Limited Quota Dog Deer Hunt Geneva State Forest and Blue Spring WMAs

Are you ready to experience a challenging and rewarding hunting adventure? The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is proud to announce the Limited Quota Dog Deer Hunts at Geneva State Forest and Blue Spring Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). These popular hunts, available for both adults and youth, require a permit and offer a unique opportunity to hunt with dogs in designated areas. Be sure to check the specific dates, bag limits, and license requirements for each hunt, as registration is only open for a limited time. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this special tradition!

Opens September 2nd at 8:00 AM!

Click Here to Register

Geneva State Forest ADULT Dog Deer Hunt registration:

Registration Opens September 2nd at 8:00 AM and closes September 15th at 1:00 PM.
To register, you must be 16 years old or older and have a Conservation ID number. The purchase of an Alabama Hunting License and a Wildlife Management Area License is required prior to registration. If you are a license-exempt resident (65 years old or older), you must obtain a Game Check H.E.L.P. number prior to registration. PURCHASE LICENSE HERE
Results of the draw will be displayed and/or emailed (those selected as a “hunter” or “alternate” will receive an email) on September 16 at 2:00 PM.
Successful applicants will have until September 19th at 2:00 pm to accept their “hunter” or “alternate” status.

This hunt will be two days (December 5-6, 2025) and is limited to 100 permits. One antlered buck or one unantlered deer per day. Antlered buck restrictions apply. To be legal for harvest, antlered bucks must have at least three (3) antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main antler beam.

Dogs must be approved by DCNR personnel.

Each successful permit holder can participate in each day of the two-day hunt.

Additionally, each successful permit holder can bring one guest (Adult or youth). If the permit holder is 21 years old or older, they are allowed to bring one youth aged 8-15 years old as a guest. The guest must remain on the assigned stand with the permit holder. Only one gun is allowed per assigned stand location. Only one bag limit is allowed per stand per day.

Each successful permit holder and guest(s) will meet at the old hangar on the airstrip at Geneva State Forest (coordinates will be provided to those drawn for the hunt, and signs will be placed on Forest Area Road to help direct on the day of the hunt), where they will be directed by volunteers on where to park. Check-in will begin at 5:00 am, and our safety meeting will begin at around 6:30 am.

After check-in and the safety meeting, you will follow one of our volunteers to your assigned stand. This hunt is broken up into a morning and an afternoon hunt. The morning hunt begins at approximately 8:00 am (or when the last stander/ permit holder is placed on their stand) and will end at 11:00 am. When the morning hunt concludes, everyone will meet back at the hangar/ airstrip to line back up and get ready for the afternoon hunt. The afternoon hunt starts at 12:00 pm (or when the last stander/ permit holder is placed on their stand) and concludes at 4:00 pm. After the afternoon hunt concludes, if you have not harvested a deer, you are not required to return to the airstrip/hangar to check out. If during either hunt you harvest a deer, antlered or unantlered, you must Game Check the deer on the Outdoor Alabama app as well as bring it back to the hangar/ airstrip to check it in with WFF personnel.

Each successful permit holder will be assigned to a stand location, and all members of the hunting party (permit holder and guest(s) are required to remain within 25 yards of their assigned stand location.

Legal firearms and ammunition for all dog deer hunts are shotguns utilizing buckshot ONLY. No rimfire, centerfire rifles, or slugs are allowed.

Dogs and dog handlers will be provided by the Alabama Dog Hunters Association. Dogs must be pre-approved by the ADHA before participating in the hunt.

Geneva State Forest YOUTH Dog Deer Hunt registration:

Registration Opens September 2nd at 8:00 AM and closes September 15th at 1:00 PM. Drawing results will be available on September 16 at 2:00 PM.
To register, you must be 21 years old or older, or the parent of the youth hunter and the holder of a Conservation ID number.
The purchase of an Alabama Hunting License and a Wildlife Management Area License is required prior to registration. If you are a license-exempt resident (65 years old or older), you must obtain a Game Check H.E.L.P. number prior to registration. PURCHASE LICENSE HERE

This hunt will be a one-day hunt (November 15, 2025) and is limited to 75 permits. Two deer per day, one unantlered deer and one antlered buck per day. No antler restrictions apply.

Dogs must be approved by DCNR personnel.

