Wildlife Management Areas

The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources continues development, maintenance, and management of over 750,000 acres of land for the Alabama hunter. These areas are financed with funds derived from hunting licenses and federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. Located below you will find a list and maps of public hunting areas in Alabama.

You may ask, what’s the ownership break down of these public acres?

366,670 acres are owned by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and State Lands Division) and the Forever Wild land Trust (FWLT).
345,323 acres are Federally owned acreage managed through cooperative agreements with the USFS, USFWS, TVA and COE.
And roughly 38,000 acres are privately owned acreage managed through “In-Kind” lease agreements.

Special rules and regulations apply on all Wildlife Management Areas. Individuals should check area map or with Area Biologists for specifics (links located at the bottom of this page).

WMA Information/Updates:

In addition to the appropriate license, a WMA AREA Permit is required in app or paper form on all WMAs for hunters 16 years of age or older. Hunters who fully complete the WMA Check-In/Check-out on the Outdoor Alabama app are not required to be in possession of a paper copy of the WMA AREA Permit. Check-in must be completed prior to or upon arrival and Check-out when departing the WMA. If not using this feature of the Outdoor Alabama app, hunters must have a signed paper copy of the WMA AREA Permit in their possession.

WMA Check-In/Check-Out or Daily Permit Requirement

When hunting on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) using the Outdoor Alabama app Check-in or obtaining a paper daily permit from a check station or kiosk self-service box located on the WMA (See AREA Permit for check station and kiosk locations) is required before beginning your hunt.

If not using the WMA Check-in/Check-out on the Outdoor Alabama app and using the paper daily permit follow the instructions below:

The "Check In" tear-off stub of the daily permit must be filled out and deposited in the return slot of self-service box.
Remaining "Check Out" permit portion is to be retained in possession of hunter while hunting and completely filled out and deposited into self-service box at check station or kiosk at the end of each day hunted.
The daily permit along with a AREA Permit, and hunting license (or heritage license) are required to hunt small game.
The daily permit along with a AREA Permit, WMA license and hunting license are required for deer and turkey.

Prescribed Burning:

Prescribed burning is likely to occur on several WMAs during this hunting season. Prescribed burn units are indicated on the WMA maps below. Prescribed burn personnel will provide signage in the area of the scheduled burns on the day before and the day of the burns. Please be aware of these areas if hunting within these units.
If you have any questions regarding the burns, contact the area biologist listed on the Permit map.
When possible, up-to-date burning information will be posted on our Facebook page. Follow us on Facebook at: Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division.

NOTICE: Current Burn Plan Maps

Spring turkey season will be delayed for research purposes on these WMAs: Barbour, J.D. Martin-Skyline, Hollins, Oakmulgee, Lowndes, Choccolocco, and Perdido River. The delayed season will run March 27 to May 2, 2021. The reasons for the delay are so biologists can:
- Conduct research on wild turkey survival and productivity to guide management decisions.
- Research decision tool predictions suggest altering season frameworks would increase wild turkey reproduction and population over time.
- Test season and bag limit decision tool on small experimental scale (three study sites and three WMAs of diverse habitats and hunting pressure).
- Monitor and evaluate turkey response to season changes and compare to tool predicted outcomes.
Statewide — Gate closures are from May 1 until September 15. This has been a long-standing policy with the majority of state WMAs. Road closures permit a period of reduced disturbance for many wildlife species that are nesting, carrying young, or taking care of new offspring. Additionally, these road closures allow WMA staff necessary time to repair roads and culverts without issues of vehicular traffic and travel on newly repaired roads. Individuals or groups that enjoy hiking, nature photography or bird watching may still access the entire area on foot behind closed gates during this period. All gates will be opened to vehicular traffic September 15 through April 30. Gate closures dates may vary on some WMAs. Please contact the area manager to confirm gate closure dates for a specific WMA.

Requirements to Hunt on Management Area:

A hunting license
Outdoor Alabama WMA Check-in app or paper Wildlife Management Area - AREA Permit
Outdoor Alabama WMA Check-in app or paper Daily Permit
Wildlife Management Area License
A Wildlife Heritage License is valid in lieu of resident State Hunting and Wildlife Management Area License for small game hunting, excluding waterfowl

Hunt the rut on Alabama's Wildlife Management Areas.

For information about when rut activity usually occurs on Alabama’s WMAs, SOAs, or statewide, download the Alabama Rut Map to plan your hunting trip this year.

