Alabama · Public Land · 2026 Edition

Alabama Public Hunting Land 2026: WMAs & Access Rules

2 wildlife management areas tracked here, from 28,214 to 44,500 acres. A hunting license covers you on Alabama WMA land the same as anywhere else in the state — but read the access rules below before you assume that's all you need.

01 — Wildlife management areas

AreaCountyAcresSpecies
Oakmulgee Wildlife Management Area Hale, Bibb, Perry 44,500 Deer, Turkey, Small game
Barbour Wildlife Management Area Barbour 28,214 Deer, Turkey, Quail, Small game

Oakmulgee, at 44,500 acres inside the Talladega National Forest's Oakmulgee district, is one of the biggest of Alabama's 35 WMAs and covers less-pressured ground than the areas closer to Birmingham — deer here carry a 3-point-or-15-inch antler restriction. Barbour, one of the oldest state-owned public hunting areas in Alabama at 28,214 acres of hardwood bottoms, pine plantation and farmland, runs the same restriction and adds quail to the species list. This list is a starting point, not Alabama WFF's full inventory of nearly 800,000 acres of wildlife management areas statewide.

02 — Access rules beyond your hunting license

Every WMA hunt in Alabama starts with a check-in and ends with a check-out — through the Outdoor Alabama app or a paper daily permit at a check station or self-service kiosk — on top of whatever licenses the hunt itself requires. Small game needs a daily permit, an AREA Permit and a hunting or Wildlife Heritage License; deer and turkey add a separate WMA license to that stack. The Wildlife Heritage License substitutes for the standard license-plus-WMA-license combo for small game (not waterfowl), unless a specific limited quota hunt requires more.

03 — Where to go next

Alabama hunting license costs and permits →

Alabama hunting seasons →

Verified · Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries · Last verified 2026-08-08

Publisher's note. WMA list and access rules read from Alabama WFF, retrieved 2026-08-08. Review due 2027-08-01. This is a starting list, not the agency's full WMA inventory — confirm current rules for a specific area before you hunt it.