Alabama Turkey Season 2025-2026: Everything You Need TO Know!

If you’re planning to chase some Alabama gobblers this year, you’ve landed in the right place! This guide covers everything from opening and closing dates across all three hunting zones to licensing fees, regulations, and answers to your most pressing questions about the 2025-2026 wild bird pursuit opportunities in the Heart of Dixie.

Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just getting started, understanding the state’s zoned approach, bag limits, and special opportunity hunts will help you maximize your time in the field. Let’s break down what makes this upcoming period one of the best times to pursue these magnificent birds across Alabama’s diverse landscapes.

---

📅 Quick Reference: Alabama Wild Gobbler Hunting Dates 2025-2026

Here’s your at-a-glance breakdown of the primary hunting opportunities by bird type and timeframe:

Hunt Type	Season Opens	Season Closes	Hunting Methods
Spring Gobblers – Zone 1	March 25, 2026	May 8, 2026	Shotgun, archery, muzzleloader (decoys allowed April 4-May 8)
Spring Gobblers – Zone 2	April 1, 2026	May 8, 2026	Shotgun, archery, muzzleloader (decoys allowed April 11-May 8)
Fall Gobblers – Zone 3	November 15, 2025	November 23, 2025	Shotgun, archery, muzzleloader (NO decoys)
Fall Gobblers – Zone 3 (Second Period)	December 13, 2025	December 28, 2025	Shotgun, archery, muzzleloader (NO decoys)
Youth Hunt – Zone 1 & 3	March 21-22, 2026	March 22, 2026	All legal methods (decoys allowed)
Youth Hunt – Zone 2	March 28-29, 2026	March 29, 2026	All legal methods (decoys allowed)
Disabled Hunt – All Zones	March 24 or 31, 2026	One-day events	All legal methods (decoys allowed)

---

🗺️ Complete Breakdown: All Alabama Wild Bird Seasons by Zone

Alabama divides its gobbler hunting into three distinct zones, each with slightly different timing to account for regional variations in habitat and bird behavior. Here’s the detailed schedule:

Zone	Hunt Category	Dates	Hours	Decoys Allowed?	Counties Included
Zone 1	Youth Hunt	March 21-22, 2026	Daylight to 1 PM	✅ Yes	Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman (most areas), Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, St. Clair, Shelby, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox
Zone 1	Disabled Hunt	March 24, 2026	Daylight to 1 PM	✅ Yes	Same as above
Zone 1	Spring Hunt	March 25 – May 8, 2026	Daylight to 1 PM	✅ April 4-May 8 only	Same as above
Zone 2	Youth Hunt	March 28-29, 2026	Daylight to 1 PM	✅ Yes	Colbert, Cullman (northern portion), Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Winston
Zone 2	Disabled Hunt	March 31, 2026	Daylight to 1 PM	✅ Yes	Same as above
Zone 2	Spring Hunt	April 1 – May 8, 2026	Daylight to 1 PM	✅ April 11-May 8 only	Same as above
Zone 3	Fall Hunt (Period 1)	November 15-23, 2025	Daylight to 1 PM	❌ No	Clarke, Clay, Covington, Monroe, Randolph, Talladega
Zone 3	Fall Hunt (Period 2)	December 13-28, 2025	Daylight to 1 PM	❌ No	Same as above
Zone 3	Youth Hunt	March 21-22, 2026	Daylight to 1 PM	✅ Yes	Same as above
Zone 3	Disabled Hunt	March 24, 2026	Daylight to 1 PM	✅ Yes	Same as above
Zone 3	Spring Hunt	March 25 – May 8, 2026	Daylight to 1 PM	✅ April 4-May 8 only	Same as above

Special Note on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs): Different timing applies to certain WMAs and National Forest Districts. Bankhead Ranger District and select WMAs start their spring opportunities on April 8, 2026, while most other federal lands and WMAs follow the April 1 opener with youth and disabled hunts scheduled accordingly.

