Lowndes WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
ADCNR's 2026-27 AREA Permit for Lowndes WMA sets these deer seasons: archery Oct. 15-24 (bucks only) and Oct. 25-Feb. 10; youth Nov. 14-15; primitive weapons Nov. 16-20 and Dec. 17-20; gun Nov. 21-22, Nov. 28-29, Dec. 12-13, Dec. 24-27, Jan. 7-10, Jan. 21-24 and Feb. 4-7; spring turkey is Mar. 20-May 3, gobblers only. The area is 16,313 acres of public hunting land in Lowndes County, run by ADCNR in cooperation with the Forever Wild Land Trust and US Army Corps of Engineers. Around it, hunters took an estimated 6,048 deer in Lowndes 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.
Lowndes WMAOther ADCNR WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 16,313 acres (measured on ADCNR's WMA boundary), in 2 parts |
|---|---|
| County | Lowndes County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth, Primitive Weapons and Gun |
| Archery deer | Oct. 15-24 (bucks only) and Oct. 25-Feb. 10 |
| Gun deer | Nov. 21-22, Nov. 28-29, Dec. 12-13, Dec. 24-27, Jan. 7-10, Jan. 21-24 and Feb. 4-7 |
| Spring turkey | Mar. 20-May 3, gobblers only |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer hunting |
| Deer check station | Mandatory on set dates (below) |
| Contact | Biologist – Dalton Bray (334) 301-2834 |
| Nearest towns | White Hall (next to it), Autaugaville (2 mi) and Lowndesboro (3 mi) |
The Dutch Bend Tract is part of Lowndes WMA on the same AREA Permit. It is archery only for deer, and the youth, primitive weapons and gun hunts below do not open on it.
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on Lowndes WMA?
No dog deer hunting and no buckshot on the area.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Daily limit and rules |
|---|---|---|
| Archery only | Oct. 15-24 | One antlered buck a day. *Antlered buck restrictions apply. |
| Archery only | Oct. 25-Feb. 10 | Two deer a day, one unantlered deer and one antlered buck. *Antlered buck restrictions apply. |
| Youth | Nov. 14-15 | Two deer a day, one unantlered deer and one antlered buck. No antler restrictions apply. Not open on Dutch Bend Tract. |
| Primitive Weapons | Nov. 16-20 and Dec. 17-20 | Two deer a day, one unantlered deer and one antlered buck. *Antlered buck restrictions apply. Not open on Dutch Bend Tract. |
| Gun | Nov. 21-22, Nov. 28-29, Dec. 12-13, Dec. 24-27 | One deer a day, either one unantlered deer or one antlered buck. *Antlered buck restrictions apply. Not open on Dutch Bend Tract. |
| Gun | Jan. 7-10, Jan. 21-24, and Feb. 4-7 | One antlered buck a day. (Jan. 9 Bonus Buck Day, must be validated by WFF personnel at the check station prior to leaving the Area). *Antlered buck restrictions apply. Not open on Dutch Bend Tract. |
- 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. Dutch Bend Tract is archery only for deer.
- To be legal for harvest, antlered bucks must have at least three (3) antler points (1 Inch or longer) on at least one main beam.
Deer check station
All deer harvested must be submitted at check station for data collection on the following dates: Nov. 21, Nov. 28, Dec. 12, Dec. 26, Jan. 8-9, Jan. 22-23, Feb. 5-6. 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, Lowndes WMA 2026-27 AREA Permit, read October 2026. The permit and Regulation 220-2-.55 are the final word.
When is turkey season on Lowndes WMA?
- Youth: Mar. 13 (Daylight until 1 p.m.) Gobblers only. Decoys Allowed. Not open on Dutch Bend Tract.
- Physically Disabled: Mar. 19 (Daylight until 1 p.m.) Gobblers only. Decoys Allowed. Not open on Dutch Bend Tract.
- Regular: Mar. 20-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 Lowndes WMA.
