Alabama Hunting License 2026: Cost, Turkey & NR

The Resident All Game Hunting License ($34.35) is the foundation of Alabama hunting and covers deer, turkey, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel, feral hog, coyote, and all other legal game species. Deer tags (3 bucks) and turkey tags (5 spring gobblers) are included with the license at no additional charge — Alabama does not sell deer or turkey tags separately outside of the license purchase. Non-residents pay $399.50 for an annual All Game license, $246.60 for a 10-day trip license, or $173.90 for a 3-day trip license. All NR trip licenses cover deer and turkey.

Two additional licenses apply to specific hunting situations. The WMA License ($22.75 resident and NR) is required for hunting on any Wildlife Management Area. The Baiting Privilege License ($18.45 resident / $63.40 NR) is required to hunt deer or feral swine over bait on private land — baiting is legal in Alabama on private property with this license, which distinguishes it from most neighboring states. A State Duck Stamp ($12.10) and Federal Duck Stamp ($25) are both required for waterfowl hunting. Nighttime feral swine and coyote hunting requires a separate license ($18 resident / $61.65 NR).

Non-resident college students aged 17–23 who are enrolled in an Alabama college or university pay the $34.35 resident All Game rate — same price as Alabama residents. This is an unusual provision that benefits out-of-state students attending Alabama, Auburn, UAB, and other Alabama institutions. Resident landowners hunt on their own property without a license; youth under 16 (resident) hunt free; residents 65 and older are exempt from license requirements.

Alabama's deer season runs October 15 through February 10, encompassing archery, a muzzleloader-only period (November 10–21), and general gun season (November 22 through February 10). Rifles are legal statewide for deer during firearms season — there are no shotgun-only or straight-wall-only restrictions statewide. The long season and rifle legality are two reasons Alabama attracts non-resident deer hunters from neighboring states with more restrictive weapon laws.

The bag limit is 3 bucks per season plus 1 antlerless deer per day with one antler restriction: at least one of the three bucks must have 4 or more points (each at least 1 inch long) on one antler. Baiting deer is legal on private land with a Baiting Privilege License ($18.45 resident / $63.40 NR). Hunting deer with dogs is permitted in designated zones — dogs pursue deer toward posted standers during gun season (November 22 through January 31). Both baiting and dog-deer hunting are prohibited on WMAs.

Alabama's Black Belt region — a band of dark, alkaline clay-soil farmland running through central Alabama from roughly Sumter County to Barbour County — is historically productive whitetail country. The region's mix of agriculture, timber stands, and creek bottoms supports consistent deer populations. The same region is also known for spring turkey hunting. Non-residents hunting the Black Belt should plan access to private land, as the majority of productive hunting in this corridor is on private agricultural property.

Alabama spring turkey season runs March 15 through May 1 with a 5-gobbler season limit (daily limit 1). Turkey tags are included in the All Game license. No draw is required. Eastern wild turkeys are distributed statewide, with northern Alabama's forested ridges and hollows (Tennessee River valley, Bankhead National Forest) and the central Black Belt producing consistent spring hunting. There is no fall turkey season in Alabama; spring is the only opportunity for gobblers.

Feral hog hunting is available year-round with no bag limit on private land, with no additional permit beyond the standard hunting license. On WMAs, hog hunting is subject to area-specific regulations. Nighttime hog hunting is available with a separate license ($18 resident / $61.65 NR). Alligator hunting is available through a limited draw in southern Alabama — the season runs August 8 through September 7. Participation requires a separate alligator license and draw permit administered through the Alabama DCNR.

Dove hunting is a significant part of Alabama's hunting culture. The season runs in two splits: an early split in September through mid-October and a late split from late November through mid-January. Dove fields managed by landowners and hunting clubs are widespread, and the two-split structure gives hunters flexibility across the fall season. Quail hunting, while declining due to habitat loss, remains active with stocking programs and some wild covey areas in the Black Belt and Coastal Plain.