• In Alabama there are strict rules for hunters to follow.duck hunter image by cherie from Fotolia.com
  
  Hunting is an extremely popular sport in the state of Alabama. The state has a plethora of hunting grounds for its residents. It also has many rules by which hunters must abide. These rules dictate things like when and where hunters may hunt, what they may and may not hunt, and what weapons they may use.
  
  

Hunting License

• Hunting licenses are required in Alabama for all residents aged 16 to 63 who wish to hunt. Residents older than 63 can apply for special lifetime licenses in the categories they wish. Alabama hunting rules also state that anybody born after 1977 must participate in a hunter education course in order to obtain a license. Hunting licenses in Alabama have various prices depending on what the hunter wishes to hunt. Hunting licenses expire August 31 of every year, at which point hunters must renew them if they wish to continue hunting.
  
  

Definition of Hunting

• In Alabama, the definition of hunting is any activity that includes pursuing, killing/capturing/trapping any wild animals and/or birds. To a lesser extent, the hunting umbrella also includes any efforts to wound or take any game animals/birds, or to act in assisting any person in any of these activities.
  
  

Where to Hunt

• The state of Alabama has two different types of hunting lands.
  
  The first is private land. These are privately owned lands not open to the general public. To hunt on these lands, you must have written permission of the owner, be accompanied by the owner, or be a guest of the owner.
  
  The second type of land is open-permit public land. This land owned by the government is made available to the public for hunting. A National Forest is an example of this type of hunting ground.
  
  

Hunting Equipment

• All people who wish to hunt are required by Alabama to wear bright orange clothing. This can be accomplished by wearing either an orange garment above the waist that is at least 144 square inches, or by wearing a full-size orange hat/cap. There are certain exceptions to this rule, for instance if the hunter is in a stand that is at least 12 feet above ground.
  
  All standard hunting guns and bows and arrows are legal in Alabama. However, bows with laser sights, magnification and/or computational sights are illegal in the state.
  
  

What to Hunt

• In Alabama, bears, beavers, coyotes, deer, foxes, opossums, wild rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, nutria, mountain lions (cougars), groundhogs, bobcats, and feral swine (wild hogs) are all considered game animals. However, it is illegal to hunt bears and mountain lions.
  
  Game birds in Alabama are considered to be bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, wild duck, wild goose, brant, rail, sora, coot, common snipe, woodcock, mourning dove, purple gallinule, common moorhen and merganser. It is illegal, however, to hunt ruffed grouse.
  
  

When to Hunt

• There are different hunting seasons in Alabama, based on what is being hunted, what weapon is being used, and in some cases where the hunting is taking place.
  
  In most cases, open seasons take place during the fall and winter, although there are a few spring seasons. The "Alabama Hunting and Fishing Trail" website offers a detailed look at the various seasons.