What else can you hunt on Lowndes WMA?
| Game | 2026-27 season on the area |
|---|---|
| Waterfowl | State season. (½ hour before sunrise to 12:00 noon). Hunting allowed Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays only. No hunting on days of youth, primitive weapons, or gun deer hunts, except on Dutch Bend Tract. State bag limits. |
| Dove | State Season. (Opening day: 12:00 noon until sunset; remainder of season – 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset). Hunting allowed Saturdays and Wednesdays only. No hunting on days of youth, primitive weapons, or gun deer hunts. Except on Dutch Bend Tract. Bag limit: 15 per day. |
| Rabbit and squirrel | Sept. 12-Feb. 28 – Hunting allowed Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays only. Fox squirrel season closed during February. No hunting on days of youth, primitive weapons, or gun deer hunts, except on Dutch Bend Tract. Bag limit: 8 squirrels per day. 8 rabbits per day. |
| Feral swine (special season) | Aug. 28-Sept. 4 and Feb. 20-28 – Permitted firearms and archery equipment same as for gun deer hunts on the WMA. No buckshot. No dogs allowed. Daylight hours only. Not open on Dutch Bend Tract. No bag limit. |
| Crow | Sept. 1-Feb. 28 – No hunting on days of youth, primitive weapons, or gun deer hunts. Not open on Dutch Bend Tract. No bag limit. |
| Quail | Nov. 7-Feb. 28 – Dutch Bend Tract: Hunting allowed Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays only. Bag limit: 8 per day. Remainder of Lowndes WMA: No hunting on days of youth, primitive weapons, or gun deer hunts. Bag limit: 8 per day. |
| Woodcock and snipe | State season. Dutch Bend Tract: Hunting allowed Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays only. Bag limit: 3 woodcock per day. 8 snipe per day. Remainder of Lowndes WMA: No hunting on days of youth, primitive weapons, or gun deer hunts. Bag limits: 3 woodcock per day. 8 snipe per day. |
| Raccoon and opossum | Sept. 1-Feb. 28 – Nighttime hours only. 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 Lowndes 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowndes County | 16,313 | 6,048 | 1,022 |
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 Lowndes WMA?
Highways through the area: AL 8 and US 80. Nearest towns: White Hall (next to it), Autaugaville (2 miles), Lowndesboro (3 miles) and Benton (4 miles).
The closest other Alabama WMAs with a page here: Charles D. Kelley Autauga County WMA (10.9 miles), Coosa WMA (31.3 miles), Forever Wild Gothard-AWF Yates Lake WMA (41.8 miles) and Oakmulgee WMA (48.1 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Lowndes WMA in 2026-27?
ADCNR's 2026-27 AREA Permit for Lowndes WMA sets these deer seasons: archery Oct. 15-24 (bucks only) and Oct. 25-Feb. 10; youth Nov. 14-15; primitive weapons Nov. 16-20 and Dec. 17-20; gun Nov. 21-22, Nov. 28-29, Dec. 12-13, Dec. 24-27, Jan. 7-10, Jan. 21-24 and Feb. 4-7.
How many deer can you take a day on Lowndes WMA?
It depends on the hunt. One antlered buck a day: archery Oct. 15-24; gun Jan. 7-10, Jan. 21-24 and Feb. 4-7. Two deer a day, one unantlered deer and one antlered buck: archery Oct. 25-Feb. 10; youth Nov. 14-15; primitive weapons Nov. 16-20 and Dec. 17-20. One deer a day, either one unantlered deer or one antlered buck: gun Nov. 21-22, Nov. 28-29, Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 24-27. To be legal for harvest, antlered bucks must have at least three (3) antler points (1 Inch or longer) on at least one main beam.
What county is Lowndes WMA in?
All of it is in Lowndes County (16,313 acres), measured on ADCNR's boundary.
Do you have to check deer at a check station on Lowndes WMA?
All deer harvested must be submitted at check station for data collection on the following dates: Nov. 21, Nov. 28, Dec. 12, Dec. 26, Jan. 8-9, Jan. 22-23, Feb. 5-6. 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 Lowndes WMA?
Youth hunt Mar. 13; physically disabled hunt Mar. 19; regular hunt Mar. 20-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 Lowndes WMA.
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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.
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