Black Warrior WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
ADCNR's 2026-27 AREA Permit for Black Warrior WMA sets these deer seasons: archery Oct. 1-Jan. 15 and Jan. 16-27 (bucks only); youth Oct. 31-Nov. 1; primitive weapons Nov. 2-6; gun Nov. 7-8 in every zone, plus Nov. 12-15, Nov. 26-29 and Dec. 10-13 in Zone A and Nov. 19-22, Dec. 3-6 and Dec. 17-20 in Zone B; spring turkey is Mar. 27-May 3, gobblers only. The area is 90,338 acres of public hunting land in Lawrence and Winston counties, run by ADCNR in cooperation with the US Forest Service. Around it, hunters took an estimated 5,027 deer in Lawrence County in the 2024-25 season, by ADCNR's hunter harvest survey.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: ADCNR's 2026-27 AREA Permit for the area. County harvest: ADCNR's hunter harvest survey, 2019-20 to 2024-25.
Black Warrior WMAOther ADCNR WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 90,338 acres (measured on ADCNR's WMA boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Lawrence County, Winston County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth, Primitive Weapons and Gun |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-Jan. 15 and Jan. 16-27 (bucks only) |
| Gun deer | Every zone: Nov. 7-8; Zone A: Nov. 12-15, Nov. 26-29 and Dec. 10-13; Zone B: Nov. 19-22, Dec. 3-6 and Dec. 17-20 |
| Spring turkey | Mar. 27-May 3, gobblers only |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer hunting |
| Deer check station | Mandatory on set dates (below) |
| Contact | Biologist – Kevin Pugh (256) 431-4711 |
| Nearest towns | Addison (5 mi), Moulton (5 mi) and Double Springs (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on Black Warrior WMA?
No dog deer hunting and no buckshot on the area.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Daily limit and rules |
|---|---|---|
| Zones A & B: Archery | Oct. 1-Jan. 15 | One deer a day, either one unantlered deer or one antlered buck. No hunting on days of youth gun deer hunt. *Antlered buck restrictions apply for Zone B. |
| Zones A & B: Archery | Jan. 16-27 | One antlered buck a day. *Antlered buck restrictions apply for Zone B. Archery hunting is permitted in zone closed to gun deer hunting. |
| Zones A & B: Youth | Oct. 31-Nov. 1 | One deer a day, either one unantlered deer or one antlered buck. *No antler restrictions apply. |
| Zones A & B: Primitive Weapons | Nov. 2-6 | One deer a day, either one unantlered deer or one antlered buck *Antlered buck restrictions apply for Zone B. |
| Zone A & B: Gun | Nov. 7-8 | One deer a day, either one unantlered deer or one antlered buck. *Antlered buck restrictions apply for Zone B. |
| Zone A: Gun | Nov. 12-15, Nov. 26-29, and Dec. 10-13 | One antlered buck per day. |
| Zone B: Gun | Nov. 19-22, Dec. 3-6, and Dec. 17-20 | One antlered buck a day. *Antlered buck restrictions apply. |
Zones A and B here are the hunting zones on the area's own map, not ADCNR's statewide deer zones; the permit's map shows where each lies.
- Archery hunters must abide by all mandatory check station day requirements and gun deer hunt regulations/antler restrictions when hunting on days of gun deer hunts.
- To be legal for harvest, antlered bucks In Zone B must have at least four (4) antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main beam.
Deer check station
All deer harvested on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Nov. 7-8, Nov. 12-14, Nov. 19-21, Nov. 26-28, Dec. 3-5, Dec. 10-12, Dec. 17-19. Must be submitted at check station for data collection. The check station is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Additionally, the results of all hunts must be recorded using the Outdoor Alabama App or Daily Permit and submitted at kiosk at the conclusion of every hunt day.
Source: ADCNR, Black Warrior WMA 2026-27 AREA Permit, read October 2026. The permit and Regulation 220-2-.55 are the final word.
When is turkey season on Black Warrior WMA?
- Youth: Mar. 20 (Daylight until 1 p.m.) Gobblers only. Decoys allowed.
- Physically Disabled: Mar. 26 (Daylight until 1 p.m.) Gobblers only. Decoys allowed.
- Regular: Mar. 27-May 3 (Daylight until 1 p.m.) Gobblers only. Decoys allowed.
- Bag limit: No more than 1 gobbler during the first 10 days of each season. No more than 2 gobblers total per hunter from Black Warrior WMA/Bankhead Ranger District.
