HUNTING LICENSES

A Hunting License is required in the state of Alabama to hunt any game animal. There are a variety of license types available depending on your age, residency status, and what type of game you plan to hunt. Some of the hunting license types in Alabama include:   

Resident Annual Hunting License

Issued to residents of Alabama who are aged 17-64. This license type is available for either all-game types, or small game only, depending on the license type purchased. The license is valid from the 1st of September through to August 31st, of the following year. 

Resident 64 Lifetime License

Alabama residents who are 64 years of age or older may obtain a Resident 64 Lifetime License. All residents within the state are issued this license type at 64 years of age, as long as they possess an Alabama Driver’s License. This license exempts the hunter from being required to obtain future annual hunting licenses, however certain license privileges may still be required including bathing and duck stamp requirements.  

Hunter Exempt License Privilege (H.E.L.P)

The State of Alabama provides hunters with the option of obtaining a Hunter Exempt License Privilege or “H.E.L.P” license. This license type is available to hunters who are exempt from purchasing a hunting license, including:

• Hunters who are 15 years of age or less (residents and non-residents)
• Alabama residents who are 65 years of age or older who possess an AL driver’s license
• Alabama residents who hunt on their own property, and possess an AL driver’s license

The license provides eligible hunters with a unique identifying number which is used to enter deer and turkey harvest information into Alabama’s  Game Check Database system. 

Hunters who are eligible for the H.E.L.P license should keep in mind that while they may be exempt from certain license privileges they may still be required to obtain various licenses to participate in certain types of hunter (ex. Baiting, or federal duck stamp requirements). For more information on the HE.L.P license, and how to obtain one visit the Alabama DCNR website. 

Baiting Privilege License

Hunters must obtain a baiting privilege license to legally bait white-tailed deer and feral swine within the state of Alabama. Baiting privileges cost $15 and, once purchased, allow Alabama residents to bait white-tailed deer and feral swine on private land, or leased land. Boating is prohibited in public hunting areas, including Wildlife Management Areas.  

GAME SPECIES

Alabama offers a wide variety of game species for all types of hunters. The natural diversity of Alabama’s landscape results in numerous game species and hunting opportunities.  

Game species in Alabama include:

• Big game including white-tailed deer and turkey.
• Small game including dove, quail, rabbit, squirrels, and oppossums.
• Waterfowl and other migratory game birds including ducks, geese, and coots.
• Furbearers including beaver, bobcat, fox, mink and muskrat. 

NON-GAME SPECIES

Nongame species within the state makeup 95% of the state’s native species and include mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates which may not be legally hunted, are considered a nuisance or are protected, endangered, or at risk. There is, unfortunately, a lengthy list of endangered, protected, and threatened species within the state. For more information on nongame, and endangered species within the state visit the Alabama DCNR non-game wildlife program page. 

INVASIVE SPECIES

Invasive animals and other pests have been introduced to the United States, including the State of Alabama, and have become a threat to native wildlife. These animals, plants, fish, and invertebrates typically have no natural predators which can result in the rapid spread and population growth. This in turn can seriously harm the state’s lands and waters and can be detrimental to the health and population numbers of a variety of the state’s native plants and animals. 

In order to protect Alabama’s native plants and animals, invasive species must be controlled and eradicated. Anyone who encounters or suspects that they have encountered an invasive species within the state is encouraged to report the sighting so that it can be monitored and controlled. For information on how to report various types of invasive species in Alabama visit the Alabama DCNR Nuisance Animal Control page. 

PRIVATE LAND

Much of the land in Alabama is privately owned. Hunters can typically freely take game animals hunted on their own private property or may seek permission from a landowner to hunt on private property. Hunters who wish to take game on privately owned land must follow state hunting regulations as well as any regulations specified by the landowner. Hunters must ensure they respect the rights and property of the landowner at all times. 

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY AREAS

Special Opportunity Areas (SOAs) are properties which are typically smaller than Wildlife Management Areas and are often used for drawn hunts, and smaller takes/bag limits

Annually, certain counties within the state offer a limited number of slots for successful permit holders, which allow them to hunt within a particular SOA for a designated number of days. 

Hunters who are granted access to hunt within these areas should keep in mind that regulations may vary from typical hunting rules within the state including bag limits, hunting hours, take methods and game species that may be hunted. 

For more information on hunting within SOAs visit the Alabama DCNR Special Opportunity Area webpage. 

PUBLIC LAND

There are numerous hunting opportunities on public lands in Alabama. In fact, there are more than 700,000 acres of public hunting space within various state-managed lands including Wildlife Management Areas, Special Opportunity Areas, State Parks, and Forests. These lands are open to a variety of outdoor recreational activities including hunting, hiking, and bird watching, among others. 

Public lands within the state also encompass varied habitats, landscapes, and game species providing opportunities for hunters of all skill levels and interests. Alabama’s Forever Wild Land Trust also provides hunting opportunities on some lands. Some of these lands have been incorporated into existing Wildlife Management Areas, while stand-alone land trust properties are designated as natural preserves or recreation areas. 

For more information on public lands that are open to hunting within the state, visit Alabama’s DCNR Public Hunting page. 

Hunting in Alabama’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)

Alabama’s Wildlife Management Areas are managed by the Alabama DCNR Division of Wildlife and Fisheries. These areas encompass more than 700,000 acres of land throughout the state and offer multiple opportunities for outdoor recreational activities, including hunting. 

Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) within the state vary in size, with some smaller in size at around 400 acres while others span a massive 90,000 + acres of space. Game species within many WMAs are numerous and varied providing plenty of opportunities for hunters to take advantage of Alabama’s diverse wildlife and wild game species.

WMA Regulations

Hunters should keep in mind that regulations within WMAs may differ from other public hunting spaces, or regulations that apply on private lands. Some of these regulations include:

• Restrictions on the use of dogs to hunt deer or turkey
• Deer hunting tactics restrictions (ex. Stalking with multiple hunters during certain hours)
• Take method restrictions (ex. Minimum gauge requirements when hunting turkey with a shotgun)
• Restrictions on other types of recreational use such as fireworks use and camping.