The passing of the autumnal equinox and the first hints of cooler air moving across south Alabama mean one thing for thousands of the state’s outdoor enthusiasts: the fall hunting seasons have arrived. Dove season is already underway, and archery, gun and small-game seasons for deer, turkey and waterfowl are set to open in the coming weeks across the region.
Hunting remains a significant part of both the culture and the economy of Alabama. A 2011 study conducted by Auburn University found that hunting and related wildlife activities generate roughly $4 billion for the state’s economy each year. A national survey conducted the same year found that more than 535,000 people age 16 and older spent a combined 10.3 million days hunting in Alabama, underscoring just how deeply the tradition runs across generations of families in the state.
For many hunters, the pursuit is about more than sport. Deer, rabbits, ducks and geese remain a meaningful source of food for households across rural and coastal Alabama, continuing a practice passed down for generations. Dove hunting in particular draws multiple generations of the same family into the field together each fall.
Mourning dove and white-winged dove season is already open for the southern half of the state. The next segments run Oct. 11 through Oct. 26, and again from Nov. 12 through Jan. 15. Hunters may pursue doves from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset, with a daily limit of 15 birds. In the northern half of the state, the season runs through Nov. 9 before resuming Dec. 7 through Dec. 31.
Deer hunting remains the most popular pursuit among Alabama sportsmen, and according to survey data from the state’s Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, the most productive hunting grounds in southwest Alabama are found in Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties. Archery season for Zone B, which covers the southern half of the state, opens Oct. 25 and runs through Feb. 10.
Gun seasons for deer are broken into several segments this year. Antlered bucks may be taken by stalking or dog hunting from Nov. 22 through Nov. 30 and again from Dec. 11 through Jan. 25, with a stalk-only period (no dogs permitted) running Jan. 26 through Feb. 10. Unantlered deer may be taken on private or leased land from Nov. 22 through Nov. 30 and Dec. 11 through Feb. 10, while hunters on public land under the open permit system are limited to Dec. 15 through Jan. 1. A special muzzleloader and air rifle season for private, leased or National Forest land, with no dogs allowed, runs Nov. 17 through Nov. 21, and a bow, arrow and spear stalk-hunting season (also without dogs) runs Oct. 25 through Feb. 10.
Wildlife officials again split several of this year’s seasons into multiple segments after reviewing data on the reproductive health of deer herds in different parts of the state, a change designed to let south Alabama hunters pursue a larger share of the rut. Regulators also lowered the antlerless bag limit statewide, cutting it from two deer to one per day.
Turkey season, in counties where decoys are not permitted, runs Nov. 22-30 and Dec. 20-Jan. 1, and applies only in Clarke, Clay, Covington, Monroe, Randolph and Talladega counties. Where decoys are allowed, the season runs March 14 through April 30 in southwest Alabama, with slightly different windows of April 1-30 and April 22-26 in other parts of the state.
Waterfowl hunters have several seasons to track this fall. Teal season runs Sept. 6-21, with a limit of six birds a day and 18 in possession. Canada goose season runs Sept. 1-15, with a limit of five a day and 15 in possession. Snow and blue goose season runs Oct. 25-Nov. 9 in Escambia and Monroe counties, also with a limit of five a day and 15 in possession.
Duck season runs Nov. 17 through Jan. 25, with a six-bird daily limit that may include no more than four mallards (only two of which may be female), three wood ducks, one mottled duck, one black duck, two redheads, two pintails, one canvasback and three scaup; the possession limit is three times the daily bag. Merganser season also runs Nov. 17 through Jan. 25, with a five-bird daily limit and no more than two hooded mergansers allowed. Coot season, running the same dates, carries a 15-bird daily limit and a 45-bird possession limit.
Hunters looking for details on other game, including squirrel season, along with maps of hunting zones across the state, can find additional information through the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ outdoor resources and the state’s hunting regulations guide.
For anglers rather than hunters, a benefit fishing tournament is set for Saturday at Live Oak Landing off Highway 225 in Stockton. All participating anglers will receive a T-shirt and lunch. The tournament, presented by the Alabama Bass Federation, carries a $100 per-person registration fee that includes a $10 lunker fee and launch fee.
Also on the water this fall, the second annual Knockout Cancer Bass Tournament is raising money to benefit pediatric rheumatology and cancer research at Children’s of Alabama hospital in Birmingham. The tournament honors Frances Grace Hirs, a 14-year-old from Fairhope who is a patient at the hospital, and has drawn support from anglers across the region eager to fish for a cause.
On the racing side, Fairhope’s Grant Enfinger suffered a setback in his bid for the ARCA Racing Series championship after his Chevrolet’s engine failed during the ZLOOP 150 in Kentucky. Enfinger was credited with a 30th-place finish after completing just 19 laps. “It’s really disappointing for everybody at GMS Racing,” Enfinger said. “We lost something internal in the engine as soon as I shifted into fourth gear on the initial start.” Enfinger continues to lead the circuit with six wins on the season.
Mason Mitchell, who entered the Kentucky race with a 50-point lead over Enfinger in the driver standings, finished third and extended his advantage to 200 points. Mitchell can clinch the championship by finishing 35th or better in the ARCA 98.9 race at Kansas Speedway. Mobile’s Thomas “Moose” Praytor also competed in the ZLOOP 150, finishing 21st in his Ford and holding onto seventh place in the season standings.