---

🕊️ Related Game Bird Opportunities in Alabama

While wild gobblers get most of the attention during spring and fall, Alabama offers fantastic opportunities for other game birds throughout the year:

• Mourning Dove – Multi-period schedule running from early September through mid-January
• Bobwhite Quail – Traditional upland favorite with opportunities from November through February
• Waterfowl (Ducks & Geese) – Split dates typically spanning late November through late January
• Woodcock – Migratory timing usually offers hunting from mid-December through January
• Snipe – Similar timeframe to woodcock for these marshland flyers
• Rails & Gallinules – Coastal and wetland opportunities for specialized hunters

Each of these species offers unique challenges and rewards. I remember my first successful quail hunt in the Black Belt region – after hours of walking behind my buddy’s pointer, that explosive covey rise still gives me goosebumps thinking about it!

---

📜 Essential Alabama Wild Gobbler Regulations for 2025-2026

Understanding the rules keeps you legal and helps conserve the resource for future generations. Here are the critical regulations:

Bag Limits 🎯

• Daily limit: One gobbler per day
• Seasonal limit: Four gobblers total during combined fall and spring opportunities
• WMA/National Forest restriction: No more than two gobblers from any single WMA, Conservation Heritage Area (CHA), or National Forest Ranger District
• First 10 days restriction: Only one gobbler allowed during the first 10 days of each hunt period from each WMA, CHA, or National Forest Ranger District

Legal Birds 🦃

• Gobblers ONLY – Bearded birds with visible beard (hens are completely off-limits)
• All harvested birds must be checked through the Game Check system

Hunting Hours ⏰

• All periods: Daylight hours until 1:00 PM (that’s right, afternoon hunting isn’t allowed)
• This regulation protects roosting birds and reduces accidental hen harvests

Decoy Rules 🪶

• Spring hunts: Decoys allowed only during specified windows (varies by zone, generally starting early April)
• Fall hunts (Zone 3 only): NO decoys permitted during either fall period
• Youth and disabled hunts: Decoys allowed during all special opportunity events

Required Equipment & Methods

• Legal firearms include shotguns, rifles, muzzleloaders, and archery equipment
• Electronic calls are prohibited statewide
• Hunting over bait requires a separate Bait Privilege License ($18.45 for residents)

Game Check Requirement ✓

All harvested gobblers must be reported through Alabama’s Game Check system within 48 hours. You can report via phone, online at OutdoorAlabama.com, or through the mobile app.

---

🎟️ Alabama Wild Gobbler License & Tag Fees

Getting properly licensed is straightforward, and the investment directly supports conservation efforts. Here’s what you’ll pay for the 2025-2026 period:

Resident Hunters (Living in Alabama)

• All Game License (includes gobblers and deer): $34.35
• Small Game License (excludes gobblers and deer): $22.75
• WMA License (required for public land big game hunting): $22.75
• State Duck Stamp (if waterfowl hunting): $12.35
• Bait Privilege License (if hunting over bait): $18.45

💰 Example resident cost for public land gobbler hunting: $34.35 (All Game) + $22.75 (WMA) = $57.10 total

Non-Resident Hunters (Out-of-State)

• Annual All Game License: $399.50
• 10-Day Trip All Game License: $246.60
• 3-Day Trip All Game License: $173.90
• WMA License (for public lands): $22.75
• Bait Privilege License (if hunting over bait): $63.40

💰 Example non-resident cost for a week-long spring hunt: $246.60 (10-Day All Game) + $22.75 (WMA if needed) = $269.35 total

Special Exemptions & Discounts

• Age 65+: Alabama residents are completely exempt from purchasing hunting licenses (must carry proof of age and residency)
• Age 64: Residents who purchase a license at 64 receive a lifetime license
• 100% Disabled Veterans: Only $3.60 for All Game License (requires VA certification)
• Youth (under 16): No license required when hunting with a licensed adult
• Landowners: Resident landowners and immediate family can hunt their own property without a license

---

🏹 Alabama Wild Gobbler License Requirements

Before you head afield, make sure you meet these prerequisites:

Who Needs a License?

