From April to May, hunters eagerly await the chance to engage in this beloved activity. Regardless of your skill level, it’s essential to be well-prepared as the excitement grows. In this post, we’ll delve into all the details including its schedule, rules, locations and crucial information for making the most of your time.
Alabama Turkey Hunting Seasons & Schedules
To maximize their hunting experience, hunters must use proper gear and avoid activities within 200 yards of residential areas to comply with Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources rules. Hunters should also know of the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone, which bans hunting.
| Games | Dates |
| Special Youth Hunt | March 17 – March 18 |
| Special Disabled Hunt | One day before every normal opening day |
| Zone-1 | |
| Regular | March 25 – May 8 |
| With decoys | April 4 – May 8 |
| Zone-2 | |
| Regular | April 1 – May 8 |
| With decoys | April 11 – May 8 |
| Zone-3 | |
| Regular | November 18 – 26 |
| December 9 – 31 | |
| March 25 – May 8 | |
| With decoys | April 4 – May 8 |
Counties
Zone-1
| MARION | PICKENS | CHOCTAW |
|---|---|---|
| LAMAR | SHELBY | WASHINGTON |
| FAYETTE | GREENE | MOBILE |
| Jasper | SUMTER | BALDWIN |
| WALKER | HALE | LOWNDES |
| JACKSON | BIBB | MONTGOMERY |
| TENNESSEERVER | COOSA | BULLOCK |
| DE KALB | CHAMBERS | WILCOX |
| Guntersville | TALLAPOOSA | BUTLER |
| MARSHALL | CHILTON | CONECUH |
| CULLMAN | PERRY | ESCAMBIA |
| ETOWAH | Opelika | CRENSHAW |
| Gadecen | ELMORE | BARBOUR |
| CHEROKEE | AUTAUGA | PIKE |
| BLOUNT | Demopolis | DALE |
| CALHOUN | Selma | HENRY |
| ST. CLAIR | DALLAS | COFFEE |
| CLEBURNE | MACON | Dothan |
| Birmingham | RUSSELL | GENEVA |
| JEFFERSON | Montgomery | HOUSTON |
| TUSCALOOSA | MARENGO |
Zone-2
| Franklin |
|---|
| Lauderdale |
| Lawrence |
| Limestone |
| Madison |
| Morgan |
| Winston |
| Colbert |
| Cullman (north of Lewis Smith Lake, north of Cullman County Road 437, and west of Interstate 65). |
Zone-3
| Covington |
|---|
| Monroe |
| Randolph |
| Clarke |
| Clay |
| Talladega |
United States Forest Service Ranger & WMA Districts
Turkey hunting is allowed from April 8 to May 8 in the Bankhead Ranger District and WMAs Lauderdale, Freedom Hills, Black Warrior, Coon Gulf, Riverton, CHA, and Martin CHA. In the remaining National Forests Districts, including Talladega, Shoal Creek, Oakmulgee, Tuskegee, Conecuh, and other WMAs that allow turkey hunting, activities are allowed from dawn to 1:00 PM daily.
AL Turkey Bag Limits
The following are the permitted bag limit for hunting turkeys:
- The joint fall and spring period allow hunters to take one gobbler daily. A shooter may take up to four gobblers throughout the year.
- Any Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Community Hunting Area (CHA), or National Forest Ranger District may allow. Still, up to two gobblers may be taken from these areas.
- One gobbler per WMA, CHA, and National Forest Ranger District during the first 10 days of each season.
Regulations
- A total of four turkeys, all gobblers, may be taken during the autumn and spring seasons combined.
- Alabama’s combined fall and spring have a four-gobbler haul limit, with a maximum of two gobblers allowed from any WMA, CHA, or National Forest Ranger District. Furthermore, during the first 10 days of each season, only one gobbler may be taken from each WMA, CHA, and National Forest Ranger District.
- During the initial 10 days of the annual turkey pursuit, the use of decoys is prohibited. However, following this initial period and throughout the special youth hunt and dedicated search for disabled individuals, legal turkey decoys are permitted. It’s important to note that in Alabama, mechanical bird decoys are not allowed.
- The use of a gun in poultry hunting is prohibited. When going after poultry, longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows are all permitted in Alabama. Using a shotgun or a muzzle-loading firearm to pursue birds is also acceptable.
- A particular juvenile search using decoys is conducted on Saturday and Sunday the week before the start of the spring period. Additionally, one day before the start of every regular season, there is a particular disabled search in the spring that requires competitors to satisfy specific medical criteria. Additionally, decoys are permitted during this game.
- There are particular guidelines in Wildlife Management Areas. (WMAs). One gobbler may be taken during the first 10 days of each season from each WMA, CHA, and National Forest Ranger District, and up to two gobblers may be taken from anyone WMA, CHA, or Ranger District.
- It’s against the law to take or try to capture more wildlife birds or animals than are allowed in a daily catch limit. Additionally, it’s against the law to stalk birds with a firearm or employ any hunting technique that doesn’t adhere to locallaws.
- No baits are allowed during the first 10 days of any spring season.
- Each Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Community Hunting Area (CHA), and National Forest Ranger District is limited to two gobbler harvests. During the first 10 days of each season, only one gobbler may be taken from each WMA, CHA, and National Forest Ranger District.
- The week before the start of the spring, there will be a special youth hunt on Saturday and Sunday. (Decoys allowed).
- The day before the start of every regular season. Participants must adhere to rule 220-2-.109 (2)’s medical standards. (d). (Decoys allowed).
- In Alabama, electrically powered turkey decoys are prohibited.
- Turkey decoys are permissible after 10 days of spring game. The spring special disabled and child hunts enable legal decoys.
- A lawful bow is either a long bow, recurve bow, composite bow, or crossbow used.
- More than the daily bag limit of any wildlife bird or mammal may not be taken, attempted, or held in custody.
- Within the CWD Management Zone, mandatory CWD (chronic wasting disease) monitoring is needed for deer taken by hunters on particular days. No deer (cervid) body pieces, whole or deboned, may be transported outside the CWD Management Zone.
Licenses
| License/Permit | Alabama Residents | Non-Residents |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $16.25 | $143.25 |
| Turkey Hunting License | $22.00 | $22.00 |
| Management Area License | $34.00 | $186.00 |
| Special WMA Permit | $26.00 | $26.00 |
Jacob Ross is a passionate outdoor enthusiast and skilled turkey hunter who is committed to sharing his love of the outdoors via interesting writing and helpful advice. Jacob's years of field experience and in-depth knowledge of turkey behavior allow him to contribute to readers' hunting knowledge on TurkeySeason.org.
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