Additionally, each successful permit holder, "Hunter" 21 years old or older, or the parent of the youth hunter, is allowed to bring two youth 15 years old or younger as a guest that must remain on the assigned stand with the permit holder. Only one gun is allowed per assigned stand location, and only youth can shoot. Only one bag limit is allowed per stand per day.

Each successful permit holder will be assigned to a stand, and all members of that hunting party (permit holder and guest(s) are required to remain within 25 yards of their stand location.

Legal firearms and ammunition for all dog deer hunts are shotguns utilizing buckshot ONLY. No rimfire, centerfire rifles, or slugs are allowed.

Dogs and dog handlers will be provided by the Alabama Dog Hunters Association. Dogs must be pre-approved by the ADHA before participating in the hunt.

Blue Spring WMA ADULT Dog Deer Hunt registration:

Registration Opens September 2nd at 8:00 AM and closes September 15th at 1:00 PM.
To register, you must be 16 years old or older and have a Conservation ID number. The purchase of an Alabama Hunting License and a Wildlife Management Area License is required prior to registration. If you are a license-exempt resident (65 years old or older), you must obtain a Game Check H.E.L.P. number prior to registration. PURCHASE LICENSE HERE
Results of the draw will be displayed and/or emailed (those selected as a “hunter” or “alternate” will receive an email) on September 16th at 2:00 pm.
Successful applicants will have until September 19th at 2:00 pm to accept their “hunter” or “alternate” status.

There will be two hunts (November 28-29, 2025 & December 26-27, 2025). Each hunt will be two days and is limited to 300 permits per hunt. One antlered buck per day. Antlered buck restrictions apply. To be legal for harvest, antlered bucks must have at least three (3) antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main antler beam.

Each successful permit holder can participate in each day of the two-day hunt for which they are permitted.

Additionally, each registered permit holder can bring one guest (Adult or youth). If the permit holder is 21 years old or older, they are allowed to bring one youth aged 8-15 years old as a guest. The guest must remain with the permit holder throughout the hunt. Only one gun is allowed per pair. Only one bag limit is allowed per pair per day.

Each successful permit holder and guest(s) are required to check in at the Blue Spring WMA check station to obtain a daily permit. This is required each morning the permit holder plans to attend the hunt. If you do not have that day’s permit, you are not allowed to hunt. The check station will be open from 5:00 am until 7:00 pm with WFF personnel present to assist in checking in permit holders as well as deer harvested.

Legal firearms and ammunition for all dog deer hunts are shotguns utilizing buckshot ONLY. No rimfire, centerfire rifles, or slugs are allowed.

Both Blue Spring WMA dog deer hunts are self-guided. Meaning you WILL NOT be assigned a stand for the hunt, and dogs and dog handlers also WILL NOT be provided. This means that permit holders are allowed to bring their own dogs to participate in these hunts.

If the permit holder or guest harvests a deer, they must Game Check their deer on the Outdoor Alabama app and check the deer at the WMA check station before they leave the WMA.

Online Hunt and Workshop Registration Process
You must have a Conservation ID to register for a hunt or workshop. Below are the steps to follow when registering for a hunt or workshop:

From the hunt or workshop webpage select/click on the Click Here To Register link
Then, Click the "Sign in to My Hunts to Register" link on the top of the screen
You will be prompted to enter your CID and date of birth
You can now select "Register for a Hunt" which will take you to the list of the various hunts and workshops available for registration.
A drop down box on the left side of the registration page will allow you to filter for the hunt type of interest (Youth Dove, Special Opportunity Hunts)
Choose the hunt(s)/workshop you are interested in attending and select the "add this hunt to cart" button on the far right of the screen.
After you have added your hunt(s)/workshop to the cart, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the green “Review Registration". Review the hunts selected in the box and then select “Submit my hunts for
registration” button.
You will then be back at the page illustrating all the hunt(s)/workshops you have registered for. The youth dove hunt and trapping workshop submissions are pending until the system updates (every 15 minutes). The random draw hunts will be pending until the date of the draw closing.

NOTE:

A State Hunting License, Wildlife Management Area (WMA) License and a wildlife management area permit, are required by all dog deer hunt permit holders and guests, if applicable.
Administrators of the hunt shall have the right to distribute the hunters and to inspect all vehicles or other equipment while on the areas.