• Residents: Ages 16-64 must have a valid hunting license
• Non-residents: All ages (except youth under 16 with licensed adult supervision) require licenses
• Seniors 65+: Exempt (Alabama residents only)

Hunter Education Certification 📚

If you were born on or after August 1, 1977, you must either:

1. Complete an approved hunter education course, OR
2. Hunt under “supervision required” status with a certified adult (21+) within 30 feet

Hunter education courses are available online and in-person throughout the state. While you can take the course as early as age 10, certification isn’t required until you reach license-buying age at 16.

Purchasing Your License

You’ve got three convenient options:

1. Online: OutdoorAlabama.com (easiest and available 24/7)
2. In person: County Probate Office or licensed agent (sporting goods stores, bait shops)
3. Phone: Contact your local license commissioner

Pro tip: Buy online to avoid lines and get instant access to your license. I learned this the hard way after spending 45 minutes waiting at the probate office during opening week!

---

🤔 Alabama Wild Gobbler Hunting FAQs

Q: Can I hunt both fall and spring opportunities in Zone 3?
A: Absolutely! Zone 3 is unique in offering both fall hunts (November and December) plus the full spring opportunity. Just remember your four-gobbler seasonal limit applies across all periods combined.

Q: What’s the difference between the youth and regular hunts?
A: Youth hunts open 2-7 days earlier than regular periods, giving young hunters (typically 15 and under) first crack at fresh birds. These special events also allow decoy use from day one and provide a less-crowded woods experience.

Q: Do I need separate tags for each bird I harvest?
A: No physical tags are required. Alabama uses the Game Check reporting system instead. After harvesting a bird, you must report it through the phone system, website, or app within 48 hours.

Q: Can I hunt WMAs without the special WMA license?
A: For big game species including wild gobblers, you need both your regular hunting license AND a WMA license ($22.75). Small game hunting on most WMAs only requires your basic hunting license, but always check specific area regulations.

Q: Are bearded hens legal to harvest?
A: Yes! While rare, if a hen has a visible beard, she’s legal during gobbler-only periods. That said, many experienced hunters voluntarily pass on bearded hens to preserve breeding stock.

Q: What happens if I’m hunting at 1:00 PM and birds are approaching?
A: Legally, you cannot shoot after 1:00 PM, even if birds are in range. This is a strict cutoff time, not a “heading back to camp” suggestion. Violations carry significant fines, so plan your hunts to wrap up with plenty of time.

Q: Can I use my out-of-state vehicle on Alabama WMAs?
A: Yes, as long as you have the proper non-resident licenses. However, some WMAs have vehicle restrictions or require parking in designated areas. Always review specific area regulations before your hunt.

Q: What’s the penalty for shooting a hen?
A: Accidentally or intentionally harvesting a hen carries serious consequences including fines up to $500, potential license suspension, and loss of hunting privileges. Always positively identify your target and the area beyond it.

---

🎯 Wrapping Up Your Alabama Gobbler Hunt Planning

Alabama’s 2025-2026 wild bird opportunities offer something for everyone – from the early fall hunts in Zone 3 to the extended spring periods that run through early May. With three distinct zones, special youth and disabled hunter events, and generous bag limits, the Heart of Dixie continues to be one of the Southeast’s premier destinations for pursuing these magnificent birds.

Remember to check specific WMA regulations if hunting public lands, report all harvests through Game Check, and always verify you’re in the correct zone before heading out. The state’s zone map (available at OutdoorAlabama.com) is your essential reference tool.

Good luck out there, and here’s hoping you hear plenty of thunderous gobbles echoing through Alabama’s forests this year!

---

⚠️ Official Disclaimer

This guide is based on the 2025-2026 Alabama hunting regulations as published. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, regulations can change, and typographical errors may occur. Always verify current regulations, dates, and requirements through the official source before hunting.

🔗 Official regulations: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Outdoor Alabama

Also Check: Complete USA Turkey Seasons