Alabama Squirrel & Rabbit Season 2026-27: Small Game Dates

Q: When does squirrel season open in Alabama in 2026-27?

Squirrel Season: September 12, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources publishes it under that name, and the zone table on this page was read from its own page on September 19, 2026.

Q: When is rabbit season in Alabama?

Rabbit Season: September 12, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources publishes it under that name, and the zone table on this page was read from its own page on September 19, 2026.

Q: Do small game dates vary by zone in Alabama?

Not for the 2026-27 seasons shown here: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources publishes these windows statewide rather than splitting the state into zones with different openers, so the dates in the tables above apply as listed. Which county or public area you hunt can still change what is open there, and the agency's regulations page linked below is where that lives.

Q: Where are the bag limits, legal methods and licence rules for Alabama small game?

At Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, whose regulations page is linked on this page. Those rules are legally binding, change annually and vary by species, by zone and by land ownership. This page carries the season windows themselves, with source and read date attached.

Q: Can these Alabama small game dates change?

Yes. Agencies amend season orders, add or drop zones, and occasionally correct their own published tables mid season. This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 19, 2026, says so in the copy, and links the exact Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources page it read on September 19, 2026. Treat the agency page as the final word on the morning you hunt.

This page covers the 2026-27 season year. Dates were read from the agency sources linked below, last checked September 19, 2026. Seasons change annually and agencies correct their own pages; confirm against the linked agency page before you hunt.

No open season

Pheasant

no season

November 7, 2026 to February 28, 2027

Quail

published

No open season

Grouse

no season

September 12, 2026 to February 28, 2027

Rabbit

published

September 12, 2026 to February 28, 2027

Squirrel

published

Statewide

Zone structure

as the agency draws it

Five seasons, one state

Alabama small game seasons, 2026-27

“When does small game season open” is five questions wearing one coat. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources dates bobwhite quail, squirrel and rabbit separately, so each species is below under the agency’s own name for it, with the zone rows exactly as the agency lists them.

Pheasant

no season

Alabama has no open pheasant season for 2026-27. Outdoor Alabama's seasons index carries no pheasant season page; Alabama holds no wild pheasant season. Source: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Bobwhite Quail

published

Bobwhite Quail runs November 7, 2026 to February 28, 2027 across all zones.

Alabama bobwhite quail, as published by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide	November 7, 2026	February 28, 2027	Closed on the Bankhead National Forest

Dates read from Bobwhite Quail 2026-2027, Outdoor Alabama (ADCNR), accessed 2026-09-19.

ADCNR states the bobwhite season as the first Saturday in November through the last day in February, which for 2026-2027 is Nov 7, 2026 through Feb 28, 2027. The season is closed on the Bankhead National Forest.

Ruffed Grouse

no season

Alabama has no open grouse season for 2026-27. Outdoor Alabama's Bear, Mountain Lion, and Ruffed Grouse Seasons page lists ruffed grouse as No Open Season. Source: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Rabbit Season

published

Rabbit Season runs September 12, 2026 to February 28, 2027 across all zones.

Alabama rabbit season, as published by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide	September 12, 2026	February 28, 2027

Dates read from Bobwhite Quail 2026-2027, Outdoor Alabama (ADCNR), accessed 2026-09-19.

ADCNR states the rabbit season as the second Saturday in September through the last day in February, which for 2026-2027 is Sep 12, 2026 through Feb 28, 2027, with no zone divisions.

Squirrel Season

published

Squirrel Season runs September 12, 2026 to February 28, 2027 across all zones.

Alabama squirrel season, as published by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide	September 12, 2026	February 28, 2027	Fox squirrel closed on the Bankhead and Tuskegee National Forests

Dates read from Bobwhite Quail 2026-2027, Outdoor Alabama (ADCNR), accessed 2026-09-19.

ADCNR states the squirrel season as the second Saturday in September through the last day in February, the same window as rabbit, which for 2026-2027 is Sep 12, 2026 through Feb 28, 2027. Fox squirrel is closed on the Bankhead and Tuskegee National Forests.

First Saturday in November – Last day in February

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, read September 19, 2026. Read it at the source

A pair of northern bobwhite quail standing together in a carpet of purple violets, the male with a bold white throat and eye stripe, the female buff faced — A bobwhite pair. Quail seasons run from late autumn into winter across the South and Midwest; several western states date scaled, Gambel's and California quail on the same row. Photo: Steve Maslowski, USFWS. “Colinus virginianus USFWS”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Public domain

Rules

Alabama small game hunting regulations

Season windows are carried here with their source and read date attached. Everything else a hunter is bound by is set by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and its regulations page is linked below.

Current Alabama regulations

Bag and possession limits, legal methods, shooting hours, license and stamp requirements, and youth or special season rules for Alabama are set by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, are legally binding and change annually. Its current regulations page is linked here.

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: current regulations

Close view of an eastern cottontail rabbit in green grass, ears up, dark round eye and white chin catching the light — An eastern cottontail. Rabbit is usually the last small game season to close, running into February in most of the East and Midwest. Photo: Grayson Smith, USFWS. “Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (48935527872)”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Public domain

Small game season dates in other Southeast states

Every state’s pheasant, quail, grouse, rabbit and squirrel dates are on the national small game season page.

A rooster ring-necked pheasant with a red face, iridescent green head and white neck ring striding through dry pale crop stubble — A rooster in harvested crop stubble in North Dakota. Most pheasant openers land in October and November, once the fields are cut. Photo: Courtney Celley, USFWS. “Ring-necked pheasant (54120901581)”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Public domain

Alabama deer seasonArchery, firearms, muzzleloader and youth deer dates for 2026-27, under the same sourcing rules.Alabama turkey seasonSpring and fall wild turkey windows for 2026-27, read from the same agency.Alabama duck seasonDuck and goose season dates by zone and flyway, read from the same agency.Alabama fall foliagePeak color and the first grouse and squirrel weeks overlap. Plan the same trip.

Alabama small game season questions

When does squirrel season open in Alabama in 2026-27?

When is rabbit season in Alabama?

Does Alabama have a pheasant season?

Do small game dates vary by zone in Alabama?

Where are the bag limits, legal methods and licence rules for Alabama small game?

Can these Alabama small game dates change?

A fox squirrel with a grey back and rust orange belly crouched on a lichen covered branch against bare winter trees and blue sky — A fox squirrel in bare winter woods in Ohio. Squirrel is the earliest small game opener in many states, from mid August or September, and runs to January or February. “Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger vulpinus) (13255025953)” by Andrew C, CC BY 2.0

This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 19, 2026. Every season window is republished from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources page linked beside it, read on September 19, 2026; windows the agency had not yet published are labelled not yet published. Bag and possession limits, legal methods, shooting hours and licence rules are set by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, whose page is the final word on the day you hunt. See also the national small game season guide.