Squirrel hunting season in Alabama is one of the longest on the state’s calendar, and it opens while most hunters are still waiting on deer. The 2026-27 season started September 12, and you can hunt bushytails well into the winter. That is more than five months of small-game hunting with a generous daily limit.
This article covers what you need to know before you head to the woods: dates, species, limits, licenses, weapons, hours, and the rules that change once deer season opens. Alabama’s regulations are set each year by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), so treat this as a planning reference and confirm details on the state’s official pages before you go.
Squirrel Hunting Season Dates in Alabama
According to Outdoor Alabama, the 2026-2027 squirrel season runs from the second Saturday in September through the last day in February. For this year, that means Yellowhammer News reports an opening day of September 12 and a closing day of February 28, 2027.
The season is statewide, so you do not need to look up a zone map the way you would for deer. The same dates apply on private land across the state. Public lands are different, because individual WMAs can set tighter dates in their area permits.
Important Note: Some third-party sites list different dates, such as an August 15 opening or a March 7 closing. The official ADCNR page and the state’s administrative code both use “second Saturday in September” through “last day in February,” so go with those.
Alabama’s wording has changed over the years, and older guides still circulate online. Past seasons ran into early March, which is why you will see March dates on older pages. The official 2026-27 language ends the season in February.
Which Squirrel Species You Can Hunt in Alabama
Two species are legal game here. The gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is the most common squirrel in Alabama, weighing roughly 1 to 1.5 pounds as an adult, according to the Zeke Adventure Blog. You will find grays in nearly every hardwood bottom and creek drainage.
The fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) is larger and often shows a rust-colored back with gray around the neck. Alabama Outdoor News quotes a state biologist saying the species is stable to increasing statewide, especially in west-central Alabama, and the Alabama Outdoor News feature notes that people in the prairie lands rarely go far without seeing one.
There is one species restriction to remember. Per ADCNR, fox squirrel hunting is closed on the Bankhead and Tuskegee National Forests. That is a change from the previous season, when the Tuskegee National Forest was open to fox squirrels, according to eRegulations.
Southern flying squirrels also live in Alabama, but they are nocturnal and are not what the squirrel season covers. Stick with grays and fox squirrels.
Squirrel Bag and Possession Limits in Alabama
The limit is simple: Alabama’s administrative code sets squirrels at 8 a day and 8 in possession. Gray and fox squirrels count toward the same combined limit.
| Rule | 2026-27 Limit |
|---|---|
| Daily bag limit | 8 squirrels |
| Possession limit | 8 squirrels |
| Species counted | Gray and fox squirrels combined |
| Fox squirrel exception | Closed on Bankhead and Tuskegee National Forests |
Pay attention to the possession number. Some websites list a possession limit of 24, but the official rule is 8 in possession. That matters if you hunt more than one day and keep squirrels in the freezer or cooler, since the limit is meant to be read against what you have on hand.
Pro Tip: If you plan a multi-day trip, clean and process your squirrels the same day and check the possession rules before you stack up harvests from consecutive hunts.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Squirrels in Alabama
Most adult hunters need a license. As of the 2026-27 license year, Yellowhammer News reports that Alabama residents who need a hunting license can buy a Small Game license, which covers squirrels, for $23.40. The same article notes that licenses are now sold through the state’s new My Outdoor Alabama system, which went live August 24, online or through the updated Outdoor AL app.
Hunter education matters too. According to Hunting Seasons, hunters born on or after August 1, 1977 must complete hunter education before buying a license. If you have not finished the course, Yellowhammer News describes a “supervision required” option that lets you hunt within normal voice control and no more than 30 feet from a licensed hunter who is at least 21.
Some people are exempt from the license requirement, including younger and older residents. Hunting Seasons lists the general requirement as applying to residents 16 to 64 and nonresidents 16 and older.
- Residents: A Small Game license covers squirrel hunting, or you can buy a broader license if you also hunt other species.
- Nonresidents: You need a nonresident license. Prices vary by license type, so check the My Outdoor Alabama system for current fees.
- WMA hunters: Many public areas require an additional area permit, which you should read before the hunt.
