Waterfowl Seasons & Limits

Special Youth, Active Military and Military Veteran's Waterfowl Hunting Days

November 22, 2025 & February 7, 2026

• Note: At time of posting, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide.
• Same shooting hours, bag limits, and legal arms and ammunition apply as in regular waterfowl season, in accordance with Rule 220-2-.119.

Clapper Rail, King Rail, Virginia Rail, Sora and Gallinule

September 13 – September 21

November 28 – January 27

• 15 a day
• Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to Sunset.

Special Teal Season

September 13 – September 21

• Note: At time of posting, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide.
• 6 a day
• Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to Sunset.

Duck, Coot and Merganser

November 28 – November 29

December 5 – January 31

• Note: At time of posting, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide.
• Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to Sunset.

Duck

• 6 ducks a day — may include no more than 4 Mallards (no more than 2 of which may be female), 3 Wood Ducks, 1 Mottled Duck, 2 Black Duck, 2 Redhead, 3 Pintail, 2 Canvasback, and 1 Scaup.

Coot

• 15 a day

Merganser

• 5 a day, only 2 may be a Hooded Merganser.

Geese

• Note: At time of posting, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide.
• Statewide.
• Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to Sunset.

All Geese:

September 6 – October 5

October 18 – November 1

November 28 – November 29

December 5 – January 31

Dark Geese (Canada, White-Fronted, Brant)

• The aggregate bag limit shall be 5 a day.

Light Geese (Snow, Blue, Ross's)

• The aggregate bag limit shall be 5 a day.

Sandhill Crane:

November 28 – January 4

January 12 – January 26

• By Limited Quota Permit only. Must apply online. Only residents and Lifetime Hunting License holders of the State of Alabama who are sixteen (16) years of age or older and in possession of a valid hunting license (license not required for individuals over the age of 64) may apply for a Sandhill Crane Permit. There is no fee to apply for a permit. There is a $20 fee to accept the Sandhill Crane Permit in addition to a small processing fee.
• Limit 3 per person per permit.
• Hunting zone will be that area north of Interstate 20 from the Georgia state line to the interchange with Interstate 65, then east of Interstate 65 to the interchange with Interstate 22, then north of Interstate 22 to the Mississippi state line. (excludes the remainder of the state).
• Shooting Hours – Sunrise to Sunset
• Legal arms and ammunition are same as waterfowl