What else can you hunt on Black Warrior WMA?
| Game | 2026-27 season on the area |
|---|---|
| Waterfowl | No Open Season |
| Dove | No Open Season |
| Rabbit and squirrel | Sept. 12-Feb. 28– No hunting on days of youth, primitive weapons, or gun deer hunts. Fox squirrel season closed during February. Bag limit: 8 squirrels per day. 8 rabbits per day. |
| Crow | Sept. 1-Feb. 28 – No hunting on days of youth, primitive weapons, or gun deer hunts. No bag limit. |
| Quail and snipe | No Open Season |
| Woodcock | State season – No hunting on days of gun deer hunts. Bag limit: 3 per day. |
| Raccoon and opossum | Sept. 1-Feb. 28 – Nighttime hours only. No hunting on nights preceding or nights of youth, primitive weapons, or gun deer hunts. No bag limit. |
| Bobcat, coyote, opossum, feral swine, raccoon, fox | Open during any other scheduled WMA Hunting Season using weapons and ammunition approved for those hunts. No dogs allowed. Daylight hours only. No bag limit. |
| Furbearer trapping | Excluding feral swine: Oct. 31-Feb. 28 – Permits must be obtained from Area Biologist. |
Which county is Black Warrior WMA in, and what do hunters take there?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 (estimate) | County turkeys, 2024-25 (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | 60,247 | 5,027 | 310 |
| Winston County | 30,090 | 2,941 | 1,085 |
Acres measured by FilledTag on ADCNR Wildlife Management Area boundaries, 2026-27 and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. County estimates: ADCNR Alabama Hunter Harvest 2024-2025 annual report, for the whole county, not the WMA; ADCNR does not publish harvest by WMA.
How do you get to Black Warrior WMA?
Highways through the area: AL 33. Nearest towns: Addison (5 miles), Moulton (5 miles), Double Springs (6 miles) and Haleyville (7 miles).
The closest other Alabama WMAs with a page here: Swan Creek and Mallard-Fox Creek WMAs (19.3 miles), Sam R. Murphy WMA (26.1 miles), Seven-Mile Island WMA (27.9 miles) and Freedom Hills WMA (28 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Black Warrior WMA in 2026-27?
ADCNR's 2026-27 AREA Permit for Black Warrior WMA sets these deer seasons: archery Oct. 1-Jan. 15 and Jan. 16-27 (bucks only); youth Oct. 31-Nov. 1; primitive weapons Nov. 2-6; gun Nov. 7-8 in every zone, plus Nov. 12-15, Nov. 26-29 and Dec. 10-13 in Zone A and Nov. 19-22, Dec. 3-6 and Dec. 17-20 in Zone B.
How many deer can you take a day on Black Warrior WMA?
It depends on the hunt. One deer a day, either one unantlered deer or one antlered buck: archery Oct. 1-Jan. 15; youth Oct. 31-Nov. 1; primitive weapons Nov. 2-6; gun Nov. 7-8. One antlered buck a day: archery Jan. 16-27; gun in Zone A Nov. 12-15, Nov. 26-29 and Dec. 10-13; gun in Zone B Nov. 19-22, Dec. 3-6 and Dec. 17-20. To be legal for harvest, antlered bucks In Zone B must have at least four (4) antler points (1 inch or longer) on at least one main beam.
What county is Black Warrior WMA in?
Lawrence County (60,247 acres) and Winston County (30,090 acres), measured on ADCNR's boundary.
Do you have to check deer at a check station on Black Warrior WMA?
All deer harvested on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Nov. 7-8, Nov. 12-14, Nov. 19-21, Nov. 26-28, Dec. 3-5, Dec. 10-12, Dec. 17-19. Must be submitted at check station for data collection. The check station is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Additionally, the results of all hunts must be recorded using the Outdoor Alabama App or Daily Permit and submitted at kiosk at the conclusion of every hunt day.
When is turkey season on Black Warrior WMA?
Youth hunt Mar. 20; physically disabled hunt Mar. 26; regular hunt Mar. 27-May 3, daylight until 1 p.m., gobblers only. No more than 1 gobbler during the first 10 days of each season. No more than 2 gobblers total per hunter from Black Warrior WMA/Bankhead Ranger District.
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What you need to hunt an Alabama WMA
For deer or turkey, ADCNR asks for a Wildlife Management Area License and the right resident or nonresident all-game hunting license, and for every hunt a paper AREA Permit and daily permit unless you check in and out with the Outdoor Alabama WMA Check-In app. Hunters must wear hunter orange or fluorescent pink during gun deer hunts. Full rules: ADCNR WMA Regulation 220-2-.55.
Where these numbers come from
- Seasons, limits, check days and area notes: ADCNR's 2026-27 AREA Permit for each WMA (ADCNR Wildlife Management Areas and 2026-27 AREA Permits).
- Boundary and acres: ADCNR Wildlife Management Area boundaries, 2026-27. County harvest: ADCNR Alabama Hunter Harvest 2024-2025 annual report.
- Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. National forest and refuges: U.S. Forest Service land ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
FilledTag is not part of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Numbers are copied from ADCNR or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Alabama hunting All Alabama WMAs Lawrence County deer harvest Winston County deer harvest