Hunting without a license can be expensive. Hunting Seasons says resident minimum penalties commonly start at $75 to $100, which is more than the license costs.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Squirrel Hunting in Alabama
Alabama squirrel hunters have plenty of options. The most common choices are a .22 rimfire rifle and a shotgun, and a third-party summary from State Hunting lists rimfire rifles, shotguns with No. 6 shot or smaller, and muzzleloaders as legal arms. Treat that list as a starting point and check ADCNR rules for your exact property, since I did not find the weapon rules on the official squirrel page.
Many hunters use a .410 or 20-gauge for close shots in thick leaves. Rimfire rifles reward patience and a clean head shot, and they preserve more meat.
- Still-hunting: Move slowly along creek bottoms and ridgelines, stopping often to listen for cutting sounds.
- Stalking early season: With leaves still on, squirrels feed in the canopy and are easier to approach quietly.
- Sit and wait: Find a tree with fresh hickory or oak cuttings and let the woods settle.
- Hunting with dogs: Treeing dogs are a long tradition. Check WMA rules before using dogs on public land.
Alabama Outdoor News writes that early in the season, squirrels feed heavily on pine cones, and that as nuts and leaves fall, they shift to hard mast on the ground. If you want a deeper look at tactics by season, the season-long hunting article breaks it down by early and mid-season.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Squirrels in Alabama
Alabama’s administrative code points to a separate rule, 220-2-.07, for legal hunting hours. I could not pull the exact squirrel shooting hours from my research, so check that rule or the ADCNR hunting regulations digest before you go. In general, squirrel hunters work from first light through midday and again in the late afternoon, since squirrels are most active then.
Alabama Living Magazine notes that squirrels often bark to proclaim territory a little later in the morning or in late afternoon, which is a useful guide to when they are moving.
On Sundays, my research did not turn up a specific squirrel rule. Alabama is generally friendly to Sunday hunting on private land, but you should verify the rules for your county and property, especially on WMAs and national forests, which can set their own schedules.
Important Note: Check local ordinances too. Alabama Gazette points out that suburban and urban hardwood stands can hold squirrels, but local rules on firearms and archery use apply.
Squirrel Hunting During Deer Season in Alabama
Squirrel season opens weeks before deer season and stays open through it, so you will share the woods. Alabama Outdoor News describes how most hunters shifted toward whitetails as deer populations recovered, which leaves small-game hunters with less pressure for much of the year.
That overlap raises a safety and legal question: what you carry afield while deer season is in. Deer seasons are split by weapon type and zone, so a squirrel hunter on a day when only archery or primitive-weapon deer hunting is open needs to understand what is allowed on that property. Check the rules for each WMA and read your area permit.
If you want to plan around the deer calendar, our Alabama deer hunting season guide covers zone dates and methods. Hunters who also chase gobblers can look at the Alabama turkey season guide to line up spring and fall hunts.
A good habit is to talk with other hunters on shared properties about stand locations. Squirrel hunters moving through the woods can disturb deer, and deer hunters in stands appreciate knowing you are out there.
Hunter Orange and Public Land Rules for Squirrel Hunting in Alabama
Alabama has over 30 WMAs, four national forests, and Forever Wild lands open to public hunting, according to Hunting Prime. Hunting Seasons puts the WMA system at 35 areas covering about 721,000 acres, with more than 1.3 million public hunting acres statewide.
Alabama Living Magazine names several WMAs as good squirrel spots, including Barbour, Black Warrior, David K. Nelson, Freedom Hills, James D. Martin-Skyline, Lowndes, Oakmulgee, Red Hills, and the Upper Delta. Special Opportunity Areas also host small-game hunts for applicants.
I did not find a clear statement of Alabama’s hunter orange requirement for squirrel hunters in my research, so confirm it in the ADCNR digest. Wearing an orange cap or vest during deer season is smart even when it is not required, and Huntinglocator recommends a hunter orange cap during deer season.
- Read the WMA area permit before every hunt, since public-land seasons can be tighter than statewide dates.
- Get landowner permission before hunting private property and respect posted boundaries.
- Check for fox squirrel closures on the Bankhead and Tuskegee National Forests.
- Carry your license and any WMA permit with you.
Alabama’s neighbors have their own small-game and big-game rules. If you hunt across state lines, see our Mississippi bear season guide and Tennessee turkey season guide for their regulations. You can also compare small-game timing with the Alabama dove season, which opens around the same time of year.