wood ducks to hilltop stands for rutting bucks. By planning early, respecting bag limits, and following state regulations, you’ll set yourself up for safe, successful seasons in 2025–26. Check official resources before you head out, and may every stalk, call, and shot be memorable.
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