DOWNLOAD: Alabama Deer Rut Map

2024-2025 Wildlife Management Area Maps and Permits

Wildlife Management Area	Location	Size	Type Hunting Allowed	Harvest Surveys
Autauga	Autauga county, north of Prattville	10,463 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Barbour	Barbour and Bullock Counties near Clayton	28,214 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Black Warrior	Lawrence and Winston counties near Moulton	91,263 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Blue Spring	Covington County near Andalusia	24,783 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Boggy Hollow	Covington County near Andalusia	7,000 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Choccolocco	Cleburne County near Heflin	56,838 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Coosa	Coosa County near Rockford	17,486 acres	Big game and small game hunting
David K. Nelson	Sumter, Hale, Marengo and Greene Counties near Demopolis	8,308 acres	Waterfowl, big game, and small game hunting
Freedom Hills	Colbert County near Cherokee	33,539 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Geneva State Forest	Geneva County near Florala	16,093 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Grand Bay Savanna	Mobile County near Grand Bay	5,151 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Hollins	Clay and Talladega Counties near Hollins	28,802 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Jackson County ^{Blind Regulations}	Crow Creek: Jackson County near Stevenson	2,069 acres	Waterfowl and small game hunting
^{Blind Regulations}	Crow Creek Refuge: Jackson County near Stevenson	3,346 acres	Small game hunting
^{Blind Regulations}	Raccoon Creek: Jackson County near Stevenson	8,507 acres	Waterfowl and small game hunting
^{Blind Regulations}	Mud Creek: Jackson County near Scottsboro	8,003 acres	Waterfowl and small game hunting
	North Sauty Refuge: Jackson County near Scottsboro	5,009 acres	Small game hunting
James D. Martin-Skyline	Jackson County near Scottsboro	60,732 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Lauderdale	Lauderdale County near Waterloo	20,344 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Little River	Cherokee and DeKalb Counties near Centre	13,100 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Lowndes	Lowndes County near White Hall	15,920 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Martin CHA	Tallapoosa County near Jacksons Gap	400 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Mobile-Tensaw Delta & W.L. Holland	Baldwin and Mobile Counties, north and south of the causeway	51,040 acres	Waterfowl, big game, and small game hunting
Mulberry Fork	Tuscaloosa and Walker Counties near Tutwiler	35,260 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Sam R. Murphy	Lamar and Marion Counties near Guin	16,372 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Oakmulgee	Bibb, Hale, Perry and Tuscaloosa Counties	44,500 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Perdido River	Baldwin County, north of Interstate 10, near Gateswood	17,337 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Red Hills	Monroe County near Monroeville	13,930 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Riverton	Colbert County near Cherokee	5,285 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Seven-Mile Island	Lauderdale County near Florence	4,685 acres	Waterfowl and small game hunting
Swan Creek ^{Blind Regulations}	Limestone County near Decatur	8,870 acres	Waterfowl and small game hunting
Mallard Fox Creek ^{Blind Regulations}	Lawrence and Morgan Counties near Decatur	1,742 acres	Waterfowl and small game hunting
Upper Delta	Baldwin & Mobile Counties near Stockton	42,451 acres	Waterfowl, big game, and small game hunting
William R. Ireland-Cahaba River	Bibb and Shelby counties near West Blocton	35,559 acres	Big game and small game hunting
Yates Lake	Elmore County near Tallassee	5,616 acres	Big game and small game hunting

*The available files for download may require special software and hardware to open, and are intended to assist hunters in utilizing GPS units and mapping programs to enhance their WMA experience. These files by no means replace the need for the signed and dated WMA permit map to be in your possession while hunting on the WMA.

Hard Copies – printed copies of maps for individual wildlife management areas are available from District offices and vendors in the vicinity of each area. Permits for small game, archery, and some gun deer hunts are included on the maps. Permits for most gun deer hunts will be issued at check stations on the days of the hunts. Refer to the Wildlife Management Area Hunting Schedule and Information for instructions to obtain the required hunting permits.

Electronic Copies – Maps with hunting permits for individual Wildlife Management Areas are available for downloading and printing from this website. Permits for most gun deer hunts will continue to be issued at check stations on the days of the hunts and will not be available electronically.

The Adobe Acrobat Reader is used to view and print PDF files.

Downloaded Adobe Acrobat Reader

If you have a problem opening the PDF maps, please send an email to DCNR.Info@dcnr.alabama.gov.

Regulation Information

Section 220-2-.55, 220-2-.164, 220-2-.165

WMA Information/Updates:

WMA Check-In/Check-Out or Daily Permit Requirement

If not using the WMA Check-in/Check-out on the Outdoor Alabama app and using the paper daily permit follow the instructions below:

Requirements to Hunt on Management Area:

Hunt the rut on Alabama's Wildlife Management Areas.

2024-2025 Wildlife Management Area Maps and Permits

Wildlife Management Area

Location

Size

Type Hunting Allowed

Harvest Surveys